If you are new to jewellery making, already have some knowledge about jewellery making already and want to buy some essential tools in making jewellery, then you can't miss this article today! This article will tell you what are the tools for the jewellery making process and how to pick the right jewellery making tools.
1. Pliers set
In the process of jewellery making, pliers are an essential tool. Different pliers play different roles, so just buy a pair of pliers is not enough, you'd better buy a set of pliers set. Common pliers set will generally contain the following types of pliers: sharp-nosed pliers, round-nosed pliers, flat-nosed pliers, curved-nosed pliers and so on.
So what exactly is the use of pliers in the process of jewellery making? Here are a few of the more common operations.
The first is the most common bending and shaping. Round-nosed pliers or flat-nosed pliers can bend various metal materials into various shapes, which is relatively more in the process of making earrings, rings and other jewellery.
Secondly, pliers can also serve to hold jewellery in place. In fact, most of the jewellery is relatively small in size, so very often it is difficult to hold it directly by hand for subsequent processing steps. Pliers, on the other hand, are particularly well suited for holding pieces of various sizes in place.
Finally, pliers can also be used to press and pinch metal parts. This is most commonly done by pressing and closing jump rings to ensure that they close securely, ultimately holding the metal part together. If you don't know what a jump ring is, here's a quick explanation. A jump ring is simply a metal ring through which you can secure various beads, chains, and other things together.
Above, this is a brief description of the main purpose of a plier set. But in reality, pliers play much more than that in the process of jewellery making. So, it is still necessary to buy a proper pliers set.
2.Saw frames and blades
During the process of jewellery making, it is perhaps inevitable that we will come into contact with metal wires or thin pieces of metal, and this is when a special jewellery saw is needed to cut the wires or thin pieces of metal to the right size. Combining a saw frame and a saw blade together makes a perfect jewellery cutting saw that will help you get the job done quickly.
As for why you should buy a saw frame and a saw blade separately? Here's a list of a few of the more important reasons. Firstly, saw blades are bound to wear out over the course of time, so you only need to buy a few extra blades at a time and replace them as they wear out, and you'll always have a ‘new’ jewellery saw. Then, you can buy different types of blades to suit your needs and change them as you see fit, so you can have several ‘different’ jewellery saws. Finally, it is cost effective to buy the frame and blade separately rather than buying a complete jewellery saw outright.
3.Hammer set
Different types of hammers also play an important role in the jewellery making process. But hammer's are the same as the pliers mentioned above, and it is natural to use different types of hammers for different purposes. Here are a few of the more commonly used types of hammers.
Firstly, there is the round head hammer. Round head hammers are different on both sides. On one side, there is a rounded protrusion, and on the other side, there is a flat surface. The side with the prototypical protrusion is the one that can be used to hammer out uneven bumpy surfaces. The other side can be used to hammer metal surfaces flat, and can also be used to hammer other aids (such as punches, etc.).
Next is the texturing hammer. Textured hammers can also be categorised according to the shape of the hammer surface. Common types are dots, lines, etc. A unique decorative effect can be created by striking the metal surface with a texture hammer. Texturing hammers are generally used more when making personalised jewellery.
Then there are shaping hammers. A shaping hammer has a long flat surface on both sides. Shaping hammers are generally used to strike metal plates. It is more common to tap the sheet metal into a bowl shape or a curved surface.
Lastly, there is the rawhide hammer. Although rawhide hammers sound like a very technical term, there is actually no difference between rawhide hammers and flat hammers, it's just a layer of leather wrapped around a regular hammer. Due to the extra layer of leather, when the hammer strikes the metal, it basically does not leave any very obvious traces. Therefore, the rawhide hammer is very suitable for use with ring or bracelet sizing rods.
The above are just some of the ordinary and common hammers, there are other types of hammers that will be used in the actual jewellery making process. In addition, the use of hammers is practically indeterminate, as long as you can achieve your desired purpose, you can use any hammer to complete your steps.
4.File Set
Files are also a role that should not be overlooked in the process of jewellery making. Besides being used to polish the surface of jewellery, there are many other uses for files that you may not know about. Here are two simple ways to use them.
The first is edge treatment, in the process of jewellery making, some metal edges will appear burrs or uneven surface. At this time, you can use a file to polish it off.
The next step is to create texture. Files can be used for more than just sanding. Files can be divided into different types depending on the pattern of the surface. You can use a file to create different textures on the surface of the metal to add to the beauty of the jewellery.
In fact, apart from these tools that I have mentioned above. There are many other tools that you must use in the process of jewellery making. Due to the limited space, we will continue to update the content in the next post. If you are interested, you can follow Katwaytools for more information!