Reddit mentions: The best jewelry making kits

• *Mixing brush: Any old brush will do. You can get camel hair brushes at most craft stores.
  
• Smaller sizes usually: 1/0, 3/0, 5/0, 10/0 Red (kolinsky) sable are the best. In the US look for Windsor & Newton.
  
• Honestly, if you are only painting a few minis at a time, get a brush-on primer. Vallejo Surface primer, Stynylrez from Badger or Testors Model Master acrylic primer. (especially use brush-on if you are painting reaper bones). If you are doing a lot of models at one time, get a cheap external-mix airbrush.
  
• Finishes: I've used dozens of brands over the years. Currently I use Krylon Matte-Sealer in an Aerosol can. Army painter Anti-shine is also good. 3-4 light coats will protect your models just fine. (beware of the gloss first then matte after myth, it does not protect any better than 3-4 coats of good matte sealer.).
  
• Work holder: I use this most of the time: Universal Peg-vise
  Otherwise I just use blu-tac (poster adhesive) and those little ketchup cups from fast food places.
  
• brush care: brush cleaners and brush soaps are good. They help you keep the point on your round brushes.
  
• Mold Lines: for metal minis, a hobby knife and small files. For plastic minis, get a mold line cleaner or you can cut them off with your hobby knife. A pair of sprue cutters is good if you are doing plastic minis that are on sprues.
  
• Storage: this is wide open. I personally use the Chessex figure cases for most minis. Portable Warfare, KR Multicase and Battlefoam also make quality storage/transport cases. If you want to display your models, I can recommend display cases used for shot glasses, baseballs, golf balls, etc. For the tools & supplies, Just use a small toolbox that can hold everything. As your hobby grows, so will the size of your tool-box.
  
• Agitators: depends on the brand of paints. Reaper paints come with agitators. Other wise, use small GLASS balls. Steel will react with the paint and rust, other metals such as brass, copper and stainless steel will also react with the paint. If you are not using dropper-bottle paints, just stir the paint with the back of a brush.
  
• Flow Improver/Flow Aid: while not necessary, some paints work better thinned (you do not need to thin all your paints when you use them). It also depends on your painting style/technique. I use Liquitex Flow-Aid (you mix it 1:20 with water to make your flow-improver solution). It is used in both brush and airbrush applications. For washes, you can't get better than Games Workshop's Shades line.
  
• Palette: Many painters use a wet-palette. I prefer an ice-palette. (use a metal dimpled-palette stuck on top of a freezer-pack).
  

My husband has size 15 shoes [and he swears by these] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006RK3RCA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_5z.0AbF2JV9K5). I know they are a tad over $100 but Keens are a good quality shoe!!

[I'd love to get this] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0757LFGSB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_.C.0Ab16YDD6F) to jump start my jewelry making hobby! 😀

Let me know if you know of any good quality socks. It is hard to find decent socks in his (and your) size too!

DMSO is also godly for making transdermal ointments.

One wildly successful experiment of mine was using AVB (already-vaped marijuana) to make a cannabinoid ointment. It was incredibly easy: just take the AVB in a finely ground form, add DMSO, and let sit for a week. The DMSO turns a dark green and is incredibly soothing for sore joints and muscles.

DMSO really stings in its raw form, though! I'm not squeamish, so I just put up with it (you only need a paltry amount to get an effect with the AVB ointment) but I know some people react way worse. It seems that DMSO causes a pretty strong histaminergic reaction at the point of contact. If you are prone to skin problems, it will likely resemble a chemical burn for the first hour after application if you don't dilute it.

I'm not sure, but I bet that the cannabinoid ointment could be diluted. It's just a matter of keeping the compounds in solution when they diffuse across the epithelium. I'll have to try that next time I use it.

Because I was driven to make the best, I got this brand off of Amazon. I didn't check for third-party testing, but unlike the other brands this one comes in a glass bottle, which I like more already. It's worked just fine and, while I have no context for it, it seems to be very pure.

This would be pretty easy to put together for a hobbyist. If you post some better photographs, I could give you some links to the different components. The hardest part to find will be the part where it attaches to the ear. The rest of the pieces can be easily found on Etsy or a beading supplier website.

Are the colored, faceted balls glass or plastic?

EDIT: A kit like this would help y'all remake them.

