Reddit mentions: The best beading & jewelry making crafts

Books: This is what I said when replying to another thread for book recommendations. I love the CherryPicker's Guide - these will pay for themselves over and over. I don't personally recommend Striking it Rich, but to each their own. I'd rather see you "creep" a coin forum where die varieties and mint errors are discussed and new finds shared than spend a ton on books right out of the gate. I might also recommend learning about the entire minting process (I think a book called From Mine to Mint?) - this will help you understand how die varieties and mint errors are created in the first place and eliminate the confusion between a true doubled die and something like strike doubling.

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Bookmarks: John Wexler has a very useful site called doubleddie.com with lots of images and descriptions of die varieties. CONECA has a Master Listing of all known die varieties for US Coins and a forum (that, honestly, I rarely visit because no one ever replies to my posts there.) These are just a couple examples; there are tons of great websites out there for you to reference (even PCGS and NGC have some nice high-quality images of varieties they attribute, which also can be very helpful when determining value.) Start building your set of web bookmarks and it will make things easier for you in the long run. PCGS Photograde is a free online reference to help you learn how to grade US Coins, for example.

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Loupe: I'm always happy to recommend the BelOMO 10x Triplet Loupe - it's the loupe I've been using for about a decade now. IMO 10x is large enough to see even tiny varieties, and you'll mostly be concerned with the quality of the glass and metal. Lots of those cheap plastic loupes say they are higher magnifications, but aren't, or the "glass" isn't even glass (let alone high-quality glass.) I like the shape of the loupe and the texture of it - if your hands get sweaty, it won't slip out (like the cheaper chrome-plated examples you find at every coin shop.) You really, really want good quality glass here - save your eyes - and the better quality glass and larger field of vision (wider glass) the easier it will be on you. Cheap loupes make it hard to focus properly.

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Magnet: Get yourself a decently strong magnet - this will help diagnose some bad counterfeits out there. I think I got mine at a local hardware store. I'm always amazed when a coin shop doesn't USE the magnet and buys a bunch of fakes...like, did we forget how to deal coins today or something?

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Scale: I have been using an AWS SC-2kg scale for a few years now with decent results. My older version doesn't have an AC Adapter (just battery operated.) This will also help you diagnose counterfeits and other various mint errors.

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Lamps: IKEA sells their Jansjo gooseneck LED lamps for less than ten bucks. They have a few different styles of these including some with clamps. They will be bright enough for variety hunting and if you get a few of them can be useful in coin imaging.

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I tried to use gloves, I really did. But when you drop half the coins because the cotton is too slippery, it's best to learn how to properly hold a coin in your hand. I bought a really nice set of coin tongs in person at a coin shop somewhere - can't remember where - but they are sold on Amazon and eBay now. The problem with them, though, is that the company is in Germany and the shipping is more than the cost of the item.

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I'd start learning how to image your coins as you look for varieties and errors. If you can take a good image of a die variety, chances are someone will be able to help you attribute it. I've never had good luck with the cheapo LED USB microscopes that are available, they all take crappy images, don't work with my computer, etc. I've returned every one. This could be an entire other discussion, honestly.

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I love using my tablet (I maxed out with an iPad Pro a couple years ago) for reference books and cherrypicking on eBay. It's wonderful to have a ton of reference books/manuals/coin images handy and portable.

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Other than that - best of luck to you, and we'll do our best to help. Just remember at the beginning to take a breath before you get all amped up and start thinking you've found a valuable variety on every coin you see. I've seen it so many times - new person shows up, posts thirty threads about thirty different coins, none of which have usable images (all out of focus for example) and then gets butt hurt when people tell them their coins are worth face value.

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Don't take it personally.

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It takes time and persistence to learn how to find real varieties. THEY ARE OUT THERE, though...I just found a nice 1934 DDO Quarter in a bag someone told me fifty times had been searched and searched (he's just that kind of a person, though, so I just ignored him.)

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I have had GREAT luck with rock stores (ie where you would go to buy crystals/geodes/etc). My local rock store has a yearly trunk show, and I end up getting really cool stuff for very reasonable prices. Lots of cool/interesting pendants, rings, etc. I'm wearing a dendritic agate ring from there right now, actually!

Things at rock stores are often set in Sterling Silver, so the maintenance is very easy and they go with a lot of different things. The added benefit is that you can find things that can be either fun and funky or classic and serious depending on the context of the rest of your outfit. I don't do earrings this way so much, but it's GREAT for rings and pendants.

I also second whoever said local vintage/resale places. I always check the jewelry display at my local savers and Goodwills. The jewelry at vintage shops is often a little more curated, but it can be a crapshoot as far as quality goes. I have specific stores I go to for their jewelry selection, but I only know to go there for jewelry because I've spent a lot of time looking at the case and deciding if it's worth it. Additionally, Goodwill has the "Goodwill boutique" stores now, and those are often filled with higher-quality or trendier items.

My #1 tip: silver tarnishes. Most resale shops do not polish it. You can find amazing, tarnished silver jewelry that cleans up right away with a sunshine cloth. Get a sunshine cloth.

My #2 tip: sometimes vintage stores will have pins/brooches that are amazing. You can often convert these to pendants. I've become much more of a brooch person recently due to some amazing happenstance discoveries, and I always get compliments on them. A lot of people consider brooches to be an old lady thing (which is absurd imo) so you can make some amazing finds.

I've gotten pretty things at Madewell, too, but I have a mixed track record with those things breaking, so YMMV. Another thing I'd say for this time of year is to hit up those Christmas craft market pop-ups--you'll find cool stuff that you might not encounter just searching online.

Well since I know you've got a KME I've got 2 approaches you can take with what you've already got.


1: Use the 100-1500 grit stones then use 3m wet/dry sandpapers up through 5k grit (you have to cut them to size and fold a bit over the corner of the stone to clamp them onto the stone itself) to refine the edge.


Then instead of strops you can use cardstock or characoal drawing paper with a heavy tooth to load inexpensive diamond compounds onto them.


[I honestly use these a lot and they work as well as anything]( https://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Lapping-Polishing-Compound-microns/dp/B00MALWGBI/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=diamond+lapping+paste&qid=1558986424&s=gateway&sr=8-6 )


This would give your viewers who want to invest SOME money in a great sharpening system but don't want to spend an additional 1000 bucks on gear or fancy angle correction tools. The sandpaper and paper for the strop compounds are so thin it (pretty much) doesn't matter and since the stones which come with the KME are all the same thickness (if you get the diamond ones) you'll be set using those as a backing for the sandpaper.


Now as far as fancier stones. You'll have to utilize angle correction tools but [here is a tremendous resource]( https://www.gritomatic.com/collections/kme-stones ) for stones for the KME system. Now the HARDEST natural ones "can" break down and refine vanadium carbides in steels but also can perform differently based on how much pressure is used. The Belgian coticule stones are also quite nice and less costly than some of the other natural stones.



Now on to actual sharpening stones themselves.... Wait for Vitrified Diamond Water Stones from PracticalSharpening.com or @karolis_griskevicius on IG if you want the next best thing there ever was in sharpening.


Otherwise the DMT Diasharp continuous diamond plates are a great choice for a low maintenance option. You can just splash them with some water with dawn dishsoap in it and go to town with them. Shapton glass stones are another nice option. Atoma plates are like the next step up from DMT.


For grits you really don't need a mega fine mirror edge to get an extremely fine edge. The different grit progressions and types of stones can yeild different types of edges.


For starting out I'd get a DMT/ Atoma Coarse, Fine and then go with one of [these CBN]( https://www.practicalsharpening.com/benchstones1/metallic-bonded-cbn-sharpening-bench-stones )stones to finish things off.


Keep in mind that most abrasives won't matter for even hard steels as long as they're fresh but Diamond stuff is the least PITA thing to use. Once you get to like 4000 grit or 5 ish microns you NEED to worry a bit more about carbide tearout and burnishing edges on the more crazy steels.


I'd try to go with (around, exact stuff isn't too big of a deal) something like 220-320 grit, 500-800 grit, then 3-5000 grit for stones. Then with the aforementioned strop pastes you will have 5, 3.5, 3, 2.5, 1.5, 1, .5, and .25 micron diamonds to work with.


https://www.tandyleather.com/en/ will have like half or quarter hides of vegetable tanned leather. Get some free paint stir sticks at your local hardware store for 5 gallon paint cans by lying and saying you bought some the other day (or just ask I dunno) and then wipe both the leather and sticks in alcohol. Once dry use permanent 2 side mounting tape to affix the stuff to one another in a stroppy type fashion. Then going from the finest strop compound to the least fine, rub them all into the leather strops. Wear gloves if you care to.


Save one strop with nothing on it, this will be the finishing strop.

Alright, so to make these you need

• Beads, of course.
  
  I use Hama Beads, they're from Denmark and generally harder to find in the US, but the "standard" ones are Perler Beads. They're a bit smaller than Hama's. I haven't used these but the reviews are good, so you can use them too :D Hama has a bit more colors, but that shouldn't be a problem.
  
