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A Metalsmithing Mentor, Right at Your BenchA Metalsmithing Mentor, Right at Your Bench
Checking current offer…

A Metalsmithing Mentor, Right at Your Bench

Personalized guidance, troubleshooting, and feedback at your skill level
Personalized guidance, troubleshooting, and feedback at your skill level
  • Ask questions when something isn't working
  • Get personalized practice based on your skill level
  • Upload photos or videos to get feedback on your work
Julessa Scofield
Created byJulessa Scofield
Award-winning metalsmith, educator, and mentor with nearly two decades of teaching and bench experience.
Background
targetMetalsmith Mentor
6
J

Your Metalsmith Mentor

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Today
Plan
Progress
Coach
Hero image

Today's Practice

20 min • Precision Soldering

Continue practice
Checking current offer…
Achieve your goals

Built from nearly two decades of teaching and working at the bench

Metalsmith Mentor™ brings the way I teach in the studio into a personalized mentoring experience you can use whenever you need it. Instead of simply giving you an answer, the mentor helps you understand why something worked—or didn’t—so you can make better decisions at the bench the next time.

Feature image

Nice job!

You crushed your goal of completing 3 Mini Lessons this month.

psychology

Think like a master metalsmith, not just follow instructions

Learn to observe what is happening, understand why, and make confident, informed decisions at the bench.

precision_manufacturing

Perfect your technique and process

Follow personalized practice sessions, interactive tools, and detailed feedback to refine your soldering, stone setting, and fabrication skills with confidence.

insights

Build lasting confidence at the bench

Track your progress, reflect on your work, and receive encouraging, actionable guidance that helps you grow as a metalsmith every session.

The only app you need

A personalized metalsmithing mentor. In your pocket.

You shouldn’t have to wait for your next class, spend hours searching through videos, or wonder whether the advice you found online actually applies to what is happening at your bench.

Metalsmith Mentor™ gives you a place to ask questions, work through problems, practice intentionally, and receive guidance based on where you are in your own metalsmithing journey.

Your experience evolves with you—from foundational skills through increasingly complex fabrication, soldering, stone setting, finishing, troubleshooting, and bench problem-solving.

A Metalsmithing Mentor, Right at Your BenchA Metalsmithing Mentor, Right at Your Bench
Take the quiz to get your personalized plan

A Metalsmithing Mentor, Right at Your Bench

Personalized guidance, troubleshooting, and feedback at your skill level
Personalized guidance, troubleshooting, and feedback at your skill level
  • Ask questions when something isn't working
  • Get personalized practice based on your skill level
  • Upload photos or videos to get feedback on your work
Julessa Scofield
Created byJulessa Scofield
Award-winning metalsmith, educator, and mentor with nearly two decades of teaching and bench experience.
Background
targetMetalsmith Mentor
6
J

Your Metalsmith Mentor

Loading...

Today
Plan
Progress
Coach
Hero image

Today's Practice

20 min • Precision Soldering

Continue practice
Take the quiz to get your personalized plan
Achieve your goals

Built from nearly two decades of teaching and working at the bench

Metalsmith Mentor™ brings the way I teach in the studio into a personalized mentoring experience you can use whenever you need it. Instead of simply giving you an answer, the mentor helps you understand why something worked—or didn’t—so you can make better decisions at the bench the next time.

Feature image

Nice job!

You crushed your goal of completing 3 Mini Lessons this month.

psychology

Think like a master metalsmith, not just follow instructions

Learn to observe what is happening, understand why, and make confident, informed decisions at the bench.

precision_manufacturing

Perfect your technique and process

Follow personalized practice sessions, interactive tools, and detailed feedback to refine your soldering, stone setting, and fabrication skills with confidence.

insights

Build lasting confidence at the bench

Track your progress, reflect on your work, and receive encouraging, actionable guidance that helps you grow as a metalsmith every session.

The only app you need

A personalized metalsmithing mentor. In your pocket.

You shouldn’t have to wait for your next class, spend hours searching through videos, or wonder whether the advice you found online actually applies to what is happening at your bench.

Metalsmith Mentor™ gives you a place to ask questions, work through problems, practice intentionally, and receive guidance based on where you are in your own metalsmithing journey.

Your experience evolves with you—from foundational skills through increasingly complex fabrication, soldering, stone setting, finishing, troubleshooting, and bench problem-solving.

