Hello Malcolm, It is my pleasure. I am very happy to get comments and suggestions that will help more jewelers and artists. Thank you again for your comments. I really do appreciate it. Greg Greenwood
Thank you for the follow up video. I didn't knew about the brass brush cleaning, now I'll have to try it! Today I prepared some rebar for welding, by shaping some of it with a rough bastard file. The file clogged up, and a few quick sidewise strokes down my worn jeans, cleaned the file up!! I'm just saying it's sometimes wort trying different methods☺ I'll look forward to follow your future videos and again, thank you for bringing silver soldering back into my life again, after a 30-year break☺
Hello Mads, I like your jean suggestion!! Jeans come in handy in many ways!! I am very glad that my videos are helping you. Thank you for watching, commenting, and learning. Keep it up. Thanks again. Greg Greenwood
Mr. Greenwood, I've watched all of your videos and just had to tell you what a fantastic job you do. I'm continually impressed with the many aspects of your videos and teachings: 1. You maintain a kind, gentle demeanor while providing incredibly insightful content. You explain what you do, and more importantly, WHY you do it, in a succinct and encouraging way. It's so helpful that you provide insight on the many ways of doing something or tools to be used, and then let us in on your experience of why you prefer what you do. 2. You've covered so many basics that are not always easy to find elsewhere and certainly not at the highly skilled viewpoint that you bring. 3. Your video work is excellent; clear, dynamic, and upbeat, you show by example and provide so many lovely magnified up-close shots. I really enjoy the many angles and camera adjustments you do. It feels very professional. Great thumbnails, too; love the expressions! 4. You take the time to physically draw out clear diagrams and formulas which are excellent for screenshots for easy reference later. Having the tools of the discussion laid out and labeled is also very nice for the same reasons. 5. You seem to be a very genuine person who enjoys sharing his hard-earned experience and wisdom with others. Your enthusiasm for your craft and teaching coupled with all of the previous elements mentioned make your videos so pleasant to watch. I was just telling someone how terribly underrated your channel and content are, as from my perspective, you excel in all of it. I've watched many smiths and jewelry creators, but you are by far my favorite. I am so pleased and thankful to have found your channel. God bless you and please continue to share your expertise with us.
Hello M. Astor, Wow! Thank you very much for taking the time for your amazing comments. I really do appreciate your kind insights. It gives me much pleasure to make these videos and when I read your comments, it makes it all worthwhile. I am so happy to help beginning and experienced jewelers learn some of the tricks of the trade without them having to "re-invent the wheel". It is fun to pass on what I have learned over the past 50 years of loving to make jewelry. Thank you for watching and spreading the word. If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to let me know. I am here to help. Thank you very much again. Greg Greenwood
wish to see more viewers on theese videos.. Your way of explaining in detail is superb, a gift to all new in the craft, and for me as a green teacher in arts and craft, and silversmithing. Thank you Greg, big time!
Hello Martin, Thank you for your kind comments, I really appreciate it. The best to you in your teaching. If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to let me know. I am here to help. Greg Greenwood
thank you greg for sharing solutions with us! feeling the love :) update, i cleaned my diamond files with a wire brush and holey moley! they are like new. self taught for a decade, learning more each day, but i didnt know i had to clean my files. (i thought they just wear and get replaced.) so thank you mr greg for giving my files a renewed life 🧡
Wow Denise, What a great story! I am very excited to hear about your files. If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to let me know. Glad you are learning every day. We all do and it is a great feeling. Enjoy your "new" files. Greg Greenwood
Love this topic, I have some suggestions for you to watch about back drawing the file. Fireball tools demonstrated that it doesn't matter as much as our mentors claimed.
First time visitor to this channel, very informative, thank you. Though I was surprised that you did not attempt to recover the silver that was stuck in the file.
