When I was in college (not that long ago) I took a jewelry making class. In fact, I stuck with it for about 3 and a half years, and got pretty decent at making silver jewelry. I’m not in college anymore, but I would like to continue this hobby. The only problem is, I’m not sure I can afford a jewelry making workshop, even a basic one, on my fresh-out-of-college pay coughslave wagescough 
Most of the supplies wouldn’t be a problem - jeweler’s saw, blades for it, a set of files, sandpaper, that sort of thing. But what about soldering? The class I took had an oxy-acetylene torch with a setup in a corner involving firebricks. That torch didn’t look cheap, and I’ll bet the gas tanks weren’t either.
So, for any Dopers out there who make jewelry, is there a cheaper alternative for soldering? And is there any advice you’d have for setting something like this up? (By “something like this” I mean a small work area for fabricating and maybe casting silver) Is there anything I’ve overlooked?
Gee, if you didn’t live in New Mexico, I’dsay you should pop by my house- my dad has all the tools you need! It always worried me to have oxygen tanks in his workroom, which was next to my bedroom.
Honestly, I’d see if there’s a college where you can pay to use facilities, or ask around and see if someone knows a retired jeweler who might be willing to sell some equipment.
I do jewelry too, but I only do wirework and chainmail. I don’t usually solder.
There is a college where I could use tools, but not without enrolling in the class (insurance issues, I think) which would cost more than I can pay. I can afford money for tools because I’d be able to keep using them, but $250 just for one semester of access to tools is a bit steep for me.
Looking for a retired/retiring jeweler, that I hadn’t thought of. I’ll check on that.
Banandre, if you can manage it, go to Tucson for the Gem and Mineral Show in February. It’s huge, takes over the whole town and is a paradise for jewelry makers. There are scads of supplies - more stones, beads, cabachons, crystals, findings, tumblers, tools and just plain old junk than you can shake a Dremel at.
Oops, sorry Basandre for mispelling your name.
…and then misspelling misspelling! ::smack::
My grandfather made jewelry for many years and I inherited all his tools. Most of the tools aren’t particularly pricey. A variable speed Dremel with a foot control and the dentist drill-type attachment and the torch are where most of the expense lies, aside from your materials of course. You can probably get a suitable torch from Harbor Freight for comparatively little. You don’t need something a full-time professional welder would use just to solder a jewelry project from time to time. Gas tanks aren’t cheap, but you won’t be using them up very fast either. As for the Dremel, my grandfather didn’t use one at all for years and then built his kit up by buying the bits and pieces as he felt he needed them rather than all at one time.