  
• Pegboards. ^^kek
  
  These are the plates where you put your beads on to create a nice piece. A normal Pegboard is 29x29, so it can fit 841 beads on it. You can stick the plates together for making a larger piece (i.E. for the Ephixa one I used 3x3 plates, so I had a field of 87x87). These are for Perler and these for Hama.
  
  
• Parchment paper
  
  
• a clothing iron
  
  
  If you have all of that, you
  
  

1. Look for something you wanna create/remake, there a plenty of pictures if you search for "xxx perler bead" on google, or you can look at /r/beadsprites for ideas. If there aren't any available you can convert a photo into a pixelated pattern with some websites or programs, I use this one.
   
   
   
2. Create the image by placing the beads on the boards by hand.
   
   
3. The usual method is to now put the parchment paper on the board and iron it, but this has many disadvantages with larger pieces, so I use this method. It's a lot more convenient and it protects your pegboards.
   
   
4. When you either have it on the pegboard or now on your tape you put parchment paper over it and start to iron it, simply go in circles and take a look after a few seconds, the duration depends on the size of the piece you made.
   
   
5. When you ironed it you put some heavy stuff, like books, on the piece to prevent it from wrapping when it cools down.
   
   Thats basically the progress, looks veeeery heavy but it's easy after you've made your first 1-2 pieces, so if you want to try it out the bitbird logo would be the perfect start, you only need 2 colors and 1 plate. I hope I didn't explain it bad, here are some useful links to help you :)
   
   

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  E: If there are any language mistakes I apologize, as I stated I'm from Germany and explaining stuff is kinda hard sometimes lmao

I'd check out a TWSBI Eco. Very nice pens for about 30 euros. Order it in a fine or extra fine nib.

And yeah, you can have some problems. Bleedthrough is an issue that can be solved by using a well behaved ink. Noodler's Black or X-Feather are good inks for preventing this. Using better paper is a good solution, too, but that's more expensive. Black n Red notebooks are pretty cheap and work well. In my experience, TOPS notebooks work super well with fountain pens and are dirt cheap.

A finer nib will be slightly more feedbacky (but it shouldn't be scratchy - it shouldn't feel like it's digging into the paper). If it feels like it's digging into the paper while writing, something's wrong. Try writing figure eights, and if it feels more scratchy in one direction than another, then the tines are probably out of alignment. This is a very very easy fix. All you need to fix it is some sort of magnifier (I find that a 30x/60x jeweler's loupe from Amazon is the best tool to get a good look at the tip of your nib. If you can't afford the ten buck to get one, that's fine, use a magnifying glass or whatever you can get your hands on. Even zoom on a camera would work. If you don't have ANY of that, you can even just do trial and error.

Basically, see if the two metal tines (the two sides of the nib) are misaligned at the tip, and if one is longer than the other. A head-on view and an above view work well for this. If they're misaligned, it's an easy fix and I'll tell you how to do it. If one is too long.... that's more complicated and if that's the case, I'll tell you how to fix it then.

So: To fix misaligned tines, basically just press the one that's too low up with your thumbnail. Don't push hard, just until you feel what feels like a little bit more resistance than you'd use while writing, and then let go. Keep doing this, and check through the magnifier to see if it's aligned yet. If it is, then go ahead and try writing with it and see if it's better. If it's not aligned or not better, keep trying.

Hope this helps, ask me any questions you want! Have a great day!

Hey! I'm by no means an expert in this, but I figured I could at least try to answer.

First off- Welcome! It's super awesome that you're so interested in bead spriting. Now, onto the answers!

• Fuse, hama, and perler beads are all technically different things!
  
  • Fuse beads - Refers to any/all types of beads used for bead spriting. Sort of like how Crayola and Roseart both make crayons, "fuse" is the type of product all bead-based companies produced. They're beads that are FUSED together through, generally, ironing.
    
  • Perler beads, as far as I can tell, are sort of the U.S standard for fuse beads. They're also the only kind I'm familiar with! "Perler" refers to the brand. Their website is here!
    
  • Hama beads, as far as I can tell, are the U.K standard for fuse beads. They're more or less the same (with slight variation in color, and though I've never used Hama, i'd imagine there's a different melting rate) as perler beads. "Hama", like "Perler", refers to the brand. You can view their website here!
    
    • I'm unfamiliar with the quality of Perler vs Hama. I'd order more based on what's convenient for your location- as a beginner, I can't imagine you're dead-set on figuring out the hyperspecifics of qualities!
      
• If I were you, I'd buy supplies separately. I purchase a lot of my stuff from Joanne in-person, but I'd imagine similar products are available online. My purchasing habits sort of go as follows...
  
  • If I know I need a specific color, I buy a bag of that specific color. For instance, I use black beads a lot for outlining, so I always try to have lots of them on-hand.
    
  • You can't do beading without a pegboard! Because I tend to only do sprite patterns, I don't need any specific shape of board. Perler makes a lot of boards in certain shapes- things like horses or dolls- for kids. These are awesome options to look into, but personally, I use a big, clear, rectangular board.
    
  • You also can't iron your designs (or, at least, shouldn't) without some sort of protection. You can get a roll of ironing paper, though I know there's some alternative ironing methods on this sub.
    
  • This might not be the best tip, but it's how I do/did it. If you're looking for a variety of colors and don't mind sorting, you can buy bulk buckets of various colors of beads. Buckets like this have a wide variety of colors, but you won't get quite as many of any one color, and you have to sort. It's a trade-off; you can get a few of a wide variety, or a lot of one color in bags.
    
  • You might want to consider a case if you're planning on organizing your beads.
    
• There's DEFINITELY better advice than this, but if you want it to have a more melty look, more heat is gonna get that. I'd go for lower heat for longer, rather than ramping up the heat for the same amount of time. Too much heat in any case can be damaging; it can warp the board or you can end up with wrinkles in your design.
  
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  hope this helps!

Hey everyone! I posted a few weeks ago with concerns about the cut of my moissanite stone - it was cloudy, dull, and had no fire.

I left the company name out of my original post because I wanted to keep things objective, but the stone was from C&C and I was very disappointed.

After I posted and got confirmation from you guys that something looked off, I called their customer support and they sent me a special cleaning cloth free of charge to remove any “film” or oil slick from the stone. Honestly, I wasn’t super impressed with this resolution and didn’t have high hopes it would works, but I tried to keep a positive attitude until the cloth arrived.

Well, it arrived yesterday and holy crap. This stone looks SO MUCH BETTER! There is actually fire and sparkles to the stone. I’m so happy, I can’t stop looking at it.

I’ve heard that other people have needed to clean a film off their stone, but didn’t think I would have that issue with a brand new stone. So, if you’re having issues with dullness in your moissanite I would recommend you give the sunshine cloth a try!

I lost weight and now my ring is too big, but I don't want to resize it until I'm sure that my finger is staying the same size it is. I bought this temporary ring resizer on Amazon and it's awesome. It's just a tiny PVC tube cut into a spiral that you twist onto the ring. Can't fall off, rotates easily so you can put the ring on easily, and it's not visible from the outside of my hand. It comes with a few sizes too so you can get the fit exactly right. If the "wait for the wedding band to hold it in place" solution is your favorite option, this might be a good temporary solution.

I can take a picture of my hand if you want to see how it looks, just let me know!

Anniversary trip to Disney, color me jealous. I'm going to DL in October this year, I can't wait!

My favorite movie is Wall-E, though as a Disney addict it's hard for me to choose when there are so many. Lion King was probably my favorite as a kid, but there is something so charming about Wall-E. Plus it has M-O, whose one of my all time favorite Disney characters. (The Cheshire cat is my other favorite, I have a tattoo of him on my shoulder.)

2) Haunted Mansion Bust Ornament Set! I love all the Disney ornaments.

3) See ya real soon!

4) Black Perler Beads! I'm out of black, which severely limits what I can make.

5) I went to Disney World as a graduation gift from my parents, after high school. I partied hard the week before I went, between the school run Grad night party (which took place immediately after graduation) and friends various parties. I actually got home the night we were supposed to fly out three hours before we left for the airport for our seven am flight. Now we live in Oregon, I'm a ginger (I burn so easily its not even funny) we flew into Florida during record breaking temperatures (all time highs) and my parents are go-getters in Disney. Get up early, run hard during the day, go to bed late kinda people. It's a LOT of fun, but within two days I had succumbed to the wonderful combination of; heatstroke, jetlag, severe lack of sleep, and general exhaustion. I ended up crashing hard in this 50s themed restaurant (at least I think it was it was kid of a blur, but a kickass restaurant we went there later after I wasn't so sick) We were waiting for our name to be called to be seated, and the bartender noticed I was really out of it. He informed us we could eat at the bar and was really concerned about me. Gave me meds, and then talked about all these funny stories, everything from him moving to Florida and being startled by the spaceships to Disney stuff. I've met some wonderful CM's but this guy just went above and beyond. We were quoting things he said for months afterwords, it was so funny. I ended up getting really sick that night, sleeping late, and then was (thankfully) totally fine the rest of the trip, but it always stuck with me just how nice he was and how concerned he was. That's the kind of thing that makes Disney so magical to me. I always see someone do something extraordinary like that every time I visit one of the parks.

