How to Make a Milgrain or Patterned Edge

How to Make a Milgrain or Patterned Edge

Sometimes I like to jazz up an edge of a ring or piece of jewelry. Today I will show you a quick way to add a “patterned” edge or a “milgrained” edge. This can be done to many edges or even the top of a bezel. I will demonstrate this on a scrap piece of silver, but you can use your imagination and add this type of pattern to any edge you like.

I am using a piece of silver with a flat edge to demonstrate the process, but like I said, use your imagination and add this pattern to whatever you like. First, I am scribing lines and marking off where I will make my cuts. I have measured the thickness of the silver and it is 0.65mm. The saw blade I am using is a 3/0 Blade which measures 0.25mm, so I have set my Dividers at 0.90mm (0.65 + 0.25) and scribed lines the whole distance of the piece.

Next I scribe a light line to set the depth of the cuts I am going to make. The lines I scribed on the top edge are a little deeper so the saw blade will follow in the groove. I use my Saw Frame to make a cut to the light line I scribed as a “depth guide”.

If my math is right on the layout of the scribed marks I made, I should have square blocks left on the edge. Now I use my Beading Tool to round off the square blocks. I use a beading tool that is just a bit larger than the blocks I am going to round. I place the beading tool over the block and add pressure in a circular motion until the block is transformed into a round bead. Add firm pressure, but be careful to not add too much pressure because if the tool slips off the bead, it can make a nasty mark in your piece. Constant, steady, firm pressure is the key.

After  all the beads are formed, I use a Rotary Brass Brush to clean up the edge and add a shine to the milgrain edge.

There you have it, like I said earlier, this isn’t exactly a demonstration on a piece of jewelry but more of a way to encourage you to use your imagination to try this technique on an edge, bezel, or something that just needs a little “spice”.

Thank you as always for stopping by and following along on this journey. I hope you are experimenting with some of the techniques I share. Be sure to sign up to get these tips emailed to you, or send in comments or questions either by commenting here, emailing me at doug@jewelrymonk.com or send me a voicemail. I read and check them all.

Now go make a difference to your jewelry and your world…..

Doug

“You are learning how to live from somebody else. There are no exceptions to this rule, for human beings are just the kind of creatures who have to learn and keep learning from others how to live…”