Setting Up Your Metalsmithing Studio

This is a fairly comprehensive list of tools and supplies that you will need to set up your metalsmithing studio.  Thank you for shopping!

You will need a jeweller’s bench and a soldering bench or fire safe table area, plus space for other power tools when you acquire them.

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Hand Tools                                                                            

  • PLIERS: flat nose, round nose, chain nose

Decent quality – make sure they fit your hands

Additional options:  needle nose, wire twisting, ½ ring bending, multi head looping, nylon jaw straight pliers – the list is endless

Additional options: chasing hammer, nylon mallet, nylon hammer with replaceable heads, nylon wedge hammer, brass head hammer (for dead blow striking) – the list is endless

  • FILES: 0 cut flat file, 2 cut and 4 cut ½ round files, set of 4 cut needle files

Additional options: flat 4 cut file, 6 cut file – the list is endless

  • File cleaning brush
  • Stone setting: mandrel(s), bezel roller, bezel pusher, burnisher, ring holder

Additional options: setting burs

Additional options: bracelet (round and oval), ring (square, soft square, triangle)

  • DAPPING: wooden, metal sets
  • BRUSHES: brass and steel bristles
  • BENCH TOOLS: steel and rubber blocks, bench pins, centre punch
  • GAUGES: bangle, finger, rulers (6″ & 12″), wire/sheet, centre locator, square
  • DRILL BITS & BURS: – range of sizes
  • VISES: table vise, miter vise
  • Scissor Shears

 SOLDERING TOOLS & SUPPLIES:

  • Torch (propane or acetylene or smaller butane torch)
  • Gas
  • Soldering blocks: silquar, magnesia, charcoal, honeycomb
  • AA tweezers
  • Crock/pickle pot
  • Soldering pick(s)
  • Copper tongs
  • 3rd hand and insulated, cross locking tweezers
  • Sparker
  • Solder: hard, medium, easy, extra easy (cadmium free), paste solder if you want in easy
  • Solder snips (scissor shears)
  • Sparex #2 pickling solution
  • Binding wire
  • Flux

Additional options: Tri-Pod, ceramic ring mandrel, cool guard, yellow ochre

CONSUMABLES:

  • Bees wax
  • Cut Lube
  • Liver of sulfur and/or Silver Black
  • Epoxy
  • Silicone polishers: disks and bullets in a variety of grits
  • Polishing compounds: Grey Star for cut and polish, Zip for final polish
  • Mini Mandrels for polishing: muslin or chamois
  • Polishing cloth
  • 3m disks: in a variety of grits
  • Sandpapers – various grits
  • Steel wool – fine
  • Shot for tumbler – either carbon or stainless steel
  • Ivory bar soap for burnishing compound for steel shot
  • Small utility brushes (some with a fine tip)
  • Fine tip sharpie pen

 LARGER & POWER TOOLS:

  • Flex Shaft and motor hanger or hand held rotary tool + mini mandrels and range of attachments

Additional option: a drill press comes in handy, but you can drill with a flex shaft

  • Tumbler
  • Bench Top Polisher

 Misc.

Painter’s Tape or plastic coating for plier heads

Apron and towel

Safety goggles

Loupe and/or other magnifying glasses

Bowl for water on soldering bench

Small rags

 

Specialty Tools – or Next Steps

Universal Holder

Tube Cutting Pliers

Twisting Pliers

Miter Vise

Ring Bending Machine

Jump Ring Maker

Disk Cutter

Stamps

Callipers

Burs:  in a variety of shapes and sizes – project specific

Rolling Mill

Bench Shear

Crucible