Making A Three Hinge Pendant: A Silversmithing Tutorial

[@marciasandberg4513]

Thank you so much for that tutorial, so helpful! happy to see your channel is growing. You definitely deserve it-you’ve got a lot to share. If you get a chance I would love to see how you would do a poison ring

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Marcia! That’s an interesting idea. I’ve never tried to make one of those before. Seems like an interesting challenge. I will do some experimenting when I get a chance:)

[@nikkiscustomdesigns717]

I am fairly new but I really enjoy watching because you make it look easy but you never show how you do something’s so I really never know how you finish a piece. I still enjoy watching your creativity with the pieces you make. So thank you.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Nikki. Here is a link to my prepolishing video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/haHPnaGKo9ijiq8. I will also add a link to my polishing video. The polishing one is an early video, so I apologize for the production quality.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Here’s the polishing link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6e2lnSflKlsipI

[@valligibson8931]

You are the best Chad, I love your channel!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Valli! I'm so glad you do! thanks for the nice comment:)

[@judyirwig2835]

Wonderful tutorial Chad, and the stone choice is perfect. Thanks so much .. from Sydney Australia

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Judy! It’s so nice that people in other countries can see these. Hello from Colorado!

[@kshgraph]

Thank you for your quick response. I really enjoy your teaching I’ve been having trouble with my soldering. Hopefully after watching you my soldering will improve. God bless you and have a great night

[@chadssilversmithing]

No problem kahgraph! Just keep practicing and analyzing things when they do go wrong to figure out why. Thanks for watching!

[@flyingcheff]

Chad, you are spot on about how much jewelry out there is being sold even though the workmanship is so bad. Bezel joins that are visible - ugh; or how about the sloppy top edges of bezels from brutal and unconscious setting, or not bothering to finish to a polish the top edges BEFORE setting the stone, egads! Really good construction is vital to a product that someone sells. And the fact that such junk actually sells says a lot about another interesting aspect of sales of handmade (or machine made) jewelry. “Woke” in a jewelry way would be great!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Doing these videos is helping me to improve my final product for two reasons. One, I’m trying to teach people to make quality stuff, and two, cameras expose all your flaws:)

[@maryhoshizaki3576]

Excellent video, thank you so much for sharing all your expertise! For the novice, like me, I use graphite (mechanical pencil lead) to line up the hinges when I finally soldering all three hinges, the graphite come right out afterwards so you can put the pin in. I love the idea of soldering instead of riveting the pin ends. Great stuff, Chad!

[@chadssilversmithing]

I’m glad you found it useful. It is a bit tricky to do the final solder on the pin, and even though it is challenging, I like the final result better than some other options. Thanks for watching Mary!

[@CherylAnn2222]

OMG this was the best!!! First of all, Thank you for being consistent with your content, It's nice to have these videos to watch each week. And I love the way you did those hinges. I never thought to solder the ends, I ball the ends with the flame and 7 out of ten times it ends in disaster🤣

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Ms.C2222! I tried doing that years ago, and I also struggled to do it consistently. That makes me feel better that I’m not the only one who had trouble doing that:). Take care!

[@socialjusticejewelry]

@@chadssilversmithing Okay I was wondering if soldering made a difference to the swing of the hinge. I have access to a micro tig welder so balling up an end is easy and precise. Will be trying the pliers for setting tip though.

[@chadssilversmithing]

@@socialjusticejewelry Not unless you get it a little too hot:). Ooh, I want a micro tig welder! Thanks for the comment Social Justice Jewelry! Happy new year!

[@flyingcheff]

Ok, yet another comment; in almost 16 years of being a trained and working metalsmith, I have never seen a proper hinge made this way - whoa! Soldering your hinge pins like that? oh……K….loving seeing new things! And LOVE the rock climbing pickles - awesome!!

[@chadssilversmithing]

When I first started, I took a couple of short classes from a local guy who taught me some good basics, but since then I’m self taught. I recognize that I do things unconventionally, but constantly try to find new things to try to add to my toolkit. Now I’m curious, how do most people do hinges?

[@flyingcheff]

@Chad’s Silversmithing often it's one tube, cut in sections (not 2 tubes cut to accommodate each other. AND, I've never SEEN them soldered, only rivet set. I really liked seeing another way. 👍👍👍

[@chadssilversmithing]

@@flyingcheff Hmm. I’ve done a few rivets, but not my normal m.o.:)

[@flyingcheff]

@@chadssilversmithing I'll get back to you in that with details. I like the way you do it for SURE!

[@chadssilversmithing]

@@flyingcheff Thanks!

