Cool Tools: Sawing Essentials
By Helen L. Driggs, Managing Editor
Don't leave good blade karma to chance.

Download our Universal Gauge Chart (PDF)

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Looking for Bronze?
Two of our July projects call for bronze sheet in their materials lists. True bronze (the kind from antiquity, with tin in the alloy) is not that easy to find in small quantities of sheet, although casting grain is available. A reasonable substitute is rich low brass, containing up to 20% zinc. Most suppliers refer to any tin-bearing or golden color brass as bronze, and there are many alloy formulas, so ask for details when purchasing. Cover artist Joanna Gollberg recommends Metalliferous in New York City: www.metalliferous.com or 212-944-0909. They carry rich low brass alloy 230 (85% copper and 15% zinc) in sheet and wire.

Bead Fest Philadelphia - August 21-24, 2008.
Find Classes in Metals, Wire, Chain-Maille and More....

Find events happening near you with our Show Calendar of upcoming gem, mineral, jewelry and bead shows.

News & Notices keeps you up-to-date with the latest goings-on in the jewelry, gem, bead and crafts world. Find jewelry and gem exhibits, contest deadlines, new announcements, conferences, and more...

Look for jewelry-making and metalsmithing classes in your area in our new Jewelry Classes section.

Keum-boo Pillow Pendant
by Christine Dhein
Intermediate metals project. Use the ancient Korean technique of Keum-boo to bond pure gold foil on top of a pure silver pendant form.

Buy a Step by Step Instant Article Reprint!
Lots of great step-by-step projects, from jewelry-making to gem-cutting, wire jewelry and beadwork. Browse jewelry-making and gemcutting projects you can buy and download.

Step-by-Step Project Index - more how-to projects on lapidary, beads, and jewelry-making!

SEARCH Step-by-Step Projects!

The 2008 Gemmy Awards Winners
See the winning entries of our 2008 lapidary and gem cutting competition.

Enter your designs into the 2009 Gemmy Awards!

Feature Story Index
More stories & articles

The 2008 Jewelry Arts Awards Winners
See the winning entries of our 2008 jewelry design competition.

Search our 2008 Product and Supplier database by dealer, products, or location! (Just updated for 2008, 4/17/08)
Or buy searchable listings online.

More suppliers can be found in our Website Directory!

Our Fee Mining section is a handy directory of mines and quarries for the mineral collector or curious prospector.
Browse our Gem & Rock Shop Directory for local gem and mineral shops.

Find great values in our Gem, Jewelry Making, Tools & Equipment, Minerals and Findings/Supplies in our Classifieds

Browse companies selling their wares online in the Website Directory.

Helpful information to get you more involved in the field is located in this section. Find Schools & Classes, Visit Museums, Join a Lapidary or Mineral Club, Read Book and Video Reviews, etc.

SOUND OFF! Fill in our reader survey to let us know what you like and what you'd like to see more of.