Tools

Ganoksin instructors Pattie Parkhurst and Richard Sweetman offer tips, tricks, and various techniques to finish your project by hand. You...

The flex shaft machine is one of the most common tools at a jeweler's bench. Watch Ganoksin instructors Pattie Parkhurst...

With so many torches on the market, a first-time buyer can be quickly overwhelmed by the sheer number of decisions...

Learn how to quickly identify whether a piece of steel has the quality you need for making jewelry tools. By...

Many industries have need of specialized engravers, for instance those who make dies, who cut stones and glass, and others...

This article lists the basic tools found in a standard Western Goldsmith's toolbox.

Almost any metal or hard plastic item can be buffed to a high polish or a satin sheen with the...

Originally published under the title: Selecting the Correct Saw Blade This article provides and describes useful tips for selecting the...

Whether youre running a 15-person workshop or a 400-worker factory, you should know before buying whether a piece of equipment...

About Anvils, Buffing Machines, Casting Machines, Drill Press Machines, Flexible Shafts, Hydraulic Press Machines, Rolling Mills and more...

This bench has been designed so it can be made from easily available materials without sophisticated woodworking equipment. People with...

Japanese chasing tools are made from steel blanks available in Japan called tagane. Japanese chasing hammers are lightweight with long...

This article is about creating and sharpening gravers before using for your work or project as described by Tom Weishaar....

Making jewelry is sometimes seen as a difficult or an expensive proposition. In reality a basic metal working shop can...

Though mass finishing procedures continue to improve, it is nearly impossible to match the beautiful polish obtained through hand finishing....

Gravers are small cutting tools used for stone setting, texturing, de-burring and applying decorative embellishments and traditional hand engraving. Steps...

As important as the gravers are, it is hard to understate the importance of the devices used to secure work...

This article will run over multiple issues of Bench Magazine. I plan to start with the basics of welding and...

Spot welding devices have become quite popular on the market and are indeed now indispensable features in many goldsmith studios...

Chasing and repousse is carried out on various surfaces using steel punches to strike and manipulate sheet metal or cast...

There was a time in Ocean Rose’s life when moving to CAD/CAM would have been like "going over to the...

This article lists the basic tools someone learning stonesetting might want to have around. One would of course add to...

Pitch is used all over the world by goldsmiths and silversmiths to hold metal in place while working it with...

When first starting to work with the laser welders, operators should experiment with five or six different alloys commonly used....

The construction process is simple enough if you have basic do-it-yourself skills. Firstly, assemble the timber frame as shown below using...

Polariscopes are a very useful, simple and inexpensive to make piece of gemological equipment. They are used to tell glass...

Euro Tool, Inc. offers a wide variety of innovative and standard holding device's to make working at the bench easier,...

Tim McCreight answers 13 of the questions about stone-setting tools most frequently asked by his metalsmithing students.

For someone new to the jewelry industry, the sheer assortment of tools and equipment in the typical workshop can be...

These pages contain a list of recommended tools to jewelry rendering, as well as a series of projects that I...

Pressing Matters by Tina Wojtkielo Snyder This month, we asked Lisa Krikawa of Tucson: If you were stranded on an...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

We use a method for cutting down firescale when using a Presto-Lite Torch along with an acetylene B tank. The...

Besides the safety instructions that you get from a tool manufacturer in the tool manual it may be necessary for...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

Back when I was going to school, if I had known I would be writing an article about laser welding...

I have an intimate relationship with my tool collection. Sometimes the needs of a particular jewelry project drive me to...

We are assuming you are using W1 water hardening square stock drill rod, W1 tool steel. Many suppliers will sell...

If the thought of buying a laser welder gives the accountant in you cardiac arrest, you may have a more...

When it comes to fine jewelry making polishing is a very important step - it can be the difference between...

Gloves are used to prevent skin contact with a hazard, whether physical (like a razor edge on a piece of...

The one tool that allows each of these jewelers to do their jobs better is a laser welder, a technological...

Like most bench jewelers I do a lot of bead setting and like most bench jewelers I take pride in...

AJM Magazine asked me to perform a comparative analysis of three welding systems performance in several different precious metal welding...

First, the 'n' really is silent, at least according to the American Heritage Dictionary. There are kilns as big as...