The three finger test is a great test, but only once you have properly calibrated your fingertips against a knife that is truly sharp. If you don't know what a sharp knife feels like on your fingertips, it isn't going to be a whole lot of help here.

Until you get to that point, here is a much better guide:

http://knifegrinders.com.au/Manuals/Sharpness_Chart.pdf

Also, while a 8x - 10x jewelers loupe is certainly helpful, one of these is much more helpful:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078N34WZR

And one of these is much more helpful still:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XNYXQHE

I try to keep my bag as streamlined as possible but I like to be prepared.

Here are the things I always bring:

-cheap plastic poncho everyday / higher quality rain jacket when rain is expected

-refillable plastic water bottle (I carry a 12 oz nalgene) with bottle of mio flavoring

-small bottle of advil and another with dramamine ( I get motion sick easily)

- Locking pin backs for keeping trading pins secure.

-battery pack and phone charging cable

-snacks (I like to bring a bagel for a filling mid morning snack)

-small pack of baby wipes/hand wipes because I always end up eating something sticky.

** inflatable lightweight seat cushion for waiting on parades, fireworks, etc. (game changer!**)

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**If you get just one thing for the trip, I HIGHLY recommend the inflatable seat cushion if you intend to wait around for parades, fireworks, see any shows, etc. You'd be surprised after walking around for hours how much of a difference having a comfortable surface to sit on makes. It's by far my favorite park item.

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Have a great trip!

Have you tried water beads? OMG. They are AMAZING. I absolutely would only use them with kids that have stopped putting stuff in their mouths all the time, though.

But I bought some and they are awesome. The kids LOVED them, and they are cheap AF. I got a bag I linked to. I took a rubbermaid container and measured them out and left them sit overnight. I used 1/4 of the bag, and it made enough to cover the bottom of the container and fill it up a couple of inches. Plus, you can dry them back out and use them again. These will definitely be on my go-to list with 2's and up from now on.

I also got a big bag of dried pinto beans at costco. 20 pounds or so. I put them in a couple of containers, and let the boys go to town. They bury their hands and feet in them, they hide toys in them, they pour them into other containers, they put it in the back of their dump trucks and dump them into stuff, etc. I think we paid about $20 total for the beans and the buckets we keep them in, and it has provided HOURS of entertainment. It's also a lot easier to clean up than other sensory stuff I've used before, and it doesn't stick to them like rice does.

A free and easy one to do is ice! Freeze some small toys in ice cubes, freeze some colored cubes and use them to paint canvases outside. Freeze ice in different shapes and sizes.

Have you tried putting different stuff in it? Water beads are my favorite thing for the water table. At that age you have to supervise to make sure they aren't eating them, but they aren't toxic if it happens. I've nannied and worked at a daycare. So, I've worked with a lot of crazy kids around that age. Water beads are always a hit. Just put some spoons, measuring cups, different sized containers and they'll play for hours. I suggest you do it outside because they do end up on the ground.

MarvelBeads Water Beads Rainbow Mix, 8 oz (20,000 beads) for Orbeez Spa Refill, Sensory Toys and Décor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018HSB7GW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_my6Ozb8AW9J5W

I also have done different sensory bins. You can freeze ice in different colors, or freeze a bowl of ice with toys in it. Instant snow was also a big hit.

Be Amazing Insta-Snow Jar, Makes 2 Gallons https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FA6APE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BC6OzbRCNGNGE

Finding activities where he will entertain himself will be a life saver. Getting out of the house to kid safe places also can really help. Parks, children's museums, water pads, etc. Places where he can be a crazy high energy kid and it's ok. It can be so hard and stressful some days, but it sounds like you're doing a great job!

The main problem people have sharpening premium steels, including myself when I first started, is not taking the time to create an apex and de-burr before moving up, you should be able to get a good edge with a 200 grit stone that can shave arm hairs, then de-burr by pulling through wood or lightly across the Stone and move on to the next grit, getting it sharp enough to shave arm hair at the end of each grit, stropping at the end should only be to give it that last little bit to make it better, it builds on an already existing sharpness and makes it better.
When it loses that super keen sharp edge, stropping gets that edge back to a similar keenness without removing too much metal, it's the cherry on top, not the ice cream

Go for [diamond lapping pastes](7pcs 5 gram Diamond Lapping Paste Polishing Compound For Fine to Final Polishing, Grits 0.25 to 5.0 microns https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MALWGBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_SMRAxbPCYBVVR) they work best on all types of high end steel since the diamond is harder than all the various carbides, and those particular ones have a much more consistent grit size than other compounds

(Posted this on your r/christmas post, but sometimes they remove things with links, so I'm posting here too!)

I really like the Grimm's toys. They are kind of expensive, but super cool for kids to stack and build, organize by size/shape/color, and they are made out of wood which is a nice different texture than all the plastic toys kids have. My 4 year old son loves playing with all his Grimm's stuff. We have the large rainbow, some of the little peg people, the trees, fairy houses, and some blocks. I would also suggest kinetic sand, play silks and costumes, a rocker board, and water beads. All the above are great sensory toys and are big hits with kids with or without autism!

Follow-up for those interested.

I orders two models from Amazon: model 1 and model 2. I finally got a chance to try them on with earrings today. I was quickly obvious that the spring on model 2 was too strong and would hurt my lobe after a while. On the other hand, model 1 was just perfect and I think I could wear it all day long without a problem.

In both cases, they are staying in place no matter what. In the name of science, I even tried jumping and dancing to see if they would come off and they didn't go anywhere. At the same time, they would definitely come off if you pulled on them directly, which gives me some sense of security compared to regular earrings that are really attached to your ear.

Model 2 has just a tiny ring at the bottom through which to thread the hook. Model 1 has some sort of little cone filled with rubber, very similar to the ones that are typically used on the back of the lobe to lock the earring in place. This means you don't even need these stoppers at all and you might even be able to cut some of the hook to a shorter length.

Esthetically, it is fairly clear that the earring sits somewhat lower than intended. This technique probably doesn't work well with all styles. I think it works better with long dangling earrings. Smaller round-shaped ones that normally cover only the lobe would certainly look weird (I haven't tried). There are some other models where the attachment is placed higher up on the converter instead of at the bottom, which might help. A hairstyle that covers the ear entirely could also work.

Holy shit this is one of the best guides I've ever seen for something like this!

However, what are some good tool alternatives for people who don't normally do something like this? I don't have a pickle pot. Or a tumbler. Or a leather mallet. Or a ring mandrel. Or a buffing wheel.

Leather mallet isn't hard, I have a wooden mallet I can just stick some leather on. But pickle pot? Idk what that even does. Tumpler? Nope. Ring mandrel...eh...I could figure something out. Who knows, maybe they're cheap. Buffing wheel? Big fat nope.

Any ideas? I love the idea. I've worked with metal and soldering before, but that was with model airplanes, so things weren't meant to look pretty, they just had to function properly.

EDIT: Ok, time to answer my own questions.

I've already covered the hammer thing, so we'll skip that.

Boom, ring mandrel.

Boom, DIY pickle pot

BOOM, DIY tumbler thingy

And then you can buy a buffing attachment for a Dremel tool, and you can solder with just a standard propane blow torch. Easy peezy.

I take my ring off to shower and sleep, but my ring is definitely pretty darn loose when I'm cold. It spins around and can fall off if I really try to shake it off, or if it gets caught on something...like a pocket. I think the best option is to get a ring size adjuster that can be easily removed and put back on for days when it's a little looser. My ring size is already pretty small so I don't want to bring it down any further.

(October '18 bride here!) Firstly, congrats on your upcoming marriage!

Someone on r/weddingplanning suggested not trying on dresses too early. She went pretty early on in her weight loss and bought a dress that, while she still loves, isn't the style she would have bought for the body she has now. If you've always been fat, you might not be able to guess what will look good after you've lost weight. My FMIL is very excited to go dress shopping and I have to keep reminding myself that at this point it'll do more harm than good.

Another thing to remember about dresses is that dresses with beading are going to be much harder and more expensive to alter than other dresses. Corset backs can usually be added pretty easily, which will also help with sizing. Switch to maintenance after your last fitting to make sure your dress isn't too big on the big day!

If you're losing slowly, you have a better chance of avoiding loose skin. There's also anecdotal evidence that intermittent fasting will help tighten your skin, too. r/intermittentfasting might be of better help with that!

Last bit of advice is to not let anyone make you feel bad about losing weight "for your wedding." At least for me, losing weight is something I've needed to do for a long time- the wedding is just a motivator for making changes.

Edit: last-last piece of advice is to get a ring adjuster! As you lose more weight, this will allow you to keep wearing your ring without actually resizing it.

Absolutely!

Almost everything came from Amazon, it was a little more in some cases... but you cant beat their support. If something is broken its replaced immediately and I wanted that reassurance.

