Jewelry Area
General Information
The jewelry lab is located in the Cold Metal shop at MakeICT. Metal shop authorization is highly recommended before using the Jewelry Lab, but not required. In this lab you can work many precious and non-ferrous metals including solder metal, melting glass, lampworking glass for beads, and cast jewelry. We have most of the hand tools and a good selection of equipment to work with, members provide their own materials for projects. Authorization for the cabbing machine, diamond saws, and centrifugal caster must be acquired before use.
Michael Atherton is the jewelry lab lead and can be contacted at Jewelry@makeict.org.
Jewelry Lab Safety
- You are welcome to use any of the tools or equipment in the Jewelry Lab, with the exception of the Cabbing Machine, Diamond Saws, and Centrifugal Caster without prior authorization.
- If there's something you don't know how to do safely or without damaging the equipment, please ask before using. You can always ask questions on the forum ask for help.
- Do not use any machine that is not in good working order. Stop, unplug and leave a note on the machine and notify Jewelry Lab.
- Never assume a tool is properly adjusted; always check the tool prior to use. If you are unsure or are unfamiliar with the tool, treat the tool as if it is out of adjustment.
- Never modify or hack any equipment.
- If something is wrong or a piece of equipment is malfunctioning, leave a note in an obvious place on the troubled equipment and e-mail jewelry@makeict.org.
Equipment List
| Name | Photo | Material Handling | Manufacturer | Manual | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vigor Burnout Furnace Model 1065 | Enamel Work | Vigor | Needing Repair | ||
| Rapidfire Pro - L Kiln | Metal-Clay Firing
1700 F Max Temp |
Tabletop Furnace Company | Online PDF | Unkown | |
| Firebox8 Kiln | Glass Fusing
Cone , 2000 F |
Skutt | Unknown | ||
| Micro Mill / Drill | Low RPM Drill Press | Central Machine
(Harbor Freight) |
Working | ||
| Belt Grinder | All Metals / Material | Fabricated / Hacked (?) | Working | ||
| 1 Stage Vacuum Pump and Chamber | Degassing Resins | Fabricated / Hacked | Unknown | ||
| 8" Axial Table Buffer, 3/4HP | Polishing Metals | Unknown | Working | ||
| Cold Roll Mill | Roll-Forming Precious Metals
Square / Half Round Wire Forming |
Unknown | Working | ||
| Little Torch ; Oxy/Propane | Precious Metal Soldering ,Fusing,
and Annealing ; Low Temp |
Smith | Working | ||
| Little Torch ; Oxy/Acetylene | Precious Metal Soldering ,Fusing,
and Annealing ; High Temp |
Smith | Working | ||
| Magnasonic Jewelry Cleaner | Cleaning of Jewelry with soap/water
or alcohol |
Magnasonic | Working | ||
| Ring Sizer / Stretcher | Adjustment of rings to higher sizes | Unknown | Working | ||
| Spin Caster | Spin-Casting of Molds | Unknown | Needing Repair | ||
| X-Rite Silver Recovery | Recovery of Silver | X-Rite | Unknown | ||
| Propane Torch ; 593-2001 | Lampworking Glass Beads | Unknown | Working | ||
| Mini Disk Sander | Sanding in Lampwork Area | Cowell | Working |
What We Need / To-Do List
We are currently in need of many items normally found in a properly-equipped jewelry design and repair shop.
Donations of tools and materials are appreciated. Contact jewelry@makeict.org before tool donations to make sure it can be accepted and there is a space for it.
We have an assortment of findings, wire, and beads that need better organized. Non-ferrous (Copper, Red Brass, Yellow Brass, German/Nickel Silver) and scrap precious metals (Silver and Gold) donations will go towards zero-cost jewelry making classes.
We are also seeking people with experience in jewelry work to teach small classes (usually limited to six people, because the lab is small) in their area of talent, interest, or expertise. If you can give of your time and talent for a class, please contact Michael Atherton at jewelry@makeict.org or fill out the form to teach a class here.
With your help, we can have an awesome resource for jewelry making here at MakeICT!
Page Revised by Michael Atherton 12/19/2021