These are the jewelry-making tools you'll need for fold forming.

You will require a 5 to 6 inch by 3 inch wide brass or copper tube, silver solder a cover...

When one gets a new file one traditionally dips it in alcohol and sets fire to it to burn off...

A selection of illustration showing an efficient home-made soldering venting system.

Casting is the most important method of commercial jewelry production. Even for small workshops, lost-wax casting is often the fastest...

Euro Tool, Inc. has developed five wax tool kits and a cordless wax pen for the overall improvement of wax...

Using 1 inch by 11 inch belts with a 4.25-inch working surface, this sander fits onto a flex-shaft with a...

This paper describes two simple methods of creating a shield to be used on the end of a Foredom handpiece....

In laser welding of Sterling Silver ' lower silver bearing alloys (coin silver) we have about seven choices in laser...

Myth: Magnesia blocks are superior soldering surfaces to charcoal blocks: A topic that seems to raise a fair amount of...

The mantra of polishing jewelry is the shinier the better - and obtaining polishing perfection takes skill and practice. It...

This article offers a few tips on making your own wooden raising stakes instead of buying rather expensive metal ones....

Small, fine drill bits used for jewelry making will become dull with normal use. Worn cutting edges make tasks more...

Dental probes and knives make good wax tools. Your local dentist or dental hygienist or school for the same can...

The other week a friend came by the shop for some jewelry related lathe help. She was using a ring...

A micro-waterjet device can be used to achieve fine matt finishes on precious metal surfaces. Parts required for this are:...

Jewelers spend hours fixing damage that they themselves did to the metal. Soft hammers and shaping tools limit the injuries...

In thinking about the daily tasks that I undertake at the bench, I realized how easy it is to fall...

Jewelers need to make molds of objects and parts frequently. Usually wax is poured into the molds and the results...

State-of-the-art technology and innovative methods are the pacemakers for high-performance and effective work in a crafts trade. Jewelers and goldsmiths...

Dapping tools are punches with a ball shaped end. As they are used to dome metal discs and making halves...

I make all my own wax carving tools and hot wax tools.I have done this since the early 1970's when...

This sophisticated bench costs a little more and is a bit more difficult to make than the one on the...

Stone-in-place casting is growing in practice with manufacturers and retail manufacturing operations taking advantage of these labor saving techniques. Stone-in-place...

Stakes are objects used for shaping metal over, on and into. Hammers or mallets are used to form the metal...

This article features Bill Holman who bezel sets a 2.55 ct. trillion diamond, 0.03 ct. round brilliant diamonds and engraves...

The PUK® fine welding devices have established themselves in the goldsmith studios and in the jewelry manufacturers in over 50...

Tweezers are a constant in a jeweler's life, particularly in these safety conscious times. Tweezer use can help reduce your...

Saving some dollars on equipment can be really helpful to a shop's bottom line. Often tools and equipment from other...

A good selection of burs may be had from your dentist. Dentists often throw out burrs which still have a...

Enamel surfaces can be ground more quickly and efficiently with an electric grinding machine than by hand. Because professional grinding...

Soldering is a quick and easy method for joining metals. But sometimes two metals require a connection for which soldering...

Every now and then when you are fabricating a piece or polishing a casting, a hole or hollow will pop...

Tips for working with drill bits In previous columns, I’ve explored the everyday activity of drilling, touching on drilling boards...

By Old burs can serve a number of useful purposes in daily bench work. Here are two tips from jewelers...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

This article contains the following detailed steps to give you a better understanding why grinding and shaping onglette gravers are...

When I buy my high speed steel, 90 degree, under-cutting burs I always think of the words, "waste not, want...

Customize a standard insulated tweezers to easily hold small objects much tighter...

While many jewelers work directly in precious metals, many also work with wax, carving models for casting in silver and...

There are several methods of obtaining the smooth rotation of a piece of metal necessary for engraving on it. Many...

As well as being used for chasing they may also be used as punches to make textures. A stamp or...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

Our castings can be flawless, our assembly precise, and our settings secure -- but let any surface go a bit...

This page offers a list of some useful North American Sources for Equipment, Materials, information, etc that would be very...