Feature showcase

Bench Setup Review

Troubleshooting Reflection

Today's Practice

20 min • Precision Soldering

Start practice

Skill Kit Lesson

Including everything you need to succeed:

school

Learn: Build technical understanding

keyboard_arrow_down

Build stronger technical understanding through personalized lessons, explanations, and guided skill development.

fact_check

Troubleshoot: Solve real bench problems

keyboard_arrow_down

Work through soldering, stone setting, fabrication, finishing, tool, material, and process problems when they actually happen.

quiz

Practice: Turn knowledge into skill

keyboard_arrow_down

Receive focused bench exercises and activities designed to turn information into repeatable skill.

insights

Track progress: Strengthen skills over time

keyboard_arrow_down

Track bench sessions, guided practice, bench notes, and milestone projects to see how your skills are developing over time.

check_circle

Personalized daily activities built around you

keyboard_arrow_down

Receive focused lessons, practice prompts, and bench activities shaped by your skill level, goals, and current learning path.

psychology

AI mentor conversations that teach through questions and reasoning

keyboard_arrow_down

Get thoughtful guidance, clarifying questions, and explanations that help you think like a metalsmith.

calculate

Interactive mentor tools for precise fabrication and planning

keyboard_arrow_down

Access calculators, converters, and planners for ring blanks, bezels, gauges, and more.

edit_note

Bench notes and reflections to capture learning and insights

keyboard_arrow_down

Record observations, reflections, and troubleshooting notes after each session for deeper learning.

auto_stories

Curated learning resources for every technique and challenge

keyboard_arrow_down

Explore articles, checklists, worksheets, and reference cards recommended for your current projects.

star

Milestone celebrations to encourage progress and craftsmanship

keyboard_arrow_down

Earn recognition for mastering new skills, completing projects, and building good bench habits.

lightbulb

Adaptive feedback that grows with your journey

keyboard_arrow_down

Receive personalized recommendations, troubleshooting tips, and next steps based on your progress.

add_a_photo

Photo & video uploads for real bench context

keyboard_arrow_down

Share images or short videos of your work so your mentor can respond to the project, technique, or problem happening at your bench.

Created by Julessa Scofield

"After decades at the bench, I built this app to mentor metalsmiths beyond technique alone"

Julessa Scofield

Julessa Scofield

Award-winning metalsmith, educator, and mentor with nearly two decades of teaching and bench experience.

I’m Julessa Scofield, a metalsmith, educator, and mentor. Throughout my career, I’ve learned that becoming a stronger metalsmith isn’t simply about collecting more techniques.

It’s about learning how to observe your work, understand what is happening, diagnose problems, make intentional choices, and know what to try next. That philosophy is built into Metalsmith Mentor.

Rather than simply handing you an answer, your mentor helps you understand the reasoning behind the process so you can become more independent, capable, and confident at your own bench.

Meet Julessa & the app

Follow Julessa's proven process & master metalsmithing judgment

Make confident decisions at the bench
Understand the 'why' behind every technique
Troubleshoot fabrication challenges independently
Plan and sequence complex projects
Refine stone setting and soldering skills
Develop precision and consistency in your work
Build strong, lasting craftsmanship habits
Reflect on progress and set meaningful goals
Apply professional problem-solving strategies
Grow from guided practice to creative mastery
AI-POWERED mentoring

A Mentor That Can Keep Up With Your Bench

Live mentors are invaluable. AI-powered mentoring adds something different: constant access, continuity, instant adaptation, and room to troubleshoot without limits.

assignment

Guided Soldering Troubleshooting Practice

Personalized Practice • 14 min
Sharpen your soldering skills with a step-by-step troubleshooting session tailored to your recent challenges. The app guides you through decision points, asks reflective questions, and explains the reasoning behind each step to build your confidence and judgment.
What to do
search
Assess Your Setup
3 min
chevron_right
analytics
Identify Solder Flow Issues
4 min
chevron_right
whatshot
Decision Point: Heat Control
3 min
chevron_right
edit
Reflect & Record Observations
3 min
chevron_right
check_circle
Next Steps & Recommendations
2 min
chevron_right
How it works

Your mentoring journey starts in four simple steps

It only takes a few minutes to get started

Onboarding Quiz

Which area do you most want to improve?

Stone setting confidence
Cleaner soldering joins
Precision fabrication skills
Planning and troubleshooting
1

Tell your mentor where you are

Complete the onboarding assessment so the app understands your experience, goals and challenges.

Your Plan

Week 1

Bench Foundations

Workspace Setup & Safety
Tool Familiarization
Basic Soldering Practice
Recording Bench Notes
Week 2Upcoming

Precision & Problem Solving

2

Receive your personalized pathway

Your plan adjusts around what you want to learn and what you need to strengthen.