Hello Philippe55, Welcome to my channel. I appreciate your comments. Your observation is correct. One should not waste metal. In my video, I am concentrating on the cleaning of the file so the students can learn the techniques and not be worried about other concerns. I will try to make sure other concerns are mentioned in future videos. Thank You. Keep watching! Greg Greenwood
Couple of points on brass brushes... Old suede leather brushes have more bristles, work great and last longer than you might think. If you find you need a more aggressive action to the brush, just trim down the length of the brush wires by about half, using a pair of scissors - this gives a stiffer brush. While I am using the file, I find regularly giving a quick pass over the file with a natural rubber block shifts almost everything before it builds up into more of a problem. [if you don't have one, a pencil eraser will work too] These can be found in block form and are used for cleaning abrasive belts. [also great for cleaning the crud off diamond plates]. Files are under rated and often misunderstood tools ... so look after them properly and they will give great service. Get into the habit of thoroughly cleaning them before you put them away
Hello Old Grizzly, I agree with you 100% that files are misunderstood and abused. Great tips and thank you for sharing. I appreciate it. Greg Greenwood
New suggestion that I use regularly. It's especially difficult to consistently reach between the teeth of a medium-to-fine file. I've tested and am checking the use of 'glass pumice blocks', light weight foamed glass made from recycled glass. It is very friable - breaks before doing any damage, but is generally softer than the hardened steel. I cannot vouch for the use of real pumice however. Also, some beauty supply places sell "pumice block" that are really foamed polystyrene! This is readily proven by the fact that the "pumice block" is flammable and burns with a heavy, sooty flame. I've been meaning to go back to check these.
Hello SaddleBrooke, Thank you for the suggestion. I appreciate new ideas. I look for the pumice blocks and try it. Thank you very much for watching and your comments. Greg Greenwood
For really fine files, I found brass ineffective. I chose to use pumice or foamed glass blocks (like fot barbecues) with care. Cleans out even the tiniest crevice
Is there a particular compound that is better for silver, when choosing a new file? I ask because I've notice that the needle file set I bought specifically for silver jewelry is a black metal, with zero luster to the finish. Should I try to find the same type of metal for a big flat file, or will any flat file do?
Hello Red Eye Stones, It is always a good idea to get the best quality of tools that you can afford. If you are on a budget, the lesser expensive file will do. Check out my video "A File Is a File". It will give you some pointers. Greg Greenwood
@@greggreenwood4628 hey there @GaryGreenwood. I recently tried to save money by ordering all my jewelry making tools on Amazon, at the cheapest price possible. The pliers aren't sturdy enough, but I can make em work. However, the mandrel I got for pounding my rings, is softer than the silver I'm trying to pound around it. Was hoping you could tell me of a quality ring mandrel to buy, that will last. Also, which brand of pliers should I be looking for? The kit that I got, I got specifically because it showed it has a pair with one flat, one round, and a pair with plastic grippers, as not to mar the metal. The ones with the flat and round nose, have a channel running down the middle, that ends up with deep marks scribed into the silver, that I then have to file down. That's taking me about 25 minutes just to file the gouges down. 😆
Hello Red Eye Stones, YIKES!!! Sorry to hear about the tools. For sure the mandrel must to harder than the rings! Rio Grande Jewelry Supply is a very good supplier and they have several ring mandrels plus pliers that can be counted on. I am in the middle of making a video showing the basic tools to get started in jewelry making. It should be uploaded soon. Let me know how your quest is going. Greg Greenwood
Why would a steel file card be any more damaging than filing regular steel? The brushes even have some flexibility to them. A scriber on the other hand is very hard and surely going to damage the teeth edges if you push into them.
Hello RCTS, You are correct when you say a scriber can do damage to the teeth edges. A scribe is only used when metal cannot be taken out of the grooves by any other means. Filing regular steel wears out a file quickly. The steel file card, you are correct, is gentler to the file than regular steel. We simply like to look for ways to make the files last longer. Thank you for your comments. I appreciate it. Greg Greenwood
Love the wood suggestion and brass
Hello Kim, It works great. Greg Greenwood
Nice to find a channel where viewers' input it truly appreciated and shared. Thank you
Hello Malcolm, It is my pleasure. I am very happy to get comments and suggestions that will help more jewelers and artists. Thank you again for your comments. I really do appreciate it. Greg Greenwood
Thank you for the follow up video. I didn't knew about the brass brush cleaning, now I'll have to try it!
