Home / Jewelry Making Tips and Techniques / Using Your Saw to Tighten a Join

Using Your Saw to Tighten a Join

by Kylie Jones
When soldering circle elements like ring bands and jump rings it's essential to make sure the two ends fit together tightly and without any gaps. Here's how I do it.
Instructions
Absolutely! That fine join line really makes a huge difference in the final look, especially once patina or oxidation kicks in and the solder stands out more.

Sawing through the joint right before soldering is a brilliant trick I love how it tightens the fit and helps avoid gaps or uneven solder flow. Plus, it ensures the ends are perfectly flush, which is key for a seamless join.

Do you have a favorite type of saw blade or blade size you prefer for this step? Or any tips on how you hold the wire steady while sawing through the join?
Kylie Jones's Using Your Saw to Tighten a Join - , General Education, , using your saw to tighten a join
The join needs to have some tension so the ends are pushing towards each other, if they aren't the blade will just move them apart.

To create the tension you overlap the ends making the ring slightly smaller and then pulling them back together.
Kylie Jones's Using Your Saw to Tighten a Join - , General Education, , you overlap the ends making the ring slightly smaller
That's a really thoughtful approach using the saw blade as a delicate file and "nibbling" away at the join is such a precise way to get a tight fit without risking distortion. Resting the ring on the bench pin as a safeguard to prevent the blade going all the way through is brilliant smart and safe!

Sawing from the outside to the inside to keep the join visible makes total sense too. And trying the reverse direction (inside to outside) might be useful depending on the shape or accessibility of the piece.

Do you usually do this before or after any preliminary f
Kylie Jones's Using Your Saw to Tighten a Join - , General Education, , use the saw blade as a very fine file
Kylie Jones's Using Your Saw to Tighten a Join - , General Education, , I rest the ring against the bench pin

Materials

Wire - Wide variety of gauges and metals
Shop Now
Add All Items to Cart

Tools

Basic Sawing Kit
G15-7
  • G15-7
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $34.95
  • Gold Club Price: $26.21
Add to Bag
Optional Tools
Titanium Bezel and Ring Shank Soldering Holder, Set of 3
HOL-134.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $24.95
  • Gold Club Price: $18.71
Add to Bag
Single 3rd Hand with Tweezer and Base
HOL-165.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $18.97
  • Gold Club Price: $14.23
Add to Bag
Add All Items to Cart
  • Category: General Education
  • Technique(s): General Education

Reviews

Login to post a Review
Login to be the first to review this Tip!