Hoover ' Strong, Inc. in Richmond, VA provides a line of Tru-Seat settings that include solitaire earrings, pendants and solitaire...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

This article describes a micro vacuum cleaner, based on an aquarium pump, for use by enamelists. The vacuum cleaner allows...

Connections are an important part of jewelry manufacturing. We make them with suppliers, with retailers, even with the people who...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

In working on jewelry there are many tasks that seem simple - you just do it and don't think about...

This article lists the following useful bench tools for jewelers including contact information where they can be purchased or ordered....

3M Radial Bristle Discs were introduced to the jewelry industry in 2000. Additional discs and end brushes have been added...

how one of 3M's radial bristle discs to a non-jeweler friend, and you are almost guaranteed to get a lukewarm...

A sharp graver can improve cutting performance at the bench. There are several approaches to use when detailing a graver,...

This selected list describes a number of small, easily made tools which can improve efficiency, speed and ease of working...

Helen I. Driggs demonstrates how some non-jewelers tools give fabrication a new twist. My background is in graphic design, so...

Of all the burs used on a setters bench, my one good true friend is the bud bur. Why? Because...

In my last article I wrote about the various adjustable parameters, and the effects of changing those parameters. In this...

Sheet Metal Tool Modification, Look for: WISS Hand Seamer (as LAST resort BRAMEC or VISE-GRIP) sheet metal bending tools and...

This paper is initiated with the reference that one selects process because of aesthetic need. The premise of technology as...

Jewelers are constantly in search of tools that make them more productive. It helps to shop trade shows where tools...

  You pride yourself on your pristine shop. Your equipment is laid out for maximum efficiency, your tools are stored...

A good vise is a vital piece of equipment for any goldsmith because it can act as a third hand,...

Hammers are an essential part of silversmithing and goldsmithing. While one can buy hammers ready made one can also do...

New patented Warrior Power Tool System kit provides a revolutionary proficiency advantage for bench jewelers and jewelry manufacturers for split-lap...

Laser forming is an emerging rapid prototyping (RP) technique that has undergone research worldwide since the mid 1980s. It is...

Stonesetters frequently convert and and reuse tools intended for other purposes. Often when a tool is needed they will cast...

There are two properties which distinguish a good tool from a bad one. The tool must have the correct shape...

Many tools sold in model/hobby stores can be used for jewelry making. During a recent visit to a hobby shop,...

The flex-shaft is a wonderful tool - but one that jewelers rarely use to its maximum advantage. Usually the first...

Sometimes, holding on to really little parts is the greatest challenge of my day. I use tiny cabochons almost daily...

For polishing it is recommended to use primarily bristle brushes for most of the removal work and to follow up...

What you should be is excited to read this article and see what others just like you have to say...

This is a great modification of pliers to give you a tool that mimics the shape of your thumb and...

Workshops now have to incorporate a lot of technology, ranging from lost wax casting through to modern working processes within...

Racine and his son, Ittai, a physicist by profession but a top engineer, passed on purchasing the dated facility and...

3M XR wheels, formerly known as XK wheels are ideal for sprue removal and smooth deburring with minor surface reduction....

When AJM asked me to test the new 3M FX Polishing Wheels, I was reminded of a neat factoid: The...

These pliers notch round prongs easily to a given depth and replace a bur for the job. They are made...

Every goldsmith needs a precise, energy rich gas flame at his workplace. Compressed gas cylinders offer one opportunity for this....

Bench jewelers hate to throw out used tools. By training and by nature we try to conserve the materials we...

Ergonomics is the safe and effective relationship between a worker and the work environment. For the bench jeweler who spends...

The ECO-Maxi, first introduced in Basel, represents a whole new machine concept: the world’s first single machine capable of three...

The first time I saw a machine for pumice finishing and brass wire brushing was at the School for American...

With the Nd:Yag Micro Laser Welders, being used by the jewelry, and other industrial manufacturing / repair industries, there is...

Laser technology is still so new to 
our industry and there is still so much 
to discover. Fortunately, I believe...

A cardboard disc sander is a very useful tool. One uses the side or large flap of a fairly rigid...

Often when soldering, it is necessary to use cross-lock tweezers to hold or steady the piece(s) being soldered. The pressure...

In difficult times, it is important to invest in modern methods, machines and tools. Jewelry and watch makers can assert...

