Cutting and sawing tools

 

The usual method of cutting silver sheet is with a saw. A guillotine can be used on thicker metals, and snips can be used to cut thin solders. Cut edges may need to be filed smooth or flat.

Saw frame

A saw frame is used with a saw blade for cutting out metal sheet and cutting through wire and tubing. A 6-in (15-cm) wide saw frame is good to purchase for cutting wider pieces of sheet metal.

 

 

Snips

Snips are useful for cutting up solder strips, thin metal sheet, and wire.

Guillotine

A guillotine is a heavy-duty piece of equipment. It is useful if you are cutting large pieces of metal into strips.

 

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Tube Cutter

 

A tube cutter is a small handheld tool used to hold tubing, with an adjustment facility that allows you to cut off pieces of equal lengths.

 

Side Cutters

The cutting action of side cutters is on the side. This is not quite as useful as the top cutters, but they can be used in a similar way.

Top cutters

The cutting action is on the top of top cutters. They are used for cutting up very small pieces of silver, copper, gold, platinum, and binding wire. They should never be used for cutting stainless steel.

Bending tools

Pliers come in a range of shapes for different kinds of bending applications, from making smooth curves to forming jump rings.

Parallel pliers

Parallel pliers are used to straighten out metal sheet and thick wire, for holding pieces of metal level for filing, and for closing thick rings. They come in flat and round versions. A third version has a plastic interior covering over the jaw, to protect the sheet or wire.

Flat-nose pliers

Flat-nose pliers come in a range of sizes and are used to bend sharp corners in wire and metal sheet, and for holding things flat, straightening wire, and closing jump rings.

Half-round and round flat pliers

Half-round and round flat pliers are used for bending wire and metal sheet into a circle without leaving marks. The flat side is held against the outside of the curve, and the round side is used to make the curve on the inside.

Holding tools

Use vises and clamps to hold pieces firmly while you work them.

Bench Vise

There are two types of bench vises. One is quite small, able to turn in all directions, and has "safe" or plastic jaws. The other is a more heavy-duty vise, which is used to hold stakes, mandrels, and draw plates. Both types should be fixed permanently to the bench.

 

Cleaning tools

Metal needs cleaning after soldering and after a piece has been completed. It may also need cleaning after it has been worn several times. Only use abrasive cleaners before the work is complete because they will scratch and dull a polished surface.

Ultrasonic Cleaner

An ultrasonic cleaner is a plastic or steel container with a basket hanging inside it. It is used with articles that have just been polished and have remains of black polish on them. The container is filled with water, liquid soap, and household ammonia. Articles are placed in the basket and ultrasonic rays pass through the liquid, which removes the greasy polish. The liquid works better if it is hot.

Pumice Powder

 

Pumice powder is a fine gray powder. It is mixed with water to make a paste that is then rubbed onto metal to clean it after annealing or soldering. Apply it to a wet green scrubbie or Scotch-Brite pad and it will clean metal quickly. Rinse thoroughly.

 

Silver Cloth

A silver cloth is a duster that has been impregnated with a metal cleaner. It can be fastened into the bench vise and pulled tight while the article is rubbed onto it.

Liquid Soap

Liquid soap can be used neat in the palm of the hand with some running water to help clean an article that has polish grease on it.

Files

You will need a selection of files in different sizes for smoothing cut edges and shaping curves.

 

Files and Needlefiles

Files vary in quality; get the best that you can afford. Flat file for flat surfaces, filing between joins to be soldered, edges, and outside curves; Half-round file for inside curves and edges; Triangular file for filing around the top edges of bezels, grooves for right angles, and other difficult edges; Square file for making right angles true and filing inside areas; Knife with one thick edge and one thinner edge, it is used for getting in between small areas.

Hammering tools

Hammers come in a range of sizes and materials. Unless you are doing a lot of silversmithing work, start with a small selection.

Riveting hammer

A lightweight riveting, or jeweler's, hammer can be used for all delicate work. It has one flat end, and one wedge-shaped end which can be used for texturing metal or for riveting.

