John you’re the best!!! I’m going to try to make this ring shank, hopefully for my next project, thanks for sharing your expertise 😊

Hello from Cape Town, South Africa. I've been out of jewellery making for about 15 years and have stepped back into a craft I love, especially silversmith's work. I stumbled up in your videos while looking to refresh my mind. As they say , it's like getting back on a bicycle. Your videos have been very refreshing and I especially love learning again from an experienced gentleman as yourself. Thank you so much and all the very best to you.

Can't stop watching videos, soooo need to go to bed but they are so informative and hard to stop watching!

i like the way u let us look rather than just watch

Thank you for your video! I'm in a metals class right now and the teacher just makes us take notes and then were left on our own. This is nice to come back to and your very clear with your instructions. Thank you!

Thank you again Big John!!! Your the best teacher for certain, Cory

Thank you so much for making this series

Thank you for sharing your wisdom, Love your videos

Yep, I'll be watching you for days... ! I love the tools and the ease of saving time and money. I learn as much watching you share your shop as I do listening to your tips!

Great video John, I will definitely put your lesson to use in my jewelry making. Thank you for the video.

Great video. Thank you!

Excellent video! Thank you!

Thank you excellent clear instructions.

Another great video with a wealth of information. Thanks so much!

Thank you so much for your video! I loved it, I'll be looking for more.

You explain things very well. 👍 Anyone can learn a lot from you. Thanks!

Great videos John.

Lol! You love that handy dandy sanding machine! I will definitely buy one!

Oh my gosh, just stumbled into you guys and I love these videos, thank you! I've been teaching myself metalsmithing for a few months (after being a wire wrapping artist for a few years) and these are so thorough and he really is very pleasant to watch. Makes me smile! My new favorite!

Love your videos.

Thank you so much!! The most helpful video and so many tips 🙏👍👍👍💜

Thank you, excellent video!!

Wow I've learned more today watching your videos than a years worth of others on here. So glad I found your channel!!! Thanks so much!

Fantastic!

I'm binging on your videos John. I have learned so much from you. I can teach you how to cook as a trade.😀

I appreciate the tutorial and sharing your talents with me 💙😁

YUREKA!!!...how fortunate for me that i found you and this video tutorial!...this shank has eluded me for so long and you have taken the mystery out of the equation and i can now (with confidence), create this shank for my large rings that have been begging for such beautiful bands like this!...thank you for sharing and i am now a subscriber, i am so grateful...

Thank you so much for you.

Thanks so much for your video. It definitely has helped me figure out some issues on how to do these types of ring shanks. ;)

@DurangoSilver

4 жыл бұрын

thank you for watching. glad we could help

muchas muchaS muchas gracias por compartir aprendo mucho de usted cariño desde Perú

HAHAHA - I found/watched this video after I made my first three prong ring with a flattened half round wire and indeed had a squiggly line from sawing straight up and down. I had a heck of a time truing the prongs up to my liking. The next one will be better, now that you showed me how to saw the prongs so my line is straight. This metalsmithing is a series mistakes (I laugh at almost every one because I'm always so surprised) followed by successes - so..... life as I know it. Anyway - THANK YOU FOR YOUR VIDEOS.

Thanks for the video! I like your spirit too 😅

You're putting me to sleep John. LOL!

Any idea where I can find the measuring guide for the rings/bracelets? That ruler is awesome!!

@musashinagatsubo9574

2 жыл бұрын

I've been searching too. Seems they don't make them now.

@renepaz4208

2 жыл бұрын

I was just about to ask that same question. Rio Grande has a yellow ruler they sell but I don’t think it’s the same thing. I think it’s for a fully closed ring. So the search continues

Wonderful video, thank you. The final result that you are showing at the end, which one is it? The shank made out of the 16 gauge sheet? Or the one made out of the 6 gauge half round wire?

great !!!! for a beginner is better to use a ring bender ?

Great video, thanks John. I'm a beginner and about to make my first split shank so this video has really helped. If I were to just cut the shank into two (rather than three as shown in one of your examples) would I need to make any alterations to your method, less hammering to flatten for example? Thank you 😊

What gauge for the shank? Love the video!!

Mr. Hartman what is the name and make of your drumel machine. P & T. Always enjoy your videos and the information you provide.

Great video! Where did you get the small dividers? Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

@DurangoSilver

4 жыл бұрын

Those small dividers came from my dad. He was a machinist. I think they are from the 1940's.

Love your method of teaching. Very informative and considerate of your audience. I was also wanting to know the different gauge of sheet metal for the different size cabs for rings? Does this standard also go for pendants as well? Thanks for sharing 😊

@DurangoSilver

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much. So, everyone does something different when it comes to building jewelry. I have my preferences I have built over the years. I like to gauge how thick of sheet I will use by the size of the stone and the feel of the piece I am making. In general, for most standard bezel rings, bracelets, and rings, with an average size stone, say from 10 mm to 24 mm large, I like to use 24 gauge sheet. When I am making a heavy weight bezel piece I use 22 - 20 gauge sheet. When making earrings I like to use 26 to 28 gauge sheet to keep the setting lightweight. General rule of thumb, the larger the stone, the thicker the sheet. I hope this kinda answers your question.

@kay0816ify

4 жыл бұрын

Turquoise Jewelry | Durango Silver Company Thanks it did answer my question. I’m new to making jewelry using soldering so this helps. I started with wire wrapping and weaving. Looking forward to your next video! Maybe something showing how you embellish when you design.