Today, October 3

6
V

Bench Setup Review

Checklist • 3 min

Troubleshooting Reflection

Journal • 4 min

Precision Soldering Practice

Practice • 20 min

Skill Kit Lesson

Lesson • 8 min

3

Work at the bench

Complete guided practice, upload work, ask questions and troubleshoot problems as they happen.

Your Progress

Bench Sessions Completed

52.3 Bench sessions completed

as of Sep 30

JulyOctober

Guided Practice Sessions Completed

32.7 Guided practice sessions completed

as of Sep 30

JulyOctober
4

Build measurable progress

Reflect on your work, strengthen weak areas and watch your skills develop over time.

It only takes 2 minutes to get started

starstarstarstarstar

What Metalsmiths Say About Julessa’s Teaching

Feedback from viewers and students who have learned from Julessa’s metalsmithing videos and instruction.

Quote
Julessa, I really like the way you are teaching: illumination of the WHY. It’s rare to get that extra explication; the physics of the process.
@
starstarstarstarstar
@Flyingcheff
YouTube viewer
Quote
I cannot thank you enough for showing us the good, bad, and ugly. Usually when I watch a silversmithing video I am left feeling discouraged by their seamless proficiency.
@
starstarstarstarstar
@Vibekelavan7843
YouTube viewer
Quote
Thank you for not totally editing out all the times you had to check and refine the fit of the stone. It really can take multiple attempts to attain that perfect fit. The takeaway for me is to not get frustrated or discouraged!
@
starstarstarstarstar
@Beholdthesky
YouTube viewer
Quote
I have just purchased a Smith Little Torch and this video was really helpful to see the different types of flame and how you adjusted the torch to achieve this.
@
starstarstarstarstar
@SarahStevens-x8x
YouTube viewer
Quote
This video was so perfectly timed. I have been practicing flush setting and sometimes I can get it and sometimes I can’t and I think my biggest issue is that I’m not cutting the seat deep enough and the stone is still sitting too high. But I’ll keep at it and get there eventually.
@
starstarstarstarstar
@Ambershiskey
YouTube viewer
Quote
Just found your channel today and thank you so much for this! Flush settings were always a mystery to me as i never knew how to choose burrs and which type to choose. Your tutorial really explains how to choose the right burrs for the right stone and how far to drill down. Thank you!
@
starstarstarstarstar
@juliel6254
YouTube viewer
Quote
That makes perfect sense to me, BUT, I'm curious as to why the hart burr, while moving straight down through the metal, doesn't leave a straight side like the setting burr. It seems to me that the widest area of the hart burr will be cutting straight down just like a setting burr; UNLESS you're cutting from the side, which would leave a perfect impression of the hart burr top/sides/bottom. ANYhoo, I'm going to test it all out. I LOVE the idea of using the hart burr. It seems friendlier, somehow. Plus, I never knew what to use it for.
@
starstarstarstarstar
@maryjobaldridge9311
YouTube viewer
Quote
Great tutorial as always. You mentioned melting down silver using 50% scrap and 50% new.... So for the 50% new material can it still be clean cut off pieces like wire or sheet thats never been heat treated... I am going to be melting down my scraps (finally got a torch ) so I need all the help and tips I can get...lol
P.s. I am so much better pick soldering than I am placing solder then heating. Weird right?
@
starstarstarstarstar
@jaydub_the.good.1
YouTube viewer
FAQ

Your questions, answered

Is Metalsmith Mentor™ suitable for beginners?
expand_more
Will it still be useful if I’m an intermediate or advanced metalsmith?
expand_more
Can I upload photos of my work?
expand_more
Can I share video?
expand_more
Is this an online course?
expand_more
What kinds of questions can I ask?
expand_more
How much time do I need?
expand_more
What is included with my subscription?
expand_more
What kind of support is available?
expand_more
Ready to build confidence at the bench?

Get personalized guidance for the next skill you want to master

Answer a few questions to receive a mentoring plan tailored to your experience, goals, and current bench challenges.

targetMetalsmith Mentor
6
V

Good afternoon!

Loading...

list_alt
No activities available for today.
Today
Plan
Progress
Coach
Quick Activity Update
more_horiz
What should I focus on today?
05:00 PM
Today, we'll focus on refining your soldering technique and decision-making at the bench. Practicing troubleshooting and reflecting on your process will help you build confidence and develop the judgment needed for more complex projects.
05:01 PM
I'm short on time today—only about 5 minutes at the bench. Can you suggest a quick practice?
05:01 PM
Absolutely! Let’s do a focused 5-minute observation exercise. You’ll inspect your soldering setup, identify one improvement, and record a quick note. This keeps your skills sharp and builds your troubleshooting habits, even on busy days.
05:02 PM
targetMetalsmith Mentor
6
V

Good afternoon!