Here is a list of the important stuff:

Nitro Regulator: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DY9SBMB/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

CO2 Regulator (dual tap):https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0060NOX40/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Stout Faucet: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BO1KFY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Shank for the stout faucet (beer faucets came with shanks): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00829HN7E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Beer Faucets: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D6MSELA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thermostat: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0152LYY0I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Drip tray: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002NQIROA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This was the nitro tank (probably the best deal IMO), its a nitro coffee place but it holds beer gas fine :) - I had to use this specific one because of the space it had to fit into, I wanted everything to be self contained in my build: https://beveragelements.com/beverage_elements_shop/cold-brew-nitro-coffee/cold-brew-coffee-nitro-coffee-cylinders/23-cu-ft-nitrogen-cylinder-nitro-coffee/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwlqLdBRCKARIsAPxTGaVyfeABi5S7mFR-ByXCWkDGRbyimzJ52J-2TXkyxDyYABYQxXios2oaAiDuEALw_wcB

​

Obviously this thin wasn't cheap, but 3 tap kegerators aren't cheap either and this one does nitro! It was a decent investment spread over about 2 months of the build so that eased the pain on the wallet.

​

Yeah, no problem -- in order:

1. There's several places to get the tools, OttoFrei, Harbor Freight, Rio Grande, all have sites you can order from.
   
   
2. That's a doming block, here's a really fancy one I wish I had! Mine's only a 7-piece, does what I need for the most part. It's not 100% necessary for most coin rings, but it has two primary uses here: First you can use it to help pre-stretch the hole and bend the coin back -- if the coin fits on the mandrel fine, then this isn't needed, as you can just hammer it from there. But if the hole punched is too small to fit the mandrel naturally, you can use a smaller dome, just a bit bigger than the hole to stretch it out. Secondly, once the rings are almost done, the outer rim edge is always thicker, so the rings have a flared effect, I use the dome punch to flare the thinner "inner" edge out so the ring appears more flat. It looks better and feels better when wearing it.
   
   
3. The metal ring sizer is called a ring mandrel, most hobby stores carry them.
   
   
   
4. I used red rouge compound, I have a flex-shaft which makes for quick work, but if you have a dremmel, you can get polishing bits for it, too.

I got mine on amazon too for around $2.5 with free shipping

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007GJJRZC/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's probably not really 40x, but it definitely is better than when I was trying to details with my eyes alone. I got lasik, but it didn't make my vision THAT good haha

amazon has a great selection of loupes

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K0BGNNC/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This one has a stronger 60x magnification. I use this to confirm the laser inscription on my diamond as well as to really look at small details on the diamond

I bought a Jewelers Loupe from Amazon and held it up in front of my Google Pixel phone. It took a few pictures to get a good one, but my phone has a pretty good camera to work with. I think next time I would get something with 100x, the 60x is decent (what I used for the closer ones), but the 30x is pretty hard to tell what color the trichs are.

Purchase a jeweler's loupe.

Use it to look at the individual trichomes (crystals) on the buds. They will initially be glassy clear and will look like small mushrooms. Then will begin to turn cloudy/milky as the buds mature. Then amber. When about 30-40% of the trichomes are amber, she's ready. This will give you the most potent buds and the most accurate expression of the plant.

Looking great though!

I use a jeweler's loupe for magnification, specifically I bought this one:
https://smile.amazon.com/DBPOWER-Illuminated-Jewelers-Magnifier-Magnifying/dp/B00K0BGNNC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1486750468&sr=8-5&keywords=jewelers+loop

I just put my phone camera lens on the eyepiece to take pictures, and it works pretty well. The one I linked to is nice as well since it comes with LED lights to high illuminate it, which can be really useful considering how close you have to get.

Congrats!!! It's so lovely~ I love 6 prongs too.
I just bought this because the cold weather has made my fingers shrink, but I won't resize mine because it fits perfectly in summer.
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B073FDFLSF/
I'm not sure if it's cold where you are but I would take that into account before getting the ring resized :)

I'm doing the same thing! Best option in my opinion are these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073FDFLSF/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


You can cut them to size perfectly and they are SO comfortable!

I have this one now to check my final work: 12X,16X Illuminated Dual Lens Jeweler"s Loupe https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003MCHXT4/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_P4yDwbKCJ23HD It's pretty cheap but it gets the job done. The depth of field on the smaller magnification is decent. The larger magnification has a very small depth of field but wow, you can really see small details with it.

I generally wear a headset mounted loupe while working, then check it with that. Again, I'm not a professional or anything... Just learning a dying art.

I have a very cramped back entry way and went looking on Pinterest for winter ideas. What a joke. A cramped entry way on Pinterest is apparently a mini mansion with a mud room. 🙄


These beads are fun, of course they require supervision! But it can be done year round and it’s great sensory play: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018HSB7GW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_CYA5BbG1XZ894

Best $5 trade insurance ever.

I got this one. Construction is a bit shitty and the battery sometimes need a bit of jiggling, but having a LED is very nice and it works perfectly:
http://www.amazon.com/SE-MJ362242L-Power-Illuminated-Jewelers/dp/B003MCHXT4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1368053581&sr=8-2&keywords=loupe

I have a hardware wallet and these price increases are making me nervous so I just bought:

[Number and Letter Stamp Set (36 PIECE PUNCH SET / A-Z & 0-9) Industrial Grade Hardened Carbon Steel Metal - 1/8" (3mm) Characters - Perfect for Imprinting Metal, Wood, Plastic, Leather, & More!]
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XCZ3TDG)

and

Online Metal Supply 304 Stainless Steel Sheet (26 ga.) .018" x 12" x 12" - 2B Finish


I'm hoping the stainless steel sheet isn't too hard for the stamp set to mark.

Once I get my backup seed stamped on the stainless steel though - I have to find a good hiding spot.

I've decided against a safe because as others have mentioned a safe just says 'Steal me please'.

I've decided against a safe deposit box at the bank because - well this is bitcoin and that just seems wrong.

[edit] links and stuffs

[edit2] also thinking of covering the stamped sheet in something like hard clay (have to break the clay to make the seed visible)

A 10X triplet loupe is a great place to start. I use one of these though it's probably a little pricey.

Also, there's a lot of cheap USB microscopes around these days, and I've found them to be pretty useful for trace/solder inspection on fine pitch SMDs.

If you like the earrings, or if you find any others you like sometime give these a try? A friend of mine uses and loves them.

DREAME 30X 60X LED Lighted Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Jewelry Magnifier for Gems Jewelry Rocks Stamps Coins Watches Hobbies Antiques Models Photos https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DWG89KQ?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

That’s the one I use. Works perfectly, is super affordable, and has saved me twice already.

I only have 2 taps but bought this drip tray and used the whole pack of these magnets to hold it to my keezer (no glue used). Would have liked a more permanent option but was too nervous about drilling holes into the keezer. It works well though, and I can easily take the whole thing off for cleaning. It's strong enough to hold a full pint of beer, but I wouldn't trust it for much more than that.

Ooo, that's hard rubber. Do not submerge in water. In fact, don't get the outside wet at all. It'll cause the rubber to discolor and turn brown.

If it doesn't have a lever (I'm guessing not), it's an eyedropper filler, so the section probably unscrews from the barrel. You're probably okay putting the section/nib in water to dissolve old ink. To flush the inside of the barrel, use an eyedropper to fill it with water, plug the top with your thumb, and shake. Dump and repeat until the ink is gone.

As for polishing the metal parts, I like to use a Sunshine Cloth. Go gentle! It may only be a thin gold plating over brass.

Pens of this age are more museum pieces than useful tools. But they're certainly cool!

My ex had this problem for different health reasons but the result was the same. She used https://www.amazon.com/RinGuard-Ring-Size-Adjuster-Sizes/dp/B00PI0T25Q these ring size adjusters and then got the rings in the sizes that fit her when her fingers were swollen. Hope that helps OP

If you're curious and think they could be bands, I recommend getting an inexpensive metals testing kit from some place like amazon If you want to search for yourself: Precious Metals Testing Kit Silver, Platinum, 10k 14k 18k 22k Gold Tests Plus Stone

Im using this one: https://www.amazon.com/DREAME-Illuminated-Jewelers-Magnifier-Antiques/dp/B01DWG89KQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480381794&sr=8-1&keywords=jewelers+loupe
has x30 and x60 and im pretty Happy with it, might want to give it a try. :)

This happened to me too! Someone on Reddit recommended these and they saved my life! Not going to resize until I order my wedding band 😊 https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01M0OX3EW?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title

He sounds very knowledgeable (and lucky! He must use a metal detector.)

He should have (or get) an acid test kit for precious metals online. This is one type. They also sell these kits on eBay too.

They contain a piece of slate on which to rub the metal on, leaving a streak. A drop of the acid you think is appropriate is applied to it and the reaction is matched to what the manual says it should be. I've never used one, but it seems like an interesting concept.