Today I prepared some rebar for welding, by shaping some of it with a rough bastard file. The file clogged up, and a few quick sidewise strokes down my worn jeans, cleaned the file up!! I'm just saying it's sometimes wort trying different methods☺ I'll look forward to follow your future videos and again, thank you for bringing silver soldering back into my life again, after a 30-year break☺
Hello Mads, I like your jean suggestion!! Jeans come in handy in many ways!! I am very glad that my videos are helping you. Thank you for watching, commenting, and learning. Keep it up. Thanks again. Greg Greenwood
Mr. Greenwood, I've watched all of your videos and just had to tell you what a fantastic job you do. I'm continually impressed with the many aspects of your videos and teachings:
1. You maintain a kind, gentle demeanor while providing incredibly insightful content. You explain what you do, and more importantly, WHY you do it, in a succinct and encouraging way. It's so helpful that you provide insight on the many ways of doing something or tools to be used, and then let us in on your experience of why you prefer what you do.
2. You've covered so many basics that are not always easy to find elsewhere and certainly not at the highly skilled viewpoint that you bring.
3. Your video work is excellent; clear, dynamic, and upbeat, you show by example and provide so many lovely magnified up-close shots. I really enjoy the many angles and camera adjustments you do. It feels very professional. Great thumbnails, too; love the expressions!
4. You take the time to physically draw out clear diagrams and formulas which are excellent for screenshots for easy reference later. Having the tools of the discussion laid out and labeled is also very nice for the same reasons.
5. You seem to be a very genuine person who enjoys sharing his hard-earned experience and wisdom with others. Your enthusiasm for your craft and teaching coupled with all of the previous elements mentioned make your videos so pleasant to watch.
I was just telling someone how terribly underrated your channel and content are, as from my perspective, you excel in all of it. I've watched many smiths and jewelry creators, but you are by far my favorite.
I am so pleased and thankful to have found your channel. God bless you and please continue to share your expertise with us.
Hello M. Astor, Wow! Thank you very much for taking the time for your amazing comments. I really do appreciate your kind insights. It gives me much pleasure to make these videos and when I read your comments, it makes it all worthwhile. I am so happy to help beginning and experienced jewelers learn some of the tricks of the trade without them having to "re-invent the wheel". It is fun to pass on what I have learned over the past 50 years of loving to make jewelry. Thank you for watching and spreading the word. If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to let me know. I am here to help. Thank you very much again. Greg Greenwood
wish to see more viewers on theese videos.. Your way of explaining in detail is superb, a gift to all new in the craft, and for me as a green teacher in arts and craft, and silversmithing. Thank you Greg, big time!
Hello Martin, Thank you for your kind comments, I really appreciate it. The best to you in your teaching. If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to let me know. I am here to help. Greg Greenwood
thank you greg for sharing solutions with us! feeling the love :)
update, i cleaned my diamond files with a wire brush and holey moley! they are like new. self taught for a decade, learning more each day, but i didnt know i had to clean my files. (i thought they just wear and get replaced.) so thank you mr greg for giving my files a renewed life 🧡
Wow Denise, What a great story! I am very excited to hear about your files. If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to let me know. Glad you are learning every day. We all do and it is a great feeling. Enjoy your "new" files. Greg Greenwood
Thank you Mr Greenwood
Hello Kim. You are more than welcome. Thank you for watching and commenting. Greg Greenwood.
Love this topic, I have some suggestions for you to watch about back drawing the file. Fireball tools demonstrated that it doesn't matter as much as our mentors claimed.
Hello BenL. Thanks for your comments. I appreciate it. Greg Greenwood
GREAT TIPS!
Glad it was helpful! Greg Greenwood
First time visitor to this channel, very informative, thank you. Though I was surprised that you did not attempt to recover the silver that was stuck in the file.
