Tools
The jeweler's tools: what they are, what they are for and which you need to start.
25 entries
Tools
Anvil, steel block and stakes
The anvil, steel block and stakes are the bases on which metal is struck; shapes, polished surfaces and care.
Tools
Basic tools used in casting
The most common tools used in jewelry casting. They can vary depending on the type of jewel and the technique used by the jeweler.
Techniques
Bending, curving and twisting metal
Bending, curving and twisting metal with pliers and mandrels: rings, bangles, twisted cables and spiral square wire.
Tools
Crucible tongs: what they are for and how to use them
Crucible tongs grip the hot crucible to pour molten metal; types, how to choose them and safety rules.
Tools
Draw plate
The draw plate is a steel plate with decreasing holes through which wire is pulled to thin it or change its section; how it is used.
Tools
Jeweler's bench and bench pin
The jeweler's bench is the work table with a V-notch and a drawer (or leather) to collect filings; height, lighting and organization.
Tools
Jeweler's files: shapes and cuts
Jeweler's files (flat, half-round, round, needle) and their cut numbering; how to choose and clean them.
Tools
Jeweler's hammers and mallets
Jeweler's hammers (ball, planishing, chasing, flat-faced) and rawhide or nylon mallets are used to forge, texture and shape without marking.
Tools
Jeweler's loupe and microscope
The 10x loupe and the gemological microscope are used to examine stones, solder joints and marks; how to use a jeweler's loupe.
Tools
Jeweler's saw and saw blades
The jeweler's saw is an adjustable frame with very fine blades for cutting metal; blade numbering, tension and how to cut without breaking them.
Tools
Jeweler's scale and caliper
The precision scale weighs metals and gems (grams, carats, grains) and the caliper measures thicknesses and diameters; keys for buying and making.
Tools
Jeweler's tools: ring mandrel, third hand, graver and flex shaft
Lesser-known jeweler's tools: ring mandrel, third hand, graver, flex shaft, drill bits, polishing motor and soldering block, and what each is for.
Tools
Jewelry drills and burs
Drills, the flex shaft and burs are used to pierce, cut and shape metal; bur shapes (ball, cylinder, cone), speeds and safety.
Tools
Jewelry making tools: the jeweler's basic tools
A guide to the basic tools for making jewelry: cutting, filing, bending, soldering, casting, measuring and safety, with a link to each one explained.
Tools
Jewelry Oven
What a jewelry kiln is for: lost-wax burnout, melting, enameling and annealing; types, temperatures and care.
Tools
Jewelry pliers and tweezers: types and uses
Jewelry pliers (flat-nose, round-nose, cutting, chain-nose) hold, bend and cut metal precisely; how to choose and care for them.
Tools
Jewelry spatulas and chisels
Jewelry spatulas and chisels are used to model wax and to shape and finish cast metal; types, uses and sharpening.
Buying guides
Jewelry terms from A to Z
A glossary of over one hundred jewelry terms explained in a few words: metals, gems, techniques, tools and parts of a jewel, with links to each topic.
Tools
Mandrels and ring sizers
The ring mandrel is a graduated steel cone for curving and measuring rings; there are also bangle mandrels and finger sizers.
Tools
Rolling mills: how to flatten metal
The rolling mill flattens and stretches metal into sheet and grooved wire; manual and electric types, how to use it and how to care for it.
Techniques
Sawing and piercing: cutting and hollowing metal
Piercing cuts shapes and openings in metal with a jeweler's saw and a bench pin; blades, technique and decorative openwork.
Tools
Starter tool kit for jewelry making
Which basic tools you need to start making jewelry: pliers, saw, files, hammer, mandrel, torch and materials, with an indicative budget.
Jewelry care and maintenance
Ultrasonic jewelry cleaner: when to use it and when not to
What an ultrasonic cleaner does, which jewelry can go in it (gold, silver, diamonds) and which cannot (pearls, opals, emeralds, costume jewelry).
Tools
Ultrasonic machine for jewelry
The ultrasonic machine cleans jewelry with vibrations in a liquid; frequency, solutions, times and which pieces must not go in.
Techniques
Wax carving and modeling
The wax model is the origin of most cast jewelry: hard and soft waxes, carving tools, adding wax and preparing the casting tree.