The Tools We Can't Live Without...

I've spent a lot of time in the last two months packing and unpacking things both at home and at my studio. In both my worlds, there are a few things I have to be able to put my hands on right away in order for things to keep clicking along.

In my studio, one of the things I keep close are my hammers. Metalwork is impossible without them. But in addition to my Fretz beauties, I use this Harbor Freight special almost every day.

It's inexpensive and a real workhorse. I use it for whacking disc cutters and stamping on metals, and I really love the texture I get on metal when I use the ball pein side. Add in my new Green Lion Saw and a decent pair of cutters, and I'm good to go.

But favorites change - last year I wrote this post about tools and am delighted to say that I now own all three items that were on my wishlist back then! So I thought I'd ask some of my AJE teammates what their current favorites are.

Caroline relies on her Swann-Morton retractable knife, which has interchangeable blades for a variety of tasks. She says, "I use it for everything - cutting, trimming, carving, making vinyl masks, holding things... you can get different blades for different jobs and it's really sharp." (Unfortunately it looks like it's only available from the UK supplier - if you find a source in the US, post it in the comments!)

Jenny relies on her jeweler's saw - and says she's still using the student version she got from Rio Grande ages ago. She loves it!

Jen doesn't know the name of her favorite - she's written about it before, and it was made for her by a friend's husband. She calls it a shovel, and uses it to poke, pull, and move hot glass when she's making her gorgeous glass beads.

Karen gave me a list so long it really deserves a post all its own! But when she's throwing clay, she say she absolutely cannot do without this special wood paddle.

She also relies on an Exacto knife - not precisely like Caroline's scalpel, but she uses it for many of the same things. The item on her list that most intrigues me, however, is the tool she uses for drawing: Fifty Three's Pencil, a specialized stylus intended to be used with Fifty Three's iPad app called Paper. Karen does some extraordinary work using this app and the Pencil, and it's now officially on my wishlist.

So what are your current favorites? Are there things on your worktable that you just can't live without? Things on your wishlist that you drool over late at night? Do share!

Until next time -

These Are A Few Of My Favorite...Tools!

We all have our favorite tools when we make our beads or jewelry and I thought I'd show you a few of mine!

The first one is a Bead Roller by Donna Felkner - I have several of them, but I really love this shape, it's called baroque. 

 I used it to make this really cool bead here!  I should have a few of these available at Bead Fest in August!

 Next are metal stainless steel chop sticks.  I got this hint from Sage Holland when I took an intensive glass class with her several years ago.  They are cheap and they work great for pulling twisties.  You can get them from kitchen shops online.  See how mine are burned at the end?  That's the only problem with these, after you use them for a while they burn out on the ends.  But they are so cheap it's not a big deal.

 Next is my rod holder by Graceful Customs.  She makes some great tools, and I don't know what I did without these for years!

 They are so perfect for holding shorts, so you don't waste glass!

 Next is my Magic Wand by Corina Tettinger.  She doesn't always have tools available, you kind of have to jump on it when she announces she has some!  It can do many things, I mainly use it for tapping down murrini or making grooves for pumpkin beads!

 I'm hoping to be able to get around to making some of these pumpkin beads for Bead Fest as well, but with so many beads in my head, I may not be able to.

 Finally, a bead press I got from Leonardo Lampwork.  I actually have several of these but this is my favorite one, the swirl.

I have some awesome new focals and sets to introduce at Bead Fest using this tool, but you'll have to wait til my next post to see them!!!!

What are your favorite tools for working in your medium? Some of these can be used for other mediums, as well!

Susan Kennedy
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