@tammygurl64

4 жыл бұрын

@@kay0816ify Hi. I started with wire wrapping too and have recently started learning more about being a bench jeweler. I suppose that's the usual progression for anyone who enjoys this kind of hobby. I find it very fascinating and so glad I found this channel. He has so much experience and is great at teaching. Best wishes on your jewelry making quest! 🙂

@kay0816ify

4 жыл бұрын

tammygurl64 😊 Best of luck to you as well.

What grit are you using on your sanding machine? thanks

John,i think your sander needs a bigger motor,lol.

John, I just bought one of your rings from Durango Silver, 7 days ago, and the ring bent. The shank seems like it is too thin? What should I do?

Where do I find the jewelers ruler tool?

I’m sorry but I missed something. Did you make the shank out of the 6gauge wire or from the piece of sheet? I don’t understand what I missed. Your videos are awesome!! @DURANGO SILVER COMPANY

Thank you so much for these, they are great! Does anyone know the name of the ring ruler template he has? I don't think he said what it was called

@jackiedavies3751

3 жыл бұрын

No but I would like to know.

@jewelrybyjd

3 жыл бұрын

If you stop the video. It says Indian Jewelers Supply on it.

turn the gas off and and than release the gases in hoses , otherwise your hose will deteriate and you end up with a fire or an explosion and that can happen anytime the chemistry of the gas in the hoses will eat the rubber of the hoses ..... ( ,,from experinced weldor :a welder is a machine but a weldor is a welding machine operator Super important safty !) learned that in PIT provincial institute of trades college in the 60s toronto on. can.

I love you😘

Are you using .925 SS for everything, including the bezel strip?

@SixStringSlinger1

2 ай бұрын

The bezel strips are genuinely .999 fine silver for southwest style and I believe I heard John say he does the same. Don't quote me though.

When you bend the ring with the half-round pliers, doesn't the metal get marred? If so, how do you minimize the marring?

@DurangoSilver

4 жыл бұрын

Usually we use half round pliers to get a better grip. You can use round wires, but when working with thicker heavier materials they really do not work well. So the trick is to use the round side on the section of metal you do not want to mare. Use the square side on the section of metal you plan to sand and buff.

@sororbudwiser

4 жыл бұрын

@@DurangoSilver Ahh, that makes sense, I didn't think about that. Thanks ;)

I'm in love with your sanding machine, can I ask what it's called or where I can look for one? And thank you for such a great video on split shanks. Much appreciated.

@kiratabor3379

4 жыл бұрын

It's a belt sander and you can buy them at Harbor Freight or Home Depot. I bought mine from Harbor Freight and it was about $50

I like you 😊

Now! how do u solder it?

Put the mike under your chin. I love your videos

Please turn Up the Volume on your camera, so I can Hear you

Why did we make the other shank where did it go

Learn how to make a silver turquoise ring at the Plaster of Paris.

Love the content, just hard to hear everything he is saying, keep up the good work!

I use to have that ruler with the open and close ring shank scale and now no one sells them I have looked all over you can find a regular one but it does not have the open ring shank scale on it can anyone tell me where to get one.

Half Round wire looks like 4 gauge - 6 gauge?

@DurangoSilver

4 жыл бұрын

6 gauge on this one

Gee...where do you think I can buy the dividers?

@DurangoSilver

5 жыл бұрын

Riogrande.com

I need a job.......

The devil is in the details with jewelry, while handmade stuff can have minute errors, it can still be perfected with small enough files, tools, attention to detail, and precision. Though it's acceptable to have imperfections, always strive for perfection when you make things that cost money. You will only get better and better.

One of my "mentors" who is just about to retire said to me today when I mentioned, "Even after 12 years of SERIOUS study and self-teaching (there are no teachers or schools here where I am) I still have so many questions and hardly anyone wants to share the real stuff (info)". His answer: "Well nobody told me anything, you just have to figure it out". So I have piles of buffs and various compounds and have no idea how to use which with what. Even Rio won't tell you, They say: Well, they are great for different things, find what works for you..." (Sell sell sell...). Your video here just leapfrogged me towards success. And believe me, I am chucking the shitty dry crumbly greasy Rio "Tripoli" in the bin! One question please, after a million thanks; which exact buff are you using on the right side (wheel) of the rouge buffer, for the Zam rouge? It's the neon green-looking one. I am so happy to have found your channel - believe me, I've been looking for the real working info - for 100 years!

ha ha....vry funny u got 26 minute for dis type of small work........

@DurangoSilver

5 жыл бұрын

Yep. We are trying to teach people that DO NOT know how to make jewelry. We are not trying to show off or to teach jewelers that already know how to make jewelry. Thank you for your input and opinion.

@BlacksmithSEAL

4 жыл бұрын

@@DurangoSilver I've been working with silver, cutting my own cabs from slab and smaller rough stones, and mounting cabs for both pendants and rings since 2016. I was shown some basics by a master jeweler who has his own shop, and I learned a tremendous amount, but just watching John work, and listening to his constant stream of tips and tricks has proved to be amazingly valuable to me. Thanks John and Dillon, for taking the time to share your skills and tips... and to offer them in a manner that just about anyone can easily understand. John, you're a natural teacher! I'm already using many of those tips in my work, and getting an order ready for some tools you've shown which are absolutely invaluable. I primarily use Rio Grande for my supplies, and cannot begin to thank you enough for offering the stock numbers for each of those items which you use. It's made it very easy to obtain exactly what I need. What about making a video about adding small embellishments to rings and pendants? Perhaps consider something about adding those side skirts to ring shanks that make them so unique and look so great. Possibly also something about adding small cast elements such as feathers, leaves, or raindrops in various combinations... to show how designing ideas can be derived while sitting at the bench. Thanks again!