I was browsing Zoraida's blog, specifically the post about bracelet mandrels, when it dawn on me that I want one too! I haven't done many bangle style bracelets, or those that actually need a mandrel, but for the few I've done, I've always shaped them by hand, with not the best results, especially if you want to sell those pieces.
So off I went to the local jewelry store (my usual store for buying sterling silver wire), and I came home with not one, but ...several goodies that emptied my wallet for the moment. Oh well, it's for a good cause.
(click the picture for the large view)
So I came home with the bracelet mandrel- I actually wanted a stepped one, but they only had this, and when I saw it, I quite liked it, so it got sold.
I bought a jeweler saw, as my old one is getting undone and it doesn't hold the blades as well as it should. Then got myself the actual blades, as I didn't have this size - 1. I have 2/0 and 3/0, but those are for sterling, and I found that they don't work as well for cutting bronze rings, which is much harder then silver or copper. So I'll give these a try. At the shop they assured me it will work.
Then bought a small table vice with clamps made specially for jewelry work. I have a huge old one that is kind of awkward to work with, so it was time to upgrade.
Then bought some leather-like cord for any copper pendants I might do, and finally 3 finger protectors since I need them for when cutting wire for jump rings with the jeweler's saw. I have 3 but they're already worn out and I wanted some shiny new ones.
Oh and the small black thingie in the middle, it's some bracelet display made of hard plastic. It was very cheap on Ebay and it happened to arrive today, so I added it to my 'cool toys to play with' stash.
So there, my haul for today thanks to Zoraida, lol. And I only wanted a bracelet mandrel...
So off I went to the local jewelry store (my usual store for buying sterling silver wire), and I came home with not one, but ...several goodies that emptied my wallet for the moment. Oh well, it's for a good cause.
So I came home with the bracelet mandrel- I actually wanted a stepped one, but they only had this, and when I saw it, I quite liked it, so it got sold.
I bought a jeweler saw, as my old one is getting undone and it doesn't hold the blades as well as it should. Then got myself the actual blades, as I didn't have this size - 1. I have 2/0 and 3/0, but those are for sterling, and I found that they don't work as well for cutting bronze rings, which is much harder then silver or copper. So I'll give these a try. At the shop they assured me it will work.
Then bought a small table vice with clamps made specially for jewelry work. I have a huge old one that is kind of awkward to work with, so it was time to upgrade.
Then bought some leather-like cord for any copper pendants I might do, and finally 3 finger protectors since I need them for when cutting wire for jump rings with the jeweler's saw. I have 3 but they're already worn out and I wanted some shiny new ones.
Oh and the small black thingie in the middle, it's some bracelet display made of hard plastic. It was very cheap on Ebay and it happened to arrive today, so I added it to my 'cool toys to play with' stash.
So there, my haul for today thanks to Zoraida, lol. And I only wanted a bracelet mandrel...
2 comments:
Wow, you really went on a shopping spree - Good for you!! I want so many tools. You should see my Amazon wish list! But I'm practical (and poor) so I chip away at these things bit by bit. I want a stamp set, some new books, a disk cutter, and...and.. It's a good thing there are no local jewelry supply shops near me :( or maybe :)
Lol, I did. I actually needed these things anyway, but I kept putting them off. So finally I bought them. I can't wait to try my new mandrel on a new bracelet.
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