EDIT 2: Or contact an Etsy artist like this person who makes very similar items and commission a custom single earring.

https://www.amazon.com/SpeedyJig-XL-Paracord-Bracelet-Adjustable/dp/B01JP43DJQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1539101444&sr=8-3&keywords=paracord+jig

https://www.amazon.com/SpeedyJig-Easiest-Projects-Para-Cord-Materials/dp/B01NH0Q638/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1539101444&sr=8-9&keywords=paracord+jig

If you were my friend and got me either of these you'd rank up to bestest friend ever!

https://www.amazon.com/Knotters-Aluminum-Different-Needles-Paracord/dp/B01F7NXG8C/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1539101304&sr=8-9&keywords=marlin+spike

This should be high on the list too. A marlin Spike is SUPER useful for paracording. I dunno how I managed before I got one.

Engraving, join me in ruining perfectly good guns!

Edit:

Starter kit for hand engraving as a cheap person

• Square Graver
  
• Graver Handle
  
  Starter kit for the wild child with a dremmel
  
  
• Diamond Burrs
  
  OR
  
  
• Tungsten Carbide burrs (these need a 3/32 collet)
  
  Full hobo mode
  
  
• Take a spade bit (look in the trash, where they belong)
  
• Grind it down to a graver shape freehand
  
• EDIT: Heat treat so that it actually works. (repeat multiple times because you are using a torch and a glass of water like a poor person)
  
• Grab a stick
  
• Drill a hole slightly smaller than the diamater of the shaft of your improvised graver
  
• Jam that ducker into the stick like its a handle
  
• Grab a small hammer and get to whackerin

DMSO is a really tricky one. There's a ton of guys selling it as "natural" and "pure" but basically they're buying industrial drums of the stuff an packaging it down in to smaller bottles for profit. From what I understand that Nature's Gift (the one with the tree) does this and they never list the source and/processing. Given that DMSO has to be handled incredibly carefully, you have to be really careful where you get it from. This one seems to get good reviews, although it is expensive. For our uses (which are tiny amounts), I don't see the price being an issue:
http://www.amazon.com/DMSO-99-98-Pharma-Grade-Liquid/dp/B009L6NW4U/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

I'm not sure this is exactly what you're talking about, but it's similar. It's called a Jeweler's universal holder or vise. I use it to hold figures ranging from 28mm scale to 90mm scale. For ones with the bar beneath their feet, this can easily clamp on. For many of the larger figures, I place pins in the feet (which will later go into their base) and clamp on to that. The handle is convenient for holding the figure while painting. It's a bit of overkill for a standard 28mm human figure, but good for monsters and larger creatures and certainly for large scale figures. You can also place the pins in the device and clamp directly onto the base (though that may not be quite as secure). Easy enough to find on amazon. Here are a couple links:

https://www.amazon.com/Jewelers-Universal-Work-Holder-Vise/dp/B001V9JPE6/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1485816263&sr=8-13&keywords=universal+jewelers+vise

https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Holder-Engraver-Jewelry-Repair/dp/B00KNCKD48/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1485816255&sr=8-2&keywords=universal+jewelers+vice

Not sure if you’d be into it, but I think daisy buttons would be super cute!!

MagiDeal 10 Piece Daisy Flower Alloy Flatback Crafts Buttons Embellishments for Jewelry Making 18mm White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075T62P1H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_WGgqDbBTZPD3S

The top plate looks super rough.

In this price range you can consider the 66 lbs new anvils you can find @ Amazon - they look just like this picture: https://www.amazon.com/Happybuy-Single-Blacksmith-Jewelers-Metalsmith/dp/B075YSCQ4Q/

Mark Aspery and others have reviewed it and I suspect it's good to go for starting out without the terrible face and edge issues. Mark's review was written on March 20th.

I could very well be wrong, but it looks like a dapping block. https://www.amazon.com/SE-JT3403DS-Dapping-Polished-Cavities/dp/B005KLXL82/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1526206372&sr=8-5&keywords=dapping+block

It would be used for soft metals like gold, silver, or pewter. I have a block, but I have not seen a 'tray' but there are creative people who may have made one in wood. Interesting post! Thanks!

I usually get these for the twelve to thirteen year old boys I “adopt” for Xmas.

These kind of things are good for girls.

More ideas for either:

Bugglegum Maker Kit

Basketballs / other sports equipment

Shirts / Sweatshirts of local sports teams

Good quality colored pencils and some adult coloring books

A small radio with batteries

Small jewelry kits like these

Or this kit.

