Handy Household Items for Silversmithing

If you are like me, and have a limited budget, finding some inexpensive workarounds around for various tasks related to metalsmithing can be really useful. Here are 10 tools and items you may already have that can be useful when making jewelry.

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workarounds for a limited budget
Silversmithing on a budget
Making Silver Jewelry
Making Jewelry

[barbarawoolfenden]

My favorite tool for bezel pushing is the prong end of an elk or deer antler. A 3 inch piece allows me good control and because it's tapered it's useful for several widths of bezel. It's perfectly smooth and never mars the silver.

[bavariangirl]

Aluminum knitting needles as mandrels for jump rings! They are available in any mm increment you need. It's an easy way to create uniform rings again and again,

[DonariaRegia]

That tip about using tape on the anvil is great, forging an ingot to fit in the mill yesterday earned me a smashed finger. The pendulum motor was a game-changer for me, I stopped using the dremel all together for the same reason you mentioned, the high speed destroys bits. It also shatters the thin cutting wheels. The foot pedal means both hands are free on the bench, and the precision upgrade cannot be overstated. I bought one about two years ago for only $55 and it still performs flawlessly. For saving my fingers you just earned another subscriber!

[silversleuth]

Love your channel, and admire your patience, candor, and tenacity.

[ericericson]

I always keep some concrete nails, cut or round will work. I use both. With a little filing, (cut the point off the round ones and file the head) they become very nice decorative stamps. (Hint, keep a rough ball peen hammer for stamping. Don't use one of your polished forging hammers) Regular nails will work, but the concrete nails are made of better steel and last longer.

[flyingcheff]

Oh, thanks, Chad! NOW I know where to get those compressed cardboard pieces! 😅😅😅

[ElinHaugan]

Made a burnisher from an old nail puncher.
Winded up solder wire on spools for underthread for sawing machines. The sanding drum mandrels that comes with most Dremel kits fits inside them so it goes super fast to wind them up 🙂
Knife magnets to keep all small tools organised on the side edge of my bench and underneath the shelf.
Teachers gum to keep things in place while hammering.

Those are the ones that came to mind atm 🙂

[stephenbergendahl]

cotton swab and your knowledge sharing is greatly appreciated

[kathyfriedman]

Glad I found your channel. Great content.

[gisella]

Thank you, I always enjoy your lessons.

[kimgill]

I use a half of a wooden clothespin for a bezel pusher, and also to gently stretch out bezels when setting stones.

[tammyensminger]

I use big vise grips to clamp my copper wires together to braid. I wrap the end tightly with duct tape and then clamp it into my vise grips. I hold the vise grips between my knees and braid the wire!

[julescarlito]

I use old chisels and screwdrivers for texturing, and get leather offcuts from a local upholsterer that I use when finishing and also to pad the Jawa of my metal vices. Chad, I’m a keen hobbyist with a fully equipped workshop and I cannot stress how much I love my Saeshin Strong micromotor, I have the normal handpiece and the hammer handpiece. They are so superior to the Dremel. That, along with lots of burrs and I am able to do all types of stone setting nearing professional standards.

[ZenRacingForza]

This video has inspired me to consider using my pulse inverter TIG machine and micro torch almost like a spot welder. I have used it very effectively for silicon bronze brazing. I will have to experiment and report back.

Also look into “DIY welders third hand / arm” I made a few for my TIG welