About Doug Napier
Together, We can MAKE the BEST Jewelry of YOUR LIFE!
“I have a passion for making jewelry and educating others.”
This is a place for Jewelers of ALL Experience Levels to gather and to get info, from Quick Tips of the Day, to Specialized Education.
Some of the things we have to offer You are:
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- FREE at JewelryMonk.com – Weekly Tips, Tricks, and Tutorials. (Subscribe and you won’t miss a thing)
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- The JewelryMonk Podcast – A podcast (weekly internet radio show) with ideas, interviews, guests, tips, etc.
- The JewelryMonk Podcast is available on this website, iTunes, and Stitcher, as well as on the JewelryMonk.com site.
- The JewelryMonk Podcast – A podcast (weekly internet radio show) with ideas, interviews, guests, tips, etc.
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- Specialized Comprehensive Training Packages with Video Lessons, One-on-One email and phone (Skype) consultations, walking you through every aspect of Soldering, Stone Setting, Polishing, Casting, Manufacturing and more.
- Specialized Manufacturing Help, Troubleshooting, and Consulting in your facility at www.DougNapier.com
About the JewelryMonk
A little about me, my name is Doug Napier and I started this website, JewelryMonk.com a few years back as a way of paying forward the vast jewelry knowledge I have accumulated over 38 years in the jewelry business. Over those years, I have traveled all over the world, focusing on making jewelry in a manufacturing setting, and I am experienced in all facets of jewelry making from bench jeweler and technical model-making, to production troubleshooting and Computer Design (CAD). Along my journey, I have learned many tips and tricks, and am more than happy to pass along anything I have learned. (I can’t take it with me). I believe I have been given a great gift when it comes to making jewelry, and I would like to be a good steward and pass it along to anyone who is hungry and wants to learn.
Warning!!!
The daily information on this site will be all over the spectrum of jewelry making. It won’t be for everyone, but it will be for someone Every Day!
…..And you might just get hooked!
So, sit back, browse around the site, and come with us on this journey of jewelry and life, let’s do them both together.
If you like what you see, subscribe to the blog.
Thanks for stopping by,
Doug
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Etsy, SnapChat, and once in a while…..Periscope.
Doug, thank you for all your very helpful tips and taking the time to post these for others. I struggle at metalsmithing, so I will be anxious to get your next set of tips!
Thanks Sherry, glad you stopped by. Keep checking in.
Doug,
I found you from the Metalsmiths Coffeehouse on Facebook and truly love getting your daily tips for the 90-days… You’ve inspired me to start working on my blog a lot more and to get some of the things I’ve learned over the years out there in the Universe. Thank you so much for the inspiration and I will continue to follow and enjoy your posts!
Thank you Julessa! Go get em!
Thank you so much for your great tips. I look forward to practicing some of these.
Thanks Rea.
Love your blog. I had never tried using any brushes except for steel ones. I think I’ll give this a whirl—polishing is a weak area for me.
Michelle, give em a try and let us know how you like it. The more you do it, the better you will get.
Doug
So you do any workshops in your area? I am addicted to the blog info now but looking for some hands on classes. Thanks,
Janet, I don’t have any hands on workshops yet, but I am in the process of creating a 30 day video course with email support, a couple of e-book tutorials, and starting a weekly or bi-weekly podcast.
Keep checking back and thanks the question.
Doug
I am a lamp worker/jewelry maker and I have recently began learning everything I can about metalsmithing. I discovered your blog today through Pinterest and will start to follow. I read all your blogs and find your information perfect!
In the blog where you were having difficulty finding the word to describe the way you look at light on the edges of a filed surface I now know just what you mean. Blaine Lewis called it “look for the mirrors”. They have to be consistent across the edges.
By the way, in the bench polishing pictures you had a great “structure” that was behind the polishing wheel. Did you have that made or are they available for sale somewhere?
Thank you, Paulette
Thank you so much Paulette. I am glad you found the site. I guess I am not sure what “structure” you are talking about, which day was the picture?
Doug
https://jewelrymonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Pre-Polish-6.jpg
It was Day 48. And thank you for responding!!
Paulette
I think that is just my polishing hood, but a cool looking design.
Exactly. Did you make it or is it available for sale from someone?
Again, thanks again and I look forward to your future blogs!
Paulette
Available for sale. I think I made a link on that post to Amazon.
Thank you so very much for all you share with all of us
Do you still have any of those HO scale dirt Late Model bodies? I’d like to buy 2 of them.
Thanks.
Kevin, I do still have the HO Scale Dirt Late Models. They are at TJetClub.com and on my Etsy shop Etsy.com/shop/tjetclub
Doug
I do.
Hello Doug,
Found you on you tube, question for you…… what chemical can I use to clean up me bench filing if its clean I can melt it into an ingot and have it assayed I am tired of taken it in the shorts by the refiner.
Thank you, Fred Curtis
If it is clean, you can melt it and sprinkle borax onto the melted metal to clean any of the impurities away.
Doug
Hi Doug,
Your ring soldering video was very helpful, thanks! However, I think what I’m trying to do may need just a tip or two more.
First, I’m not a jewelry maker, but I am a photographer AND a maker, and I’m attempting to make sun catchers out of old camera lens filters. I need to find the best way to solder rings onto opposite sides of the rim metal that holds the glass in place. I’m unsure as to exactly how to approach this without damaging the glass, and getting good adhesion from the rings.
Thanks in advance for any recommendations.
KF
If the glass is still attached, I am not sure how to solder the rings without ruining the lens.