JIGS

Jigs are devices designed to help with a specific task. Jigs can be complex, precision devices, or simple household items that just seem to help. With a jig, necessity is the mother of invention. Many of them are borne out of frustration. Something just isn't working right, so you look around the studio for something you can fashion to help. Often, you end up using something that was intended for a different purpose, but works for you in a pinch.

Some of the most common examples found on a jeweler's bench are paper clips, steel pins and cotter pins. Paper clips are easily bent to almost any shape. I often use them to hang things for soldering, such as chain links or bands of metal. They can also be used to prop up a piece of metal for soldering. Steel pins, with their heads clipped off, can be bent into a hook and used to pin work to a soft soldering pad. This can be especially helpful when working with wire.

Some jigs are are manufactured specifically to help you, and aren't homemade. One of the most useful is a tripod with a metal screen. This simple device allows you to heat the work from below, which is very helpful for large, flat pieces. A third hand device is essentially an alligator clip or pair of tweezers mounted in a swivel joint, attached to a heavy base. A third hand can be used to hold a piece in place to be soldered.