Special effects makeup kit

Robot Spider kit

Nerf guns

You could in the alternative, get a bunch of arms off of ebay, chop their arms off, and magnatize them so they can take different arms depending on what you want to roll.

It is a lot of work for tzangors, I have done this with a couple of my terminator squads, and on a couple of rubrics for the heavy weapon choice. You don't really have to, you could just make sure you disclose what they have before each game, but it is kind of fun to have the visual options.

get one of these https://www.amazon.com/NIUPIKA-Jewelers-Adjustable-Professional-Jewelry/dp/B01L1JXFDC/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_469_bs_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=YE9513NN9EPHMSX68GK1&dpID=41YWJvQl2pL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=detail
and try and find super small blades for it.

I got this anvil on Amazon. It's cast steel and so far has been really good. Definitely worth a try.

As for the handles: yes, epoxy every surface and every hole. I epoxy around the pins too, just to be sure everything gets coated. Keep some rubbing alcohol or acetone and paper towels or q tips around to wipe off excess and squeeze-out. This will save time spent scraping later! Don't clamp too tightly or all the epoxy will get squeezed out.

As for engraving, look up acid etching. I haven't done it myself, but I've seen others do it. Alternatively, I think something like this might work.

Yes of course! I bought the base and the glass tile that forms the structure for the embroideryon Amazon. This is a pendant, not a pin, but I think you can find similar things for pins. I traced the glass onto the fabric and then drew my design before embroidering as usual on a hoop. Then I cut out the fabric and sewed it around the glass and glued it together with craft glue. I have more detailed step-by-step instructions on my Instagram. I'm not sure if there's a better way to do this--I just sort of figured it out on my own--but I hope this helps!

LOL I refuse to paint flames bahahah!

And the top-dressing is red crushed coral, but underneath is my own mix of half pumice, half coconut coir-I found it to be the fastest draining mix that keeps my plants happy :D

They also love to make jewelry! Look into friendship-bracelet kits!

https://www.amazon.com/BENCH-WIZARD-Number-Capital-Letter/dp/B005ESSZNC

Something like this is what I ended up looking at for serialization purposes (I'm going to heat them to press into a polymer lower, but if you're doing aluminum you can just do the hammer punch method they were made for). Gotta make sure the sizing is appropriate but I think they'll work well and aren't insanely expensive.

Blingery 5x European Styles Charm Bracelet Silver Plated Snake Chain Bracelet Making Gift Kit Women Girl Jewellery DIY Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JQXLGGO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_sE6WBbC2MC5PK

my item

My word was casting. I used mobile so my sixth page was just the sixth time I saw the loady thing... Hahaha is that okay

For the curious, I discovered they are called glass half-sphere cabochons. I ordered some to see how they look. Thanks for the suggestion! https://www.amazon.com/PandaHall-Transparent-Cabochons-Diameter-Jewelry/dp/B01AHX6LIY/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1499456532&sr=8-15&keywords=glass+cabochon

Did you know Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase if you shop by going to smile.amazon.com instead? Over $50,000,000 has been raised for charity - all you need to do is change the URL!

Here are your smile-ified links:

https://smile.amazon.com/Exclusive-Wellness-Club-Odorless-99-995/dp/B009L6NW4U

---

^^i'm ^^a ^^friendly bot

https://www.amazon.com/Exclusive-Wellness-Club-Odorless-99-995/dp/B009L6NW4U

thats PHARMA grade DMSO, i could fit 1000mg clonazolam into a 30ml vial correct?

I got one off Amazon after seeing it in his last painting post. I like the weight of it, mitigates some of my shakiness.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000RB547G/ref=ya_st_dp_summary

Saw this in the recommended list on that page, maybe this? https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000RB547G/ref=pd_aw_sim_328_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=D8SD3MYP8QTGYFD1P24Y&dpPl=1&dpID=51aKAxgb39L

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005ESSZNC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Any one looking for a holder... may I suggest

https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Work-Holder-CLAMP-VISE/dp/B000RB547G/

or

https://www.amazon.com/Hand-Free-Universal-Holder-HOL-173-00/dp/B0058EDVXQ/

Here's a holder I've seen recommended.

Exactly. I got one of these to carve nickels.

if you are paranoid, you can hammer it down on a stainless sheet for a very cheap fireproof stuff.

http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Letter-Number-Stamp-Punch/dp/B005ESSZNC/ref=sr_1_3?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1419104395&sr=1-3&keywords=punch+number