I'd get a jeweler's loupe over a microscope, I've tried both and vastly preferred the loupe. The microscope (at least the one I tried) was really finicky to get properly in focus, with the loupe you just whip it out and you're ready to go with little to no adjustment.

Here's the loupe I use:

[Jarlink 30X 60X Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Magnifier, Foldable Jewelry Magnifier with Bright LED Light for Gems, Jewelry, Coins, Stamps, etc] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078N34WZR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_eLzMBbB47M9SY)

Edit: as a bonus, it's way easier to take pictures through the loupe than the microscope.

Hey I just read a comment the other day about how a quality 10x loupe is better than anything else and all you'll ever need, so I gave it a shot.

At first I was using this and it was OK. The 30x lens was easiest to use but still sucked so much.

I just got this one today and I am blown away. The quality of the optics and construction is unbelievable. I can't wait to look at trichs with it. Definitely invest in a good lens.

We are getting married Nov 7, 2020 and I have lost about 40 lbs since we got engaged!!!! My ring was getting super loose, but I didn’t want to get it resized quite yet, as I still have a bit of weight to lose to get to my goal. I got this from Amazon for $5.99 with low expectations. But it works PERFECTLY and is so comfortable, I hardly even notice it’s there. Just wanted to recommend to anyone in a similar situation!

here is a link for blank d20s then get some durable craft paints like this enamel paint and an engraving tool here. So what you have to do is paint the dice then engrave them, use another D20 for reference so you know which sides get which number. It'll be a bit more work but you will save a lot of money and I promise you once you buy an engraver you will use it for everything.

I just bought these- RinGuard Ring Size Adjuster (Set of 3 Sizes) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PI0T25Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_rjVuyb994MP6R

It's just cut plastic tubing but it works, I just wrapped one around my wedding and engagement ring and it holds them together as well so it feels even more secure.

In my experience those two finger turning adjustable types are garbage. They never last for very long and are dificult to manage.

I purchased these two years ago and it's all I've eve used.

[1] (https://www.amazon.com/KINGMAS-Pocket-Microscope-Jeweler-Magnifier/dp/B00AQAANDS/ref=pd_sim_200_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=KEDEDRG711YM9A2DM25Y) 60x LED and adjustable. Is great for looking at trichomes.

2 40x fixed. Is great for everything else when you don't need to get as up close and personal.

I have a loop and one of these:
Phone Camera Lens 3 In 1 Kit, 180 Degree Fisheyes Lens, 10X Macro Lens, 0.4X Wide Angle Lens High Definition, Clip-on Smart Cell Phone Lenses Universal For Iphone, Samsung, LG, Android Phones (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072525MR8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_8.Iyzb1WQAD0J

The macro helps with taking pictures but the loop has better mag for looking at the trichromes.

My loop has an led light built in and works really well when I remember to turn it off when I'm done:

DREAME 30X 60X LED Lighted Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Jewelry Magnifier for Gems Jewelry Rocks Stamps Coins Watches Hobbies Antiques Models Photos https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DWG89KQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_0bJyzbPP25G5H

A magnifying loupe is super useful here, and they're not too expensive. I got one similar to this, which I like for the LED -- I very rarely use the 60x lens.

But that'll show you how your tines are misaligned, which I presume is the problem causing scratchyness. If so, it's easy to fix with just fingers -- don't use pliers or anything 'till you've been doing this for years, they make it too easy to apply way too much force to a small area.

vertical misalignment

spacing misalignment

If you have a dremel tool, there are buffer pads and rouge (sp? and need coffee) you can buy at any hardware store also a sunshine cloth works well.
http://www.amazon.com/Sunshine%C2%AE-Polishing-Cloths-Sterling-Jewelry/dp/B004ILV1B4

You can use to buff out the spots. In a pinch Tabasco works, just dab on the spot and let it sit for a few minutes. If you are going to use the pan for decoration only, after you polish it up use a tad bit of johnson pastewax to keep it from oxidizing.
(Jewerly craftperson works in copper)

Edit: looks like hard water stains from the pic but it is hard to tell. How long did you let it sit in vinegar?

Edit again: I hope these pots don't have a lacquer coating. I don't think they do but if they do forget everything I posted. :)

Contact the manufacturer

Yeah, I have a 30x and 60x which you can buy from Amazon here. It definitely requires a steady hand since the depth of focus is pretty shallow, but I like how much detail it gives.

[IF I FITS I SITS] (http://imgur.com/8bBlszc) Spoons loves Amazon boxes!

[Item one: $4.00] (http://www.amazon.com/Perler-80-19018-Bead-Bag-Black/dp/B009XPQ00C/ref=sr_1_7?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1398615583&sr=1-7)
[Item two: $4.46] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001B9I1RS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1GRPFU49N3AAX&coliid=I3MHD9V08PY5S5)

Thanks for the contest!

Here's what's in my toolkit...

Polishing cloth

Fine Mesh Pads

20x Loupe

10x Loupe

! Canned Air

Cotton Tipped Applicators

Goulet Mylar Paper

Goulet Brass Sheets

Goulet Grip

Goulet Silicone Grease

! Careful with the canned air. It can be the cause of some funny and not so funny accidents.

A bright desk light with a magnifier comes in handy.

I don't know if I'm missing something here, but this doesn't look odd to me at all. I actually like the gap. If the ring moves around so that the little stones don't align with the big stone maybe you could bind the two rings together. You can try using ring size adjusters first if you want to save money instead of going to the jeweler and having them permanently connect them: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M0OX3EW/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

DREAME 30X 60X LED Lighted Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Jewelry Magnifier for Gems Jewelry Rocks Stamps Coins Watches Hobbies Antiques Models Photos https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DWG89KQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_n4KFyb8GRG988

I use a similar one. It's good enough to verify rosette pattern, clean black ink lines, blue paper layer, and the LEDs are strong enough for light tests.

If you care more to be compliant than to win any beauty contests, pick up a set of punches for $20 and do it yourself.

Probably can go one size smaller on the punch size but you might come in a smidge too small.

Or wait until a gun show and there should be a laser engraver you can have do the job on the spot, takes like 10 mins. Or try a paintball shop, they have laser engraving too, trophy shops as well.

I use a 30x/60x loupe with LED lighting. Super cheap and does a fine job. Loupe $11 now, same as when I bought it.

For coins or anything I need a finer, more stable look at, I use a 60x-120x LED-lit microscope. Microscope $13 now, bought it for $6.60 a couple years ago.

Wow those are awful. Looks like I get to push my new strategy for hard to reach mould lines to the limit.

I've been using an engraving pen lately and it's working pretty well as long as you have a steady hand. It's basically a Dremel that will do less damage if you mess up.

General Tools 505 Cordless Precision Engraver with Diamond Tip Bit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004YK66NM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_EDqPBbG7DE5G4

From Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078N34WZR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_taOSjJI7Urjft

This picture was taken with the 30x magnification lens on the loupe with a Pixel 3. More importantly, my OtterBox Commuter case was still on, which provides a small gap between the lens and the loupe, which takes clearer pictures.

So Pixel 3 in the case, and the lens held directly to the case, if that makes sense. Hope this helps!

Sorry I didn't see your reply, I use a loupe I got from amazon and I'm pretty happy with it.

DREAME 30X 60X LED Lighted Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Jewelry Magnifier for Gems Jewelry Rocks Stamps Coins Watches Hobbies Antiques Models Photos https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DWG89KQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_jzAkWlzFE5QCn

Those pics are taken with my iPhone 7 though the 60x magnifier.

If you want to go cheap and simple for a start at engraving get something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-505-Cordless-Precision/dp/B004YK66NM/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1381286623&sr=1-1&keywords=engraving+pen

I'm assuming you're new to engraving so getting something cheap and simple like this would let you try it out for a good price to see how the whole engraving thing feels for you.

https://www.amazon.com/RinGuard-Ring-Size-Adjuster-Sizes/dp/B00PI0T25Q This (or other products like it) might help. :)

u/SandraRosner has offered good advice on this issue.
I would go with clear silicone ring size adjuster, not metal ones. Here's acouple from amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Anpro-Adjuster-Sizes-Clear-Resizer/dp/B073FDFLSF/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1540226182&sr=8-3&keywords=ring+size+adjuster


and


https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Adjuster-Loose-Rings-Assorted/dp/B07C15P2F7/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1540226182&sr=8-4&keywords=ring+size+adjuster

Good for you!

One of my goals is to fit back into my wedding ring. I haven't been able to fit since my 8th month of pregnancy, and I'm almost 10 months postpartum. I didn't want to get it resized when I KNOW I need to make a change to my health.

You could always get it resized, or try one of these ring size adjusters

Poppy seeds

A jeweler's loupe for admiring your dank weed

There are some videos on r/lsd, I think, of someone who combined these two trip toys. It ends up looking pretty cool. http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Motion-12665-1-Laser-Sphere/dp/B003150CFO // https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009S3IBI8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_jq4xwbNWTAEY9

1500 lady bugs

Edit: here's a video of those two projectors together https://youtu.be/1LSuhEAC3u0

You can also check into Earring Converters; they usually come in a kit of several. This will convert most standard pierced earrings into the clip-on type. http://www.amazon.com/Clip-Earring-Converter-Pair-Turn/dp/B007X5M55I

Hope that helps to expand your options!

