So much over spot for the different sizes. People also bring us their nuggets and we make them into necklaces or put them on a ring. We have regulars who come in for nugget jewelry. They only want Alaskan gold. Their shop has a workroom with torches, a flex shaft motor tool and a higher speed, hand-held micromotor with variable speed.
Nearby blocks hold many types of burs and grinders.
While using red rouge on a soft bristle buffing wheel to polish a gold ring, Joe looked through a microscope for hairline cracks in the soldered areas. It gives jewelry more of a texture. We make sure the nuggets are from the same creek so the colors match. Just across the street from Taylor's on Second Avenue, Tim Staton opened Alaska Gold 'n Gems in 1989. Broad-shouldered Staton worked as a welder, mechanic and heavy equipment operator before getting into custom jewelry.