re: #279 freetoken

IIRC, when I used to get the catalogs from the jewelry supply houses they also sold tools for using machines.

As for the metals - I used to acquire silver in 10oz bars, years ago when it was cheap, with the idea that I would get into casting. Sold them a couple of years ago (and yes, they appreciated.)

I was always fascinated by exotic alloys - check out Beryllium for making alloys hard, or Indium for making them machinable. Unfortunately both are probably contraindicated for direct skin contact jewelry, but would be useful in artwork.

You don’t ever want beryllium vaporized or aerosolized—not even grinding an edge on a copper-beryllium chisel. Toxic in nasty ways.