Number 1: What is a "Crafle"?
Number 2: Make sure it is a real Crafle. There are a lot of fake Crafle's running around. It is one of the more commonly made fakes and there are numberous versions. Take the Crafle out of the sleeve and ensure that it feels like a normal card (compare it to another rare from the same set, preferably a known real Crafle, or another land). Also, use the light test, it is the easiest one to do. A jeweler's loupe or a small microscope would be good too.
Number 3: Seriously? I would trade in some goyfs for a Crafle any day of the week. Crafles are on the reserved list and will likely only go up. Goyf is practically on the "print 'til you can't cash in anymore" list.

My ring is a bit too big for me right now as well and, I think based on recommendations here, I found this product on Amazon. It's been great for me as I weight to lose the last bit of weight before resizing and as you can see was like $8. Highly recommended.

Good deal on a drip tray

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002NQIROA/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/180-5447746-0574504?camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002NQIROA&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=as_li_ss_tl&tag=hombrefin-20

Awesome setup though. I just dove into kegging. Going to keep it in my fridge for now.

I purchased a Jeweler's Loupe after reading about identifying legit vs. counterfeit cards. There was an image and link in r/MagicTCG a while ago showing what a legit Mythic symbol looked like through one of these Loupes. It was pretty cool. I'll see if I can find the link.

$8 Precious Metals Testing Kit I bought one a while back and it comes in pretty handy. Several YouTube vids on how to use.

I have RA so my hands are different sizes depending on how well I’m feeling, so I use a plastic ring adjuster pretty much permanently. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M0OX3EW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share is the one I use and it’s worked really well, comes with different sizes adjusters.

I would recommend waiting to re size until your weight has stabilized. Getting the ring re sized multiple times can weaken the ring.

I've used this one for three years and really like it. It's small, cheap, and has good magnification. It also comes with batteries for the built-in light.

I've been thinking about picking THIS one up. It is really well received in the watch collecting community. I love the little leather pouch on yours.

Mine is super loose (spinning) in the winter, and when I'm hot it's a struggle to take off.


One suggestion I got was to look for small plastic "clips" that loop around the bottom of the rig and works to increase the size a little on the days it's super loose. Some jewellers have them, sometimes you can (apparently) find them at department stores!

Like this: https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.amazon.com/RinGuard-Ring-Size-Adjuster-Sizes/dp/B00PI0T25Q&ved=0ahUKEwiH892G3bfKAhVL9WMKHQYFDygQFgghMAI&usg=AFQjCNHMiDAvxwBRh7W0B9z3zllPsDyM2A&sig2=gW6qfDx5ELv3EeDZMjowmA

This 40x Loupe from Amazon does a fine job. I chose it because it had a really big lens (25mm), two bright white LED lights, and enough magnification (40x) to really see the tricones. I hold it up to my iphone camera lens and easily get enough detail to tell me everything I need to know. Oh yea, it's dirt cheap too - about two fiddy. Here is a sample image taken today.

This looks right to me. The corners look more real than most of the fakes i see imo. For more information on some fakes check out my post here. It needs some damn upvotes though for awareness ha
http://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/30a4xa/what_are_all_of_the_different_fakes_you_all_are/

but ya, definitely get a loupe like this one which also works well for the light test
http://www.amazon.com/Illuminated-Jewelers-Loupe-40x-25mm-Lighting/dp/B007GJJRZC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1427465874&sr=8-3&keywords=jewelers+loupe+led

wow, I got this one for like $23 on amazon, nothing fancy or anything though.

It's hard to tell through a picture since we don't know the strain..If you know the strain, look it up and see what it generally flowers for.
To be certain of when your plant is finishing, I highly suggest getting a Jewelers Loupe, Kinda like a magnifying glass, will allow you to see the trichomes go from clear to cloudy to amber.
https://www.amazon.com/Illuminated-Jewelers-Magnifier-Magnifying-Lighting/dp/B00K0BGNNC/ref=sr_1_3?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1510069533&sr=1-3&keywords=jewelers+loupe+100x

It's obvious once you've seen it. I have a Carson 7x loupe. Grab a flashlight and point it at the coin. Look through the loupe. If there are tons of tiny scratches in one direction, it's cleaned. If you rotate the coin and see tons of tiny scratches in the same direction while the coin is rotating, it's cleaned. Basically, if there are any micro scratches in a little cluster, clusters, or on the whole coin, is cleaned.

If you don't have a loupe, I recommend you get one. They're also good for familiarizing yourself with real coins so that you can spot fakes. I'm surprised how easy it's gotten.

I have these and really like them.

Carson LumiLoupe 7X Power Stand Magnifier With Dual Lens (LL-77) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0010PCL5Q

BelOMO 10x Triplet Loupe Folding Magnifier https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EXPWU8S

Looks like it’s time for some of these . Congrats!

I personally use: https://www.amazon.com/DREAME-Illuminated-Jewelers-Magnifier-Antiques/dp/B01DWG89KQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1539801468&sr=8-3&keywords=loupe

The bigger lens is mostly useless but the smaller one lets me tell if the tines are even even slightly misaligned and if there is a sharp edge somewhere which is great. You can also watch a comparison vid here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzfHkJggT7A

I bought these for my wedding rings. Huge lifesaver.

I much prefer coin rings with the writing on the outside and inside, like this.

I tried to make one for my girlfriend's birthday this year, but it was fairly difficult.

I used a punch and die set to punch out the center of the coin, and then put the coin on a ring mandrel and then hammered it down the taper slowly with a nylon faced hammer.

The biggest problem is that my girlfriends ring finger is quite small and I couldn't get the ring any smaller than size 8. I may have to pick up another mandrel with a really narrow top so that I can punch out a smaller hole from the coin to begin with.


I'm sure with enough practice I'll get it looking great, and this method is much quicker than the spoon method (I tried that one first).

Not knockin OPs ring though.. it looks great so far. I know how long it takes to get to that point!

This is the least expensive method. You can spend hundreds of dollars for electronic devices designed for testing precious metals as well.

https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Platinum-Testing-Stone-Jewelers/dp/B000OVHWLK/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Precious+metal+test+kit&qid=1573313307&sr=8-3

The cheaper ones I've used seem to distort more near the edges of the lens and just feel cheap. I've done my fair share of core logging and the Belomo is my go to and is popular with loggers I've worked with (who use their lenses ALOT). It has a bigger lens than the Bausch and Lomb and is reasonably cheap. I also have a Bausch and Lomb and it's a fine handlens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etY_v7A3P2k

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Please, for your sanity, watch this video. It gives multiple tests that will help you better distinguish between real and fake cards.

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K0BGNNC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Buy this or an equivalent. For ~$10 you'll save yourself a lot of grief and heartache.

This or this can help with your ring until your weight stabilizes and you can get it resized. :)

Get a Belomo 10x from Amazon for $32. I’ve got a 10x and a 20x, the 10x is more than perfect.

It is hard for me to tell from this picture. But I can see your plant is very healthy at this late stage, so you have little to lose by erring on the side of waiting another week or more. Of course I agree with those who said to use the trichomes as your guide as soon as you are able.

This little guy works really well and is only $8.99:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078N34WZR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have tiny fingers and I use these to size down my too-big rings. I'm usually a 4.5-5 US and I bought several packs of size 6 rings (they were the smallest size...) and the larger piece works pretty well for most of them!

It's best to check the trichomes with a loupe.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DWG89KQ/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.growweedeasy.com/harvest#trichome-method

I bought a metal stamping set, like this. But I didn't have anything to fully support the guide rod channel while I was doing it, so it looks like straight up shit. If I were to do it again I'd either take it to an engraver or buy an engraver tool.

I bought these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J5DT4LO/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LYS7N9J/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Love both of them. I lean ever so slightly towards the former, as they are freakin' LOCKED ON with an allen screw. The latter are real easy to put on, and are so secure I have a little difficulty getting them off sometimes. Not sure of the mechanism of the latter.

Nutes: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006XTQGLO?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_t2

Few packages of these to hang lights and filter:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B010DD743O?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_t2

Extension cords
Plenty of options

Lights
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01B4GQ6MO?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_t2

Fabric pots:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00TF9E6XE?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_t2

Air control
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01H1R0K68?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_t2

Fans
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001R1RXUG/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Outlet timer:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06XC7GTCN/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Tent https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01731MNJE/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Carbon filter
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01CJ5D4AG/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

4 inch duct
Can find anywhere

Jewelers loop (super important)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00K0BGNNC?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_t2

To dry your buds
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01GXHQIKO?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_t2

Surge protectors and ext cords
Find anywhere

Inline fans
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01M7S46YZ?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_t2

Soil probe

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B017GQ9VVY/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A few other things I got locally from grow shops. Quality seeds are important. Greenpointseeds.com is always having bomb sales, ship from Colorado, and are top quality. Soil from local grow shops but can also buy from online. I went cheaper on light, but I wouldn't do that again. Get good quality lights.