A bench jeweler typically uses a split mandrel to sand and finish the inside of a ring. Various grits of...

Ask for a catalog with an English supplement. Order by surface if a heavy order as shipping from Germany is...

While it is clearly impossible to give a set of rules for each tool and procedure that goldsmiths use, this...

Shaping a bezel on stakes is a process of forming the metal by stretching. First the metal is bent with...

Homemade flex-shaft guard using a soft drink plastic bottle, a solution to the annoying and potentially hazardous problem of breathing...

Gold alloys can be analyzed quickly and without being destroyed with the help of X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The advantages compared...

Down on your bench, look: It’s a file. It’s a bur. It’s Super Tool! At first it seemed so ordinary....

Jeremy Pavlow shares his common jewelry making bench tips by taking advantage of other tools and materials not normally used...

In my 25 years of working as a goldsmith, I have always looked for tools that make my life easier...

Take a look around you. Chances are there is a flex-shaft or a dust collector you've neglected because you've been...

Traditionally trained jewelers often scoff at the idea of using glue as a joining method. However, there are times when...

Following the 2002 SNAG conference Barbara Minor forwarded this tool modification made by Chris Hentz of Chris's Cables – which...

Jewelers have been going green for many years by recycling old or worn-out tools into something new and useful. Setting...

True tales of how jewelers overcame out-of-the-box limitations - Most people who work with their hands become tool mad, and...

If you’re a bench jeweler who loves her flex-shaft, you may consider adding a micromotor to your toolbox. That’s what...

This article describes the different tool alterations that any bench man needs to know and learn as guidance for their...

I was recently in Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand, where I spent a month visiting silversmiths and chasers...

BW Simon in Spartanburg, South Carolina, made this handy tool for finishing jewelry. I would like to thank him for...

Custom jewelry projects for tack-, fusion-, and pulse-arc-welding sometimes call for special welding tool lead attachments. Bench jewelers often make...

This paper describes the conversion of dental tools into wax engraving tools, how they are held and how they are...

When beginning to do tube settings, the first thing anyone should do is buy a "Setters Tube Holder" which appears...

Jewelers and metalsmiths have had to make their own tools throughout the ages to accomplish different tasks at the jeweler's...

Steve Satow shares his procedure for customized robo grip pliers to add parallel action and more leverage to standard bow...

Bur Goodtip, a legendary bench jeweler shows how sometimes a tool is not just a tool... We are taking a...

This three stone ring designed by Barney Jette has two flush set trillion sapphire side stones with a total weight...

There are times during the setters workday where there is a need for a specific tool, but there nothing is...

Making your own custom finishing sticks Due to space restrictions, I don’t own a full-size polishing machine. Because I work...

Sometimes, holding on to really little parts is the greatest challenge of my day. I use tiny cabochons almost daily...

A look at a few jewelers who refuse to use tools the way they were designed Jewelers love their tools…but...

The purpose of this steamer bucket enclosure is to prevent stones from being blown out by the steamer and flying...

This article describes a step by step procedure of a pair of simple pliers to become a pair of customized...

The market always has new ideas and strategies for its customers that companies geared towards technology need because they mean...

When manufacturing and repairing jewelry products, rotary equipment is essential to the process. Nothing is more frustrating or potentially damaging...

This article by Steve Satow shares a step by step procedure on how t o make a customized ultrasonic sediment...

I like to hold small pieces of metal with a clamp that allows me to file hands free. I feel...

Steve Satow shows the procedure for a customized earring setting pliers using a normal setting pliers. Normal setting pliers can...

Precious metals are beautiful on their own, from the rich glow of yellow gold to the dense white of platinum—and...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

Steve Satow I have found this to be
 a most useful tool to use 
when rebuilding a bezel 
using a...

Many stone setters would agree that one of the most challenging aspects of prong setting is getting the prongs down...

Modifying beading tools for clean re-tipping jobs A colleague recently asked for my help in finding cup burs that were...

For two years now, the manufacturer Lampert has been cooperating with the Laboratory for Welding Technology and Thermal Treatment at...

Ever spent way too much time trying to retrieve tiny jump rings, links, or other small parts out of a...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

The mini casting system MC 15 was specially developed for use in dental casting, goldsmith work and jewelry design and...

