What Jewellery tools should I buy?
This blog post is about the basic tools and equipment you will need to get started on your jewellery making journey.
You may have completed an Introduction to Jewellery Making workshop with Jewellery Collective, or a similar course with another school/teacher.
You may even be learning online. There are so many different ways to learn to make jewellery. The one thing we all need though, are the correct tools and equipment to bring our creative vision to life.
Not having the proper tools won’t inhibit your creativity, but it may cause you problems in constructing your designs.
Look for well-made tools, maybe not top of the line, but close and take the time to carefully choose your tools.
Here is a basic tool list to get you started on your jewellery making journey:
- Pliers (chain nose, parallel, round nose, side cutters etc)
- Magnifying visor (also called an optivisor)
- Ring clamp
- Bezel pusher, Burnisher, Bezel roller: for setting stones
- #2 Cut Half Round Jewellers File (we reccomend the Vallorbe brand)
- Good quality needle files
- Saw frame, saw blades (#4 blades are a good all round blade) and beeswax
- Rawhide or nylon hammer/s
- A variety of steel hammers
- Metal stamps / carat stamps
- Jewellers Bench
- Bench peg
- Steel block for hammering / metal stamping
- Jewellers metal snips
- Ring mandrel: for making rings to size or measuring existing rings.
- Ring gauges: for measuring fingers for ring size
- Vernier Calipers (absolutely crucial for precise measurements)
- Metal ruler, Scribe, Compass, Dividers: for layout, design and measuring.
- Torch (we recommend the Orca Torch for beginners) I use both the Orca Torch and the Smith Little Torch for goldsmithing.
- Pickle & Pickle pot (an old slow cooker or coffee percolator is perfect for a pickle pot)
- Flux or borax
- Copper Tongs to be used in pickle pot
- Non Asbestos Soldering Board & a charcoal block
- Third hand
- Titanium solder pick
- Solder (hard, medium and easy)
- Heat proof soldering tweezers: for locking on to and regularly picking up small pieces and hot metal
- PPE (safety glasses, apron and ear muffs)
- Micromotor and accessories for drilling, polishing metal etc
- Polishing compounds (try and get the silica free ones)
- Dust masks (for polishing and grinding)
- Sandpaper / emery paper in a range of grits from 600 - 2500
I am sure I have got most of the essentials listed above but with time and experience, you will discover the best way of working and what tools you prefer to use.
As you get started, one thing I do want to mention is SAFETY! You will be working with hot things, sharp things and moving/rotating machinery.
Soldering temperatures for silver range from 700 degrees celsius to 850 degrees celsius.
The best safety tips I can pass on to is to TAKE YOUR TIME to become familiar with the tools, materials, and procedures you will be using.
We have teamed up with Australian Jewellers Supplies to offer our students a generous discount. Just follow the link HERE
All the best on your jewellery making journey!
