Basic Jewellery and Silversmithing Quiz

Answer: Wig

A wig is made from twisted wires and looks a bit like a wire lollipop. It can be very useful if you are soldering a piece that needs even heat distribution. I haven't actually got a wig myself, but I have a wire 'bridge' shape (like an upside-down 'u') in mesh that fulfills the same purpose.

Answer: Peg

Your peg is probably your most useful tool. A simple wedge shaped block of wood with a notch cut into it, you will use it for supporting your pieces while sawing and filing, and you can pierce in the notch. Little notches along the side will help you to jam tiny pieces of wire.

The edge of a novice's peg will soon become ragged with missed strokes of the saw, and mine has a small depression where I drilled a bit too enthusiastically!

Answer: All of these are uses of a 'skin'

In factories, the 'skins' were regularly taken away and burnt to melt and retrieve the precious metal from dust. As your lap is directly under the cutout, it can also protect you from nasty burns if you drop hot metal. It's also much easier if your desk sits on carpet (as mine does) to retrieve that elusive tiny stone or jump ring from the 'skin' than the carpet. My 'skin' is made from an old chamois leather. My jewellery desk was once a dressing table, so I have handy drawers for equipment both sides. Custom-built jewellery desks are very expensive in the UK.

Answer: Pickle

Pickle or pickling solution, used for cleaning your metals while soldering, should be kept warm. I use one of those devices for heating essential oils. It looks nice, and a nightlight or votive candle keeps it warm to hot throughout a session. You can buy electric units, but an acid-proof pot or jar and a candle is fine! Pickle used to be sulphuric acid, but most jewellers nowadays use 'safety' pickle, which is reconstituted from powder, for obvious reasons. Citric acid can also be used. Brass or plastic tweezers should be used to remove items from pickle, as it will corrode steel.

Answer: A mandrel

A mandrel is a tapered steel tool to assist in making rings. They can either be plain or, like mine, marked with ring sizes to make life easier. You can slide the ring down the mandrel and beat it to make it both circular and the correct size. The world's largest monkey (mandrill), a plant of the belladonna family (mandrake) and a large aquatic mammal also known as a sea cow (manatee) are excellent things in their place, but are not a lot of use in making rings...

Answer: Wooden or hide hammer

A wooden or hide (leather) hammer can be used to flatten pieces without making marks on the surface. Ball pein (also spelled ball peen) hammers have their uses in jewellery making too, to leave an attractive pattern on the surface of pieces. You would be unlikely to use a claw hammer or sledge hammer in normal jewellery making.

Answer: Cabochon

Cabochons are smooth, and the important bit is that they have flat backs. Because they are smooth with flat backs, it is easier to set them in pendants or rings. Faceted stones, that are cut to increase their natural sparkle (brilliance), pyramid shapes or spheres would need a bit more experience. On a beginners' course you would probably start with a simple band or twist ring of wire and move on to setting a (cabachon) stone. Most beginners start with a semi-precious stone such as tigers-eye or moonstone.

Answer: Piercing saw

Most pieces that you make will require a piercing saw. They come in gauges from 0/0 (coarsest) to 6/0 (finest). You set the blade at tension, and they will only break at the most inconvenient moments - which is when you will wish you had a chain saw!

Answer: Tripoli

Tripoli is a grease-based compound with a microscopic abrasive. You can use it with a simple buff, or a polishing machine. If you're using a polishing machine, be sure to wear safety goggles and a mask. On your polishing machine you will have discs (for the outside of pieces) and cones (for the inside of rings and bracelets). Tripoli is also, of course, the capital of Libya, and the wrong answers of Beirut, Jerusalem and Damascus are the capitals of Lebanon, Israel and Syria respectively.

Answer: Rouge

Rouge contains no abrasive, but will bring your jewellery up to a beautiful shiny finish, after you've washed (or used an ultrasonic cleaner) to take the rouge off. Washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush do a fine job. If you use a polishing machine, you will find that the rouge also brings your fingernails up beautifully. Again, wear a mask and goggles, but you will still find your face and hair get covered in rouge! (It does wash off!) Mascara, eye shadow and foundation may make you look beautiful, but will not improve your jewellery. I hope that you've enjoyed this small glimpse into the wonderful world of jewellery making. All feedback welcome.