Get some post convertors these and any studs you think she might like :)

Like this?

JARLINK 30X 60X Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Magnifier, Foldable Jewelry Magnifier with Bright LED Light for Gems, Jewelry, Coins, Stamps, etc https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078N34WZR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_OG5JDbP0GQC6W

Need pic without the blurple on...
Looks like about a month based on your last post.


https://www.growweedeasy.com/harvest#trichome-method


Check this out at Amazon.com
JARLINK 30X 60X Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Magnifier, Foldable Jewelry Magnifier with Bright LED Light for Gems, Jewelry, Coins, Stamps, etc https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078N34WZR/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_5YxWCb03A89GS

Thanks I'll try these things. I have a couple of questions:

How should I clean it with a toothbrush? The watch looks gold, some people say on the website to clean watches with white toothpaste and a toothbrush - do I have to worry about it being "gold" on the outside (maybe somehow gold can get damaged with certain chemicals)

I'm not so sure about what to do with polishing the glass. I found a paste on amazon. It seems with some googling that I'll need some sort of mechanical polisher to polish the glass.

Here's the paste I found:

https://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Lapping-Polishing-Compound-microns/dp/B00MALWGBI

I got this one for about $10 https://www.amazon.com/Lighted-Illuminated-Jewelers-Magnifier-Antiques/dp/B01DWG89KQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1504493035&sr=8-3&keywords=loupe and it works great, I prefer it to the Goulet type, which doesn't enlarge enough for me. I haven't tried one that fits on your head. The loupe enlarges the view so much and has such a small, shallow focal area that it would be hard to keep anything in focus while you were actually working on it. That really isn't a problem though - you make a tiny adjustment, check it, make another tiny adjustment, etc.

I have this one https://www.amazon.com/BelOMO-Triplet-Folding-Magnifier-Anti-Reflection/dp/B00EXPWU8S/ref=mp_s_a_1_35?keywords=jewlers+lupe&qid=1568929940&sprefix=jewler&sr=8-35. Works like a charm.

Try this ring sizer:

https://www.amazon.com/GWHOLE-Adjuster-Silver-Polishing-Cloth/dp/B01M0OX3EW

Creepy name, but it works much better on my ring than the traditional sizers. I've got a tacori too btw!

I got a ring adjuster that is basically a plastic spiral that wraps around the ring--like this one. I've had it for about a year now and it's been great. actually haven't replaced the first that I put on, even though I probably need to at this point.

These work great. I used them til I got mine resized.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M0OX3EW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ZYcZzbFMGJ69B

I bought this mandrel on amazon and have been using it to shape coin rings. A bit cheaper and free shipping (prime).

You could answer so many of your own questions by picking up a loupe and having a look

See heads? Good job. Don't see heads? Bad job, go back and try again.

I've been very happy with this. I'd steer you away from cheaper loupes.

It says Sunshine on the bags and I bought it from Amazon, specifically this seller.

I've got one of these guys. I primarily use the 12x lens but if I really want to get into the nitty gritty I also have the 16x. The LED lights work quite well for illumination.

Get something between 5x and 10x. Triplets are going to be some of the nicer ones.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bausch+%26+lomb+triplet+loupe&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
https://www.amazon.com/BelOMO-Triplet-Loupe-Folding-Magnifier/dp/B00EXPWU8S/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=triplet+loupe&qid=1555943740&s=gateway&sr=8-3

I bought the BelOMO most recently and like it a little more because it's bigger. I had owned and lost two of the bausch & lombs before getting this one.

I got a two pack on amazon for under $10.


JARLINK 30X 60X Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Magnifier, Foldable Jewelry Magnifier with Bright LED Light for Gems, Jewelry, Coins, Stamps, etc https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078N34WZR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_TqlKDbP81PPA4

If you really want them to stay I’d definitely recommend these. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYS7N9J?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf I’ve lost a few pins myself with the butterfly backs, these won’t come off unless you want them too

Are you talking about pins with the rubber/butterfly backs or the pin-back buttons?

I haven't tried them yet, but I have very seriously considered some of these locking clutches for some of my pins: https://www.amazon.com/SUBANG-Count-Locking-Keepers-Storage/dp/B01LYS7N9J/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=screw+on+pin+back&qid=1571164063&sr=8-1

Since I've not gotten any, I usually just take them off before I mosh and put them in one of the chest pockets.

The pin-back buttons I soldered on after I lost an Anthrax pin, and it has worked great! I've not lost another one since I did that.

Don't use micromesh--your nib tipping is probably just fine, but the tines are out of alignment. I just bought this loupe (with Amazon Prime). Use that to look at the tines and use light finger pressure to adjust them until they are even. It's a good tool to have around anyway for general fountain pen maintenance, especially when you buy vintage pens that need some work.

I bought these ring size adjusters and they are quite cheap and useful! Lots of women in the reviews section said they bought the item because hey have larger knuckles than the rest of their finger https://www.amazon.com/GWHOLE-Adjuster-Silver-Polishing-Cloth/dp/B01M0OX3EW

My ring finger also fluctuates a ton! When necessary I use these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073FDFLSF Soooo helpful on days it's rolling around and making me nervous! I had it resized when we got engaged because it actually arrived 1.5 sizes bigger than my fiance ordered, but had it done again this past weekend while we were ordering wedding bands. Apparently I'm half a size smaller now than I was in December? Even since Saturday the fit varies day to day and throughout the day, so it's not just you. Maybe you can have yours enlarged slightly and use the adjusters during loose times too.

Here's my set. The wedding band is a quarter size smaller than the ering, and they're not perfectly flush. It doesn't really bother me, but I also plan on getting a separate stackable set since we're using those as the "special occasion" rings. Another option you have is to get a spacer to give a little cushion between them.

My vote: Nib tuning supplies. Some micromesh, and a decent loupe. Then grab one of your Jinhao nibs or a goulet steel nib and learn how to make a nib buttery smooth. Then, whatever pen you end up buying in the future, you can fix and modify to your liking.

Or, a shit ton of ink samples. Get a bunch of colors, and throw in a few "Random" ones, too. Breathe new life into pens you already love.

Like these type of badges? kind of visible

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They make locking backs for them. https://www.amazon.com/SUBANG-Count-Locking-Keepers-Storage/dp/B01LYS7N9J/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1536963454&sr=8-3&keywords=locking+pin+backs

​

​

I highly recommend something like this for your wedding ring. My husband and I both have them. I'm cico and he has unintentionally lost weight as a result of my healthier dinners.

I know nothing about ring making, and I could be completely off here, but I thought id say it anyway. It could be a "pre-hammered ring". All I know is the put something that looks like that, on one of these things

https://www.amazon.com/Steel-Ring-Mandrel-Size-1-15/dp/B0013TSW9I

Then they hammer it down onto the mandrel. It would shirk in that case, and there are some people who make rings out of actual coins.

Here's an example:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RiCFOwChJwA

I use this one. I haven't experimented with different magnifications, but 30x seemed fine. As another use pointed out above, you might want a cheap USB microscope instead

I haven't been able to find out what material the lens itself is made of. But they seem to be convensional lens material such as you'd find in eyeglasses (although far thicker (14mm I believe) and convex.

You'll need something reasonably abrasive to remove those scratches. You could start with toothpaste (the whitening paste stuff, not the gel) as a cheap initial test. And lots of buffing.

I guess you could move on to more abrasive stuff. One thing to possibly consider is Diamond Paste. It comes in different levels, just as sandpaper does. You start with the thicker stuff buff it in and move down to the lowest micro thickness, Now, this might be a little bit OTT (this stuff is used by jewelers to remove scratches from incredibly scratch-resistant sapphire crystals on things like Rolex watches and the like and they'd buff out the scratches with a Dremel or a different electric polishing tool or similar) but with enough care and attention it would certainly remove the scratches. But you'd have to know what you're doing. Basically, you're removing layers of the lens so it's actively damaging the lens.

Start with the toothpaste option. See if that makes any difference.

I don't think a lot of people here use loupes, and there's no one brand that they use. I happen to use this 10X one. There may be cheaper/better ones, though. Also, note that this is a 10X loupe. I have a 7X one (same brand) that I like better, as it has a wider field-of-view (less magnification). However, it doesn't seem to be available any more.

Most of them come in a 30x and 60x combo for like $8 on amazon.

This is the one I have

Beemoon Jewelry Magnifier, 30 X 60X Illuminated Jewelry Loupe for Gems Jewelry Rocks Stamps Coins Watches Antiques Models Photos https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K0BGNNC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_y-VRCbC1F1RKM

7pcs 5 gram Diamond Lapping Paste Polishing Compound For Fine to Final Polishing, Grits 0.25 to 5.0 microns https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MALWGBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_XAK8BbAFSPB8T

waiting to go to an expert to have it resized, I've seen some transparent rubber thinghies to make it narrower on he inside, look them up on amazon, for example:

https://www.amazon.com/RinGuard-Adjuster-Jewelry-Polishing-Cloth/dp/B00PI0T25Q

an alternative is a nail polish like substance that dries and becomes rubber after you paint it on the inside to shrink the hole

https://www.amazon.com/ColdTi-Cryptocurrency-Storage-Anti-Tamper-Unbranded/dp/B077CYKHZ6/

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https://www.amazon.com/Number-Letter-Industrial-Hardened-Carbon/dp/B06XCZ3TDG/

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$40, a mallet, a sturdy bench and a steady hand is all you need.

