RECOMMENDED STARTER TOOL LIST Setting up your workshop for starter level jewellery making. It’s amazing what you can create with just a few basic tools. A lot of them not that expensive either, if you shop around. The following list of tools is recommended to help you with the starter project you are enrolled into. You probably have some or most of them if you have already started making jewellery pieces. To find the specialized tools locally, Google search; ‘jewellery tool supplies’ or for US students; jewelry. For international supplies go to; www.riogrande.com There is of course one more important addition to the list. A strategically positioned media player to view the JTS lessons. JEWELLERY WORK BENCH SAFETY FIRST The most important thing in your workshop is your health and safety. Make sure you have You don’t have to buy a special jewellery work bench. Most new students will make their own. There is a lesson on how Soham built his student the necessary safety gear on hand. Wear safely goggles at all times, wear a dust mask benches. Type into the search bar ‘ workshop’ to view that video. A standard adjustable office chair and a bench lamp is essential,. Natural light is good if when using your drill, and extraction or ven- tilation should be in use over soldering and that’s an option. You can buy bench pegs to work from but to start off you can just clamp a piece of wood to the bench. pickle areas. PLIERS PIERCING SAW & CUTTING TOOLS HAND & NEEDLE FILES Just about all JTS projects require You can start your collection of files Every jewellers best friend is the with a flat file and a half round ring the use of specialised pliers. To piercing saw. 4/0 and 3/0 blades will file. There are different cutting start with you will need; round get you through most lessons.. I rec- grades, so start with a number 2 cut nose, half round, Chain nose ommend that you practice saw pierc- then add ‘0’ cut files later. (sometimes called snipe nose) ing so that you limit the amount of blade breakages. Other cutting tools Needle files are cheaper to buy by and Parallel pliers. Later you can to add to your list later on are shears the set, with all shapes included. add a pair of Soft jaw (nylon) & a pair of end or side cutters. pliers for minimising tool damage. Page 2 RECOMMENDED STARTER TOOL LIST DRILLING MACHINE BURS & DRILLS MARKING TOOLS There are three main drill options availa- The list for burs and drills could be a ble, the cheapest being a Dremel rotary really long one so just make sure your For the starter courses marking out tool, but I recommend a micro motor or collection includes; 1.2mm drill & a pendant drill as they have better is not too important, but to develop 1.5mm round bur. This will get you your skills you need to have marking torque (power) and a foot pedal. started. Then later you can add more They’re not that expensive if you shop tools such as a steel rule, scribe, set burs for more adventurous projects.; square and protractor for marking around. There’s a free lesson on jewellers out angles. Just be aware that some of the cheap burs, just type burs into the search micromotorsMARKING may TOOLS lack the necessary bar. You can also perform most of It is really important to use good torque. You will be using your drill for your jewellery finishing with discs & quality dividers for marking arcs and finishing your jewellery surface so you mops. Silicone carbide rubber polish- circles. I also value a scalpel for will need polishing compounds such as ers, & a cotton mop for polishing. This marking straight lines. Tripoli & Rouge. I prefer Hyphin but its can be expanded on later. You will also need a polishing compound such not always easy to find. as Tripoli. HAMMER BLOCK & MANDREL EMERY BUFF STICKS MEASURING DEVICES You can buy these ready prepared but this are something you can make yourself quite easily. Accuracy is the key to good jewellery I recommend a steel ring mandrel and making. Traditionally jewellers would Wooden or MDF off cuts should cost a chasing hammer for shaping and siz- generally use a steel Vernier or caliper you next to nothing. Make sure you ing rings, but you can start with a gauge but there are other options such find a piece of doweling too for finish- standard pein hammer. You can also as leverage gauge or spring gauge. ing inside rings. There is a free video add a bangle mandrel to your wish list Consider getting the digital or dial type on making buff sticks. Type into the if you intend making bangles. A steel vernier for easy use. They are not that bench block is good for some shaping expensive, and your local hardware search bar; ‘emery’ tasks. may have them. You will also need a The following emery paper grades will ring size stick and finger gauge if you All jewellers have a raw hide or nylon get you started. P400 P800 P2000. are making rings, mallet for forming metal without marking it. Note; Some steel mandrels have finger size markings so a ring stick might not be necessary. .