[@deliawashington505]

Love it! It is beautiful. You did a great job picking out the stones. ❤

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Delia! Years ago I made one for my wife similar to this with Larimar, a really blue Labradorite, and a blue Topaz. Lots of fun combinations to try:)

[@patredden4557]

Great video, lots of information. Thanks so much. I like the side angle so much better.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Pat. I’m glad. I just have to learn how to keep my hands in frame:)

[@ВераМосягина-ы2в]

Ювелир-ЗОЛОТЫЕ РУКИ)))🤗❤

[@chadssilversmithing]

Наверное, должны быть "старые Руки":)

[@larrymoremckenzie3029]

Very Nice!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Larrymore! Appreciate the nice comment:)

[@jaysquadfly]

Thank you!

[@chadssilversmithing]

You're welcome Jay! Glad you liked it:)

[@kimdimaggio6268]

Among the favorites list. Always wanted to do these hinges but been a little intimidated. Would love to see closeups of any material item numbers especially from Rio. Just a thought. Thanks for video, Chad!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Kim! They can be tricky:). I did put the gauges in the description, but I need to check the exact # for the tube. I will add it to the description shortly. Hope this helps!

[@flyingcheff]

Kim, PLS. Don't think Rio is the only game in town. There are superior resources (quality for the same price, maybe less).

[@kimdimaggio6268]

@Flying Chef Thanks for the heads up! I have also used Thunderbird. Anyone else worth mentioning?

[@Metalsmithnna]

I’ve made a few hinges and still have a lot to learn, have not seen the technique you used here but would like to give it a try.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Let me know how it goes Ann! Thanks for the nice comment:)

[@Metalsmithnna]

@@chadssilversmithing I haven’t soldered the pin ends, I usually rivet them, so that was new to me as well. Thanks for your great content!

[@cairnpugh6640]

Love your videos! I was wondering where you get your stones, they are beautiful!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Cairn! I get most at gem shows in Denver. I also do a little rockhounding and occasionally cut one. I like the fabrication part better than the lapidary part:). Thank you for the nice comment!

[@kshgraph]

What kind of spray solder are you using !

[@chadssilversmithing]

I’m using My-T-Flux from Rio Grande, and hard sheet solder. Thanks for the watch and comment!

[@marylusky2224]

Great video. Thanks. But I don’t know what you did to finish the hinges. Did you solder the ends then cut it off. I couldn’t see what you were doing there. Thanks

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Mary. I picked a tiny bit of easy solder to the outside tube where the pin protruded and then cut them off and filed the ends. Hope this helps!

[@Shukarr]

Hi Chad, beautiful piece and a thank you so much for making this video. I also don’t understand how you finish the pins off. I saw your reply to Mary’s query but I still don’t understand. How are you preventing the inner pin from belong able to slide out? Could you explain in a bit more detail please? You said you soldered the end of the tube what did you mean? Please forgive I’m trying very hard to understand.

[@chadssilversmithing]

@@Shukarr I’m really just using a tiny piece of easy solder to solder the pin to the tube on either end. Following this I just cut the excess pin off and polish.

[@Shukarr]

@@chadssilversmithing ahhhhhh!! I see!!! So you are adhering it to the top bit but the bottom bit of the hinge is still able to swing freely. I get it:) Thank you!:)

[@victorresp]

Thanks, this is a great video. I would help me if you talk through what you are doing, it's not too obvious to me as I am new. 🙂

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Victoria! I’ll try to do better on explaining my thinking:)

[@flyingcheff]

And… a piece made without cursing rarely turns out as well as it would otherwise!!! Also, Chad, what was the “fail” on that top hinge? You don’t explain. And what are you soldering (on the hinge) and why? And what are you trying NOT to do - this the “fail”? Occasionally, there is [teaching] stuff going on in your head that doesn’t make it to the video - I’m watching you like a hawk, referring you to my students (yes, good channel to watch, this guy ISN’T an an idiot, he does know what he’s doing, although frequently unconventional - air sawing 😳!!😎), and generally really enjoying your videos and learning OTHER ways to fabricate!

[@chadssilversmithing]

I either got it slightly too hot, and a bit of the existing solder holding the tube worked it’s way into where it wasn’t supposed to go, or, some of the easy worked it’s way past the outer tube and seized it up. Either way, I cut the tubes off and started fresh on that one. I’ll try to do a better job voicing the random and wandering thoughts bouncing around up there:)

[@flyingcheff]

@Chad’s Silversmithing you see a really good source of information, you have a different take on things (I think), and that is refreshing.

[@chadssilversmithing]

@@flyingcheff Thanks. I like learning how others do things as well. It can only enhance your own toolkit!