Got the same one. Then got this DREAME 30X 60X LED Lighted Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DWG89KQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_jo8uzb28VTH2J makes looking at trichomes very easy.
You can also just take a pinch from your bud and put it on a dish or table then use the one you have.

Here is the original ballistic advantage profile. Other manufacturers use this profile too, here's Spinta Precision. I found my 147grs were hitting the barrel face at 6oclock, there's a lip there on AR barrels that is usually a ramp in 9mm handguns. I corrected this by starting with 200 grit sandpaper cut in to a small strip and taped to a Sharpie. I spent about a half hour going through a bunch of strips to get my initial groove going, paying careful attention to work the grit on the lip and not the chamber. Afterwards, I used a dremel tool with felt polishing cones and lapping compound to smooth out the sandpaper's work. Here is my end result.

I got this one

Would have been more helpful providing a pic of in use...oh wait, try these.

I see 60x loupes with LED light mentioned in this thread as well as a few others very recently. Awhile back someone linked to a Belomo on Amazon, which I bought. The Belomo is a 10x

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EXPWU8S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Was this purchase made in error and I should make it a point to get the higher magnification loupe with LED? Or can I make things work with this loupe and my own separate LED?

I am not sure if the meteorite is too brittle but if you try again you could use a similar sized meteorite by making the ring a different way.

Drill a hole just big enough to fit the meteorite onto a ring mandrel and then hammer around the outside edge to enlarge the hole.

This lets you keep more material so you avoid ending with a thin section.

If you used a brass hammer you might even be able to keep some edge geometry.

This is not my ring if that wasnt clear.

I believe they are made by drilling out the center and then slowly hammering it down a ring mandrel. I lost interest before I ever bought the steel mandrel lol.

yea i went from this handheld loupe to the USB scope. Glad I did, it really is more convenient imo to snap photos and record video. Even has a button on the butt of it that you tap and it snaps photos. And can be hooked up to android phones if you get an OTG adapter too

I got these for my engagement ring after it fell off, and it’s working for now.

GWHOLE Ring Size Adjuster with Silver Polishing Cloth,Set of 4 (2mm/3mm) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M0OX3EW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_mZQZAbQZQ020S

I'd also recommend these plastic adjusters! I was worried about my fingers swelling during pregnancy so I didn't want to do anything permanent, and these stay on really well.

I will second the 10x Belomo, although the price is closer to $30-35. The loupe feels very sturdy and has a much larger lens than the Bausch and Lomb. Belomo recommends you purchase through an authorized dealer but the page seems outdated. It appears the authorized Amazon seller ToysNGames (who I purchased mine from) is now called River Colony Trading.

I see above you are considering 30-60x magnification... Depending on what you want to use it for that may be overkill. A 10x is entirely sufficient for grading, determining varieties and counterfeit detection for most collectors.

It is size 6 but its a tiny bit loose (not easy to come off but shifts on my finger most days), currently waiting on an order of ring size adjusters from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/GWHOLE-Adjuster-Silver-Polishing-Cloth/dp/B01M0OX3EW

Looks good.

Remember, you can use any barrel profile you want

I’m using this loupe
JARLINK 30X 60X Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Magnifier, Foldable Jewelry Magnifier with Bright LED Light for Gems, Jewelry, Coins, Stamps, etc https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078N34WZR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_a9GIDbYZTHBZE

This is one I bought from Amazon.... Anpro Set of 15 Ring Size Adjuster with 3 Sizes Clear Ring Sizer Resizer Fit for Loose Rings(Please See The Below Picture for The Steps. 2mm/3mm). https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073FDFLSF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_0GcECbGFH0YF4

Cauli rice is one of my go-to meals, and I spice it up many different ways! Penzey's or Mountain Rose have some amazing spice blends you can get to try something new. Also, on the ring front, I bought these little ring sizer adjuster thingies which will do the trick until you can afford to get the rings resized, cut to length and choose the one that is correct for your finger.

FWIW, I bought this one below and it works pretty well - it has a LED that really helps illuminate the trichs. I tried one that clips onto the phone lens but couldnt' get a good pic and returned it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K0BGNNC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/Illuminated-Jewelers-Loupe-40x-25mm-Lighting/dp/B007GJJRZC for those interested.

I have the same issue, I bought this on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M0OX3EW

It comes with several wrap styles and fits my wide band and helps a lot.

Have you thought about a little engraver like this? Maybe with a smaller bit.

It looks a lot like the one I got: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002NQIROA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1420783374&sr=8-1

I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to mount it though.

Additionally, you could convert any post earring to a clip-on with a product like this.

Something like this?

you can try a diamond paste, you can get a set of polishing paste on amazon for cheap.

i haven't done this on a watch, but I have used it on many other things such as metal and plastics for my job. start off with maybe a coarser grit, 2.5 or so, and finish it with the 1/4 grit. Again, i haven't tried this, but from what i can see is you really have nothing to lose. you can use a cloth or your finger to start, or a dremel if you have one.

[Kent lapping diamond compound, from amazon.] (https://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Lapping-Polishing-Compound-microns/dp/B00MALWGBI)

I got these and they work well!

SUBANG 40 Pieces Metal Pin Backs... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYS7N9J?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

My wedding ring started getting unsettlingly loose, so I ordered some of these. They work great if you're not ready to get your ring(s) resized.

You can buy a little ring guard (not sure if that is the real name) that will reduce the size until you are at your goal weight and have them resized.



Edit: it is a ring guard. https://www.amazon.com/GWHOLE-Adjuster-Silver-Polishing-Cloth/dp/B01M0OX3EW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1535852337&sr=8-3&keywords=ring+guard

I bought one of the USB ones with a stand that does photos and videos and I think it's worthless for trying to look at the live plant. Trying to hold the camera still, the plant still, adjust the focus and look at your laptop screen and capture a photo... a lot to do at once. Plus the photos are potato quality.

I got this loupe and it works great.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K0BGNNC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

Nice post. I feel like this "abrasive paste effect" is the #1 thing new riders need to learn about bike maintenance:

1> you put grease on your chain

2> you go ride and the grease picks up bits of dirt and rock

3> the grease-paste starts grinding away the chain and chainrings, and those metal shavings get into the grease paste

4> now your grease is a paste of rock, dirt, and metal and its job is to wear down the edges of your chainrings, your chain pulleys, your chain pins, and everything else you pay to replace


If you don't think grease with sharp stuff inside it is an effective cutting tool, consider that they use it to POLISH BALL BEARINGS.

It's a process called "lapping", and they call it "polishing paste" : https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/question513.htm

Guess what's in it? Oil and rock: https://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Lapping-Polishing-Compound-microns/dp/B00MALWGBI


So the #1 thing you have to do when you buy a new bike is get that polishing paste off your drivetrain before you ride it again.

It's the difference between a 500 mile cassette and a 100 mile cassette.

I've yet to use it, but wax-based products that ball up around rock and fall off your chain are supposed to stop this effect. I just got my Boeshield T-9, excited to try it out.

They sell clear ring sizers to help make them smaller. I wouldn't apply anything in case you do damage it

https://www.amazon.com/GWHOLE-Adjuster-Silver-Polishing-Cloth/dp/B01M0OX3EW/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=1XH0PWFUEOQ8G&keywords=ring+size+adjuster&qid=1551069587&s=gateway&sprefix=ring+size&sr=8-3

my ring size changes a lot depending on the weather/temperature. i sized it for summer, so it would never be too small. in colder weather, i use ringuards to keep my rings snug. they get gross over time, but i don't mind buying a new pack once a year.

edit to add: i did have sizing beads put on the engagement ring, but i hated them. they were frequently uncomfortable for me in cold weather, and i found them unbearable in warm weather, so i had them removed after a few months.

I bought these and they worked fantastic. After that got too lose, I ended up getting a cheaper second wedding ring, simpler band, in my new size, and got the old one resized since I have unlimited resizing with my warrenty, and the new ring also comes with unlimited resizing.

Like Supremecowboy said, perhaps some nutrient issues, and probably a couple weeks left (2 at most, based on pic, but we need more info).

Got a nice fade going on with the leaves, but the buds look as if they have stalled - they tend to get fatter/taller during flower, but this could be related to the strain itself.

Hard to tell with this kind of picture. One glaring "issue" is that we see no trichs/crystals on the base of the leaves close to the bud..

What're the specs? Days flowering, nutes, light, etc

The only way to tell if she's ready is by looking closely (get a loupe ) at the trichs.

Looks tasty no matter what, tho!