Hello Philippe55, Welcome to my channel. I appreciate your comments. Your observation is correct. One should not waste metal. In my video, I am concentrating on the cleaning of the file so the students can learn the techniques and not be worried about other concerns. I will try to make sure other concerns are mentioned in future videos. Thank You. Keep watching! Greg Greenwood
Couple of points on brass brushes... Old suede leather brushes have more bristles, work great and last longer than you might think. If you find you need a more aggressive action to the brush, just trim down the length of the brush wires by about half, using a pair of scissors - this gives a stiffer brush. While I am using the file, I find regularly giving a quick pass over the file with a natural rubber block shifts almost everything before it builds up into more of a problem. [if you don't have one, a pencil eraser will work too] These can be found in block form and are used for cleaning abrasive belts. [also great for cleaning the crud off diamond plates].
Files are under rated and often misunderstood tools ... so look after them properly and they will give great service. Get into the habit of thoroughly cleaning them before you put them away
Hello Old Grizzly, I agree with you 100% that files are misunderstood and abused. Great tips and thank you for sharing. I appreciate it. Greg Greenwood
New suggestion that I use regularly. It's especially difficult to consistently reach between the teeth of a medium-to-fine file. I've tested and am checking the use of 'glass pumice blocks', light weight foamed glass made from recycled glass. It is very friable - breaks before doing any damage, but is generally softer than the hardened steel.
I cannot vouch for the use of real pumice however.
Also, some beauty supply places sell "pumice block" that are really foamed polystyrene! This is readily proven by the fact that the "pumice block" is flammable and burns with a heavy, sooty flame. I've been meaning to go back to check these.
Hello SaddleBrooke, Thank you for the suggestion. I appreciate new ideas. I look for the pumice blocks and try it. Thank you very much for watching and your comments. Greg Greenwood
For really fine files, I found brass ineffective. I chose to use pumice or foamed glass blocks (like fot barbecues) with care. Cleans out even the tiniest crevice
Hello D. Main, I agree with you. Fine files are always a problem to clean. I will try the pumice. Thank you for the tip. Greg Greenwood
Is there a particular compound that is better for silver, when choosing a new file? I ask because I've notice that the needle file set I bought specifically for silver jewelry is a black metal, with zero luster to the finish. Should I try to find the same type of metal for a big flat file, or will any flat file do?
Hello Red Eye Stones, It is always a good idea to get the best quality of tools that you can afford. If you are on a budget, the lesser expensive file will do. Check out my video "A File Is a File". It will give you some pointers. Greg Greenwood
@@greggreenwood4628 thanks again, Greg.
@@greggreenwood4628 hey there @GaryGreenwood. I recently tried to save money by ordering all my jewelry making tools on Amazon, at the cheapest price possible. The pliers aren't sturdy enough, but I can make em work. However, the mandrel I got for pounding my rings, is softer than the silver I'm trying to pound around it. Was hoping you could tell me of a quality ring mandrel to buy, that will last. Also, which brand of pliers should I be looking for? The kit that I got, I got specifically because it showed it has a pair with one flat, one round, and a pair with plastic grippers, as not to mar the metal. The ones with the flat and round nose, have a channel running down the middle, that ends up with deep marks scribed into the silver, that I then have to file down. That's taking me about 25 minutes just to file the gouges down. 😆
Hello Red Eye Stones, YIKES!!! Sorry to hear about the tools. For sure the mandrel must to harder than the rings! Rio Grande Jewelry Supply is a very good supplier and they have several ring mandrels plus pliers that can be counted on. I am in the middle of making a video showing the basic tools to get started in jewelry making. It should be uploaded soon. Let me know how your quest is going. Greg Greenwood
@@greggreenwood4628 awesome. Thanks again Greg
Why would a steel file card be any more damaging than filing regular steel? The brushes even have some flexibility to them. A scriber on the other hand is very hard and surely going to damage the teeth edges if you push into them.
Hello RCTS, You are correct when you say a scriber can do damage to the teeth edges. A scribe is only used when metal cannot be taken out of the grooves by any other means. Filing regular steel wears out a file quickly. The steel file card, you are correct, is gentler to the file than regular steel. We simply like to look for ways to make the files last longer. Thank you for your comments. I appreciate it. Greg Greenwood