New online content — free videos, projects, and PDFs

Hazel Wheaton — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:56:00 GMT

::eyes calendar::

It's been a long time since we last checked in with the blog, but to make it up to you, I come bearing gifts. Our July 2009 issue made its debut just in time for the Bead & Button Show, which has occupied all our lives recently. We're awfully proud of the issue, and a quick look at the July table of contents will make it clear why.

To add extra value to the print edition, we've put a whole bunch of new content online, from videos that demonstrate particular techniques, to articles that give the basics about a particular medium, to charts that provide quick references when you're trying to pick out the right drill bit to use.

Plus, subscribers to the print magazine get an extra how-to project that directly ties in with one of the projects in the magazine.

Here's a rundown of some of the new stuff:

New subscriber-only project:

Learn how to use wireworking and wire-wrapping techniques to embellish a hook clasp in this beginner tutorial by Erin Paton. You can make a plain clasp or dress it up with a pearl — your choice!

Three new reference charts, available as free PDFs:

Ring size chart: Find standard U.S. and U.K. ring sizes plus inside diameter measurements and inside circumference measurements in this quick-reference chart. Also, learn how to calculate the length of metal sheet you'll need to make ring bands.

Metal piercing chart: Use this handy chart to determine which drill bit and saw blade to use for piercing your metal sheet.

Convert drill bit sizes to inches or millimeters: Drill bit sizes are based on a gauge system that's different from the standard wire-gauge system. Use this chart to convert between drill bit number, inches, and millimeters.

To get you all prepped for Angela Gerhard's lovely Sgraffitto enamel bracelet project, Associate Editor Jill Erickson has written an Introduction to Enamels: A glossary of terms plus safety basics.

And finally, the Art Jewelry editors unveil four brand-new instructional videos:

New video: Using a rolling mill Watch this video to learn about how to use a rolling mill to make a sheet of metal thinner.

New video: Roll-printing Metal Watch this video to learn how to impress a texture onto a sheet of metal using a rolling mill.

New video: Using a Disk Cutter Watch this video to learn how to use a disk cutter to cut circular disks from a sheet of metal.

New video: Using a Dapping Block Watch this video to learn how to use a dapping block to dome a piece of metal.

Enjoy all the new goodies!

How To Polish Your Hammers — New Subscriber-Exclusive article on Art Jewelry magazine's Web site

Addie Kidd — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:28:00 GMT

We've just posted a new how-to article on our Web site exclusively for subscribers. It's in conjuction with Marie Cristine Knuff's article "Forge and Easy Chain" on page 58 of the newest issue (November 2008) of Art Jewelry magazine.

In it I walk you through the simple steps necessary to clean up your dinged, rusted, or worn hammers and bench blocks. (The Before and After shots are shown at right.)

So why take the time to polish a hammer??

When hammering, the texture of your hammer and bench block are transferred onto the metal. So a polished hammer and clean bench block are needed if you want to impart a shiny texture on whatever metal you're hammering. Clean, shiny tools will also save you extra time that would otherwise be spent cleaning up the hammered metal afterwards.

If you're a subscriber, check out the article in our Online Reference section here at www.ArtJewelryMag.com/reference. (That's under the Web site's Resources tab in case you didn't already know.)

And once you're ready to take that shiny hammer out for a spin, check out the current issue of Art Jewelry magazine.

~Addie~

P.S. If you're not currently a subscriber, you can still see our handy Abrasives grit chart. It lists traditional sandpaper grits in conjunction with the micron-graded equivalents.

P.P.S. If you're curious, you can find out more about the benefits and bonuses of subscribing here.

Art Jewelry magazine Editors' Blog : Subscriber-only Exclusive

New online content — free videos, projects, and PDFs

How To Polish Your Hammers — New Subscriber-Exclusive article on Art Jewelry magazine's Web site