TIM Systems Ltd. Developed the time saving work bench “Rota Bench Plus”. An extensive range of accessories enables the bench...

This vulcaniser came to me in a poor condition. It would not heat up and had seized because of corrosion....

This jewelry bench tip is a follow-up to "Modified Split Mandrel for Finishing Round Bezels," which showed you how to...

In the course of my 30 years in the jewelry industry, I can recall many instances of damaged equipment and...

Since their introduction to the jewelry industry, laser welders have been lauded for their speed, accuracy, and convenience of use....

In my last article about welding nickel white gold, (Ni WG),I said I would weld the same Ni WG shank...

Steve Satow shows how to modify Standard insulated tweezers to become effective ring separating tweezers.

Beading tools and dot punches lose their form and become dull as you use them. You can recondition a tool...

Steve Satow shares his procedure on how to customize bench tools like a beading tool retipper, small parts trays and ...

Stuller had the foresight to offer straight wire that we don't have to remove the bend from before we use...

Steve Satow shares his procedure for customized solder holder and blast shield, and how to make using a Jet Sett...

The film Otec offers surface processing equipment for jewelry firms. The size of the equipment can be selected to suit...

I have found this to be a most useful tool to use when rebuilding a bezel using a Laser Welder....

Editor's Note: Want to know how to make a bench jeweler's day? Send him a box full of new tools...

Creating a homemade blowgun As a jeweler and diamond setter, I get asked all types of questions. Recently, a customer...

Tool modifications from the land down under I just returned from Australia, where I shared foldforming and keum-boo lessons at...

Find a turntable that
 is size appropriate for 
your bench. In this case
mine is 18 inches wide.
 If possible...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

Steve Satow shares his procedure for customized light box for your jewelry photography projects and customized bench shelf for more...

One persistent daily challenge a bench jeweler faces is trying to figure out the best way to hold onto tiny,...

Maybe you’re shopping for the latest technologies—the newest developments in CAD/CAM to produce life-like renderings, a laser to engrave your...

Buffer System & Ultrasonic Basket Replacement When we replaced our vacuum tubes for the buffer system I chose to run...

I made a hanging tool shelf between my setting and soldering bench. With it off the floor it allows easy...

Foredom has redesigned the popular Series SR Flexible Shaft motor. It has more power/torque and is rated at 1/6 HP...

“The third generation of the tried and trusted PUK welders, the PUK 3, has been a great success worldwide,” says...

Steve Satow shares his procedure for customized 3 Jaw Chuck to mount on a Benchmate for hands free trimming &...

Roland DG Corporation is making high-tech available to jewellery designers and goldsmiths with its JWX-30. They too now have access...

This is the first in a two-part series on green bench tips shared by jewelers who are taking an eco-friendlier...

These pliers are used to pull back bezels on channel set rings. This allows you to drop in the stones...

A worn-out bristle brush can easily be recycled into a useful tool called a whip burnisher or rotary hammer to...

Steve Satow shares his procedure on customized bench tools such as 3 prong or peg head holder & wax stone...

New gold and carat scales for stationary and mobile use – working with precious metals and high-carat gemstones calls for...

This is the second in a two-part series on green bench tips shared by jewelers who are taking another approach...

With these pliers you can pre polish platinum and gold peg heads of any shape. Remove any nicks one prong...

Punching your way to consistent granules I love tools, especially with finding new uses for them. Yet, despite my obsession...

The company OTEC develops and produces machines for mechanical surface processing. Founded in 1996, the young company received a commendation...

Edenta, the specialist company guarantees absolute quality consistency. Its range of top grade abrasive and polishing rotary instruments and polishing...

Precision, quality and economics are the principal factors when goldsmiths make new investments in their workshops. Within this context, it...

Here iss a nice little tool that makes use of an old setting bur. If you take the bottom teeth...

As you may have guessed, I highly recommend taking out frustrations at the bench on your tools. If you are...

In approaching this article, I found there are many avenues to pursue in the exciting and controversial subject of digital...

These tweezers are great for gripping melee when straight tips don't give you enough clearance. They allow you to slide...

How to use rolling mills

These tweezers are great for gripping melee when you slide then into position in continuous channel setting jobs. Here you...