Loading...

list_alt
No activities available for today.
You're on a roll!
6 day streak
Today is October 3
check
check
check
check
check
check
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
infoWhat counts towards your streak?
checkReview a progress update
checkFinish a lesson
checkComplete an activity or session
checkTrack a measurement
Today
Plan
Progress
Coach

Your Plan

calendar_month
No plan data available for this app.
Today
Plan
Progress
Coach

Your Progress

Today
Plan
Progress
Coach

What the app helps you do:

school

Learn: Build technical understanding

keyboard_arrow_down

Build stronger technical understanding through personalized lessons, explanations, and guided skill development.

fact_check

Troubleshoot: Solve real bench problems

keyboard_arrow_down

Work through soldering, stone setting, fabrication, finishing, tool, material, and process problems when they actually happen.

quiz

Practice: Turn knowledge into skill

keyboard_arrow_down

Receive focused bench exercises and activities designed to turn information into repeatable skill.

insights

Track progress: Strengthen skills over time

keyboard_arrow_down

Track bench sessions, guided practice, bench notes, and milestone projects to see how your skills are developing over time.

check_circle

Personalized daily activities built around you

keyboard_arrow_down

Receive focused lessons, practice prompts, and bench activities shaped by your skill level, goals, and current learning path.

psychology

AI mentor conversations that teach through questions and reasoning

keyboard_arrow_down

Get thoughtful guidance, clarifying questions, and explanations that help you think like a metalsmith.

calculate

Interactive mentor tools for precise fabrication and planning

keyboard_arrow_down

Access calculators, converters, and planners for ring blanks, bezels, gauges, and more.

edit_note

Bench notes and reflections to capture learning and insights

keyboard_arrow_down

Record observations, reflections, and troubleshooting notes after each session for deeper learning.

auto_stories

Curated learning resources for every technique and challenge

keyboard_arrow_down

Explore articles, checklists, worksheets, and reference cards recommended for your current projects.

star

Milestone celebrations to encourage progress and craftsmanship

keyboard_arrow_down

Earn recognition for mastering new skills, completing projects, and building good bench habits.

lightbulb

Adaptive feedback that grows with your journey

keyboard_arrow_down

Receive personalized recommendations, troubleshooting tips, and next steps based on your progress.

add_a_photo

Photo & video uploads for real bench context

keyboard_arrow_down

Share images or short videos of your work so your mentor can respond to the project, technique, or problem happening at your bench.

Created by Julessa Scofield

"After decades at the bench, I built this app to mentor metalsmiths beyond technique alone"

Julessa Scofield

Julessa Scofield

Award-winning metalsmith, educator, and mentor with nearly two decades of teaching and bench experience.

I’m Julessa Scofield, a metalsmith, educator, and mentor. Throughout my career, I’ve learned that becoming a stronger metalsmith isn’t simply about collecting more techniques.

It’s about learning how to observe your work, understand what is happening, diagnose problems, make intentional choices, and know what to try next. That philosophy is built into Metalsmith Mentor.

Rather than simply handing you an answer, your mentor helps you understand the reasoning behind the process so you can become more independent, capable, and confident at your own bench.

Meet Julessa & the app

Follow Julessa's proven process & master metalsmithing judgment

Make confident decisions at the bench
Understand the 'why' behind every technique
Troubleshoot fabrication challenges independently
Plan and sequence complex projects
Refine stone setting and soldering skills
Develop precision and consistency in your work
Build strong, lasting craftsmanship habits
Reflect on progress and set meaningful goals
Apply professional problem-solving strategies
Grow from guided practice to creative mastery
AI-POWERED mentoring

A Mentor That Can Keep Up With Your Bench

Live mentors are invaluable. AI-powered mentoring adds something different: constant access, continuity, instant adaptation, and room to troubleshoot without limits.

assignment

Guided Soldering Troubleshooting Practice

Personalized Practice • 14 min
Sharpen your soldering skills with a step-by-step troubleshooting session tailored to your recent challenges. The app guides you through decision points, asks reflective questions, and explains the reasoning behind each step to build your confidence and judgment.
What to do
search
Assess Your Setup
3 min
chevron_right
analytics
Identify Solder Flow Issues
4 min
chevron_right
whatshot
Decision Point: Heat Control
3 min
chevron_right
edit
Reflect & Record Observations
3 min
chevron_right
check_circle
Next Steps & Recommendations
2 min
chevron_right
How it works

Your mentoring journey starts in four simple steps

It only takes a few minutes to get started

Onboarding Quiz

Which area do you most want to improve?

