New Tools in the Studio!

My jewelry tool wish list has always been long—ever since I first started making jewelry. I do a little happy dance every time I get to cross something off that list! Investing in the proper tools is always worth it, because they make the fabrication process easier and faster.

I’ve had a rolling mill for sheet for some time now, which I use to turn ingots into silver sheet and to recycle my silver scrap. But I’ve been wanting a wire rolling mill for ages—and I finally got one! With the rising cost of silver, it’s been harder financially to buy large amounts of sheet and wire, so this tool couldn’t have come at a better time.

I am so excited about rolling out my own wire! Yes, it adds more fabrication time, but in the long run it will save me money. When jewelers return their silver scrap to the refinery, they usually get back about 85% of the current silver price. That means there’s always some loss. By rolling out my own, I can keep more of that value in my studio.

The Pepetools wire rolling mill can form triangular, half-round, oval, square, round, and bezel wire. It really has all the bells and whistles! I’ve already given it a whirl—I melted some scrap, poured the molten silver into small ingots, and rolled out oval, triangular, and half-round wire. I especially love the oval wire—it’s going to be so much fun to design with.

After all that excitement with the rolling mill, I also treated myself to something a little less glamorous but just as important: storage.

My other favorite studio purchase is a new storage cabinet for my tools. Every now and then my studio turns into a big mess (I think that’s the norm for most artists!). I’m always looking for ways to reorganize and make my space more functional.

My new Yukon storage cabinet is both beautiful and practical. I was able to tuck so many tools into its drawers, which freed up a surprising amount of counter space. Having a clear, open bench makes such a difference when I’m working on new creations—I feel less cluttered and more focused.

These little studio upgrades have already made a big difference in my process. Do you have a favorite tool or organization hack that makes your creative work easier? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

May your solder always flow

Laura