Ball-peen hammer

A ball-peen hammer has a metal head with one flat end and one rounded end. The round end is used to shape and texture metal, and hammer in small spaces. The flat end is used for stretching metal on a stake or mandrel, and tapping the end of punches and repoussé tools. Choose a medium-weight hammer.

Large, heavy hammer

A large, heavy hammer can be used for all heavy work. It can forge out lumps of molten silver, give a heavy texture on metal, and be used for reshaping.

Mallet

A leather rawhide, wooden, or plastic mallet is used to hammer metal without leaving a mark. A mallet is usually used to shape metal without stretching it.

Drilling tools

Holes in metal can be drilled with an electric drill or by hand. If the metal is less than 18-gauge (1 mm) thick it is easier to drill by hand. Before drilling any hole, mark its position with a sharp, pointed punch, so that the drill bit does not "wander."

 

Hand drill

This is a small, handheld drill, no larger than the palm of your hand. Hand drills can hold different size chucks, to allow for many different size drill bits, from 76-gauge (0.5 mm) up to about 32-gauge (3 mm).

Flexshaft motor

A flexshaft motor is attached above the workbench, and has a flexible driveshaft. Anything from small drills, abrasive cutters, grindstones, polishing wheels, felt brushes, and muslin mops can be fixed into different sized collets or mandrels, making it a very useful addition to yourtool collection.

 

Soldering tools

Many pieces will need to be soldered. Soldering involves flames and very hot pieces of metal. If possible, the soldering area should be separate from the workbench area. If you do have your soldering block on the bench, make sure there is absolutely nothing that will get in the way of the flame.

Soldering stand

The base for your soldering area should be a steel plate of some sort. This could be a specially made piece of stainless steel or an old ovenproof pan. On the steel base, place a revolving soldering stand. This allows you to turn the work around slowly as you solder, making it easy to see the join as the solder flows and to check whether it has all run.

Torch

A torch is used to heat the metal to annealing temperature, for all soldering, or for melting metal for casting. There are several different types of torches.

Soldering wig

A Soldering wig looks a little like a wire bird's nest. Place articles to be soldered on the wig, which will help to distribute heat around them evenly. The wires can be moved to form different supports.

Quenching bowl

Place a toughened glass bowl of water close to the soldering area. Use a pair of insulated tweezers to "quench" the work in this water after it has been soldered or annealed.

Insulated tweezers

Insulated tweezers are sprung tweezers with insulation on the handles designed to withstand heat. They should be squeezed together to open them. They have either straight or curved ends, which makes them useful for holding pieces together when soldering. They should never be placed in acids or pickles.

Soldering block or firebrick

On top of the soldering stand, place a soldering block or firebrick, or a charcoal block. A soldering block will not deteriorate as quickly as a charcoal block, but there is more reflective heat from the charcoal. Use charcoal very sparingly, to minimize any negative impact on the environment.

Borax and dish

The borax cone is dipped in water and rubbed around the dish to make a whitish flux paste. The paste or flux is placed in and around a join before soldering. Borax is one of several available fluxes.

Binding wire

Steel binding wire comes on a reel and is supplied in light, medium, and heavy weights. It is used to hold pieces together when soldering and for measuring ring and bracelet lengths. It should always be removed before the article is placed in the pickle.

Polishing tools

Polishing can be done by hand or with an electric motor. Hand polishing needs only a selection of wet and dry papers, fine finishing cloth, and an impregnated silver cloth. A polishing machine requires a variety of mops charged with different polishes.

Polishing wheel

A polishing wheel is an electric motor with a horizontal shaft. Polishing mops and brushes can be screwed onto the shaft and polish or liquid soap applied to them. There should be some means of extraction in the workspace because the polish can be rather dirty and create a lot of dust.

Buffing wheel

The round buffing wheel, which is made from calico, can be different widths. It is screwed onto the shaft of the polishing wheel and charged with the appropriate polish.

Stainless steel wheel

A stainless steel wheel has lots of fine blunt steel pins that give a satin look to a metal surface. No polish is required with this wheel.