Stone setting confidence
Cleaner soldering joins
Precision fabrication skills
Planning and troubleshooting
1

Tell your mentor where you are

Complete the onboarding assessment so the app understands your experience, goals and challenges.

Your Plan

Week 1

Bench Foundations

Workspace Setup & Safety
Tool Familiarization
Basic Soldering Practice
Recording Bench Notes
Week 2Upcoming

Precision & Problem Solving

2

Receive your personalized pathway

Your plan adjusts around what you want to learn and what you need to strengthen.

Today, October 3

6
V

Bench Setup Review

Checklist • 3 min

Troubleshooting Reflection

Journal • 4 min

Precision Soldering Practice

Practice • 20 min

Skill Kit Lesson

Lesson • 8 min

3

Work at the bench

Complete guided practice, upload work, ask questions and troubleshoot problems as they happen.

Your Progress

Bench Sessions Completed

52.3 Bench sessions completed

as of Sep 30

JulyOctober

Guided Practice Sessions Completed

32.7 Guided practice sessions completed

as of Sep 30

JulyOctober
4

Build measurable progress

Reflect on your work, strengthen weak areas and watch your skills develop over time.

It only takes 2 minutes to get started

starstarstarstarstar

What Metalsmiths Say About Julessa’s Teaching

Feedback from viewers and students who have learned from Julessa’s metalsmithing videos and instruction.

Quote
Julessa, I really like the way you are teaching: illumination of the WHY. It’s rare to get that extra explication; the physics of the process.
@
starstarstarstarstar
@Flyingcheff
YouTube viewer
Quote
I cannot thank you enough for showing us the good, bad, and ugly. Usually when I watch a silversmithing video I am left feeling discouraged by their seamless proficiency.
@
starstarstarstarstar
@Vibekelavan7843
YouTube viewer
Quote
Thank you for not totally editing out all the times you had to check and refine the fit of the stone. It really can take multiple attempts to attain that perfect fit. The takeaway for me is to not get frustrated or discouraged!
@
starstarstarstarstar
@Beholdthesky
YouTube viewer
Quote
I have just purchased a Smith Little Torch and this video was really helpful to see the different types of flame and how you adjusted the torch to achieve this.
@
starstarstarstarstar
@SarahStevens-x8x
YouTube viewer
Quote
This video was so perfectly timed. I have been practicing flush setting and sometimes I can get it and sometimes I can’t and I think my biggest issue is that I’m not cutting the seat deep enough and the stone is still sitting too high. But I’ll keep at it and get there eventually.
@
starstarstarstarstar
@Ambershiskey
YouTube viewer
Quote
Just found your channel today and thank you so much for this! Flush settings were always a mystery to me as i never knew how to choose burrs and which type to choose. Your tutorial really explains how to choose the right burrs for the right stone and how far to drill down. Thank you!
@
starstarstarstarstar
@juliel6254
YouTube viewer
Quote
That makes perfect sense to me, BUT, I'm curious as to why the hart burr, while moving straight down through the metal, doesn't leave a straight side like the setting burr. It seems to me that the widest area of the hart burr will be cutting straight down just like a setting burr; UNLESS you're cutting from the side, which would leave a perfect impression of the hart burr top/sides/bottom. ANYhoo, I'm going to test it all out. I LOVE the idea of using the hart burr. It seems friendlier, somehow. Plus, I never knew what to use it for.
@
starstarstarstarstar
@maryjobaldridge9311
YouTube viewer
Quote
Great tutorial as always. You mentioned melting down silver using 50% scrap and 50% new.... So for the 50% new material can it still be clean cut off pieces like wire or sheet thats never been heat treated... I am going to be melting down my scraps (finally got a torch ) so I need all the help and tips I can get...lol
P.s. I am so much better pick soldering than I am placing solder then heating. Weird right?
@
starstarstarstarstar
@jaydub_the.good.1
YouTube viewer
FAQ

Your questions, answered

Is Metalsmith Mentor™ suitable for beginners?
expand_more
Will it still be useful if I’m an intermediate or advanced metalsmith?
expand_more
Can I upload photos of my work?
expand_more
Can I share video?
expand_more
Is this an online course?
expand_more
What kinds of questions can I ask?
expand_more
How much time do I need?
expand_more
What is included with my subscription?
expand_more
What kind of support is available?
expand_more
Ready to build confidence at the bench?

Get personalized guidance for the next skill you want to master

Answer a few questions to receive a mentoring plan tailored to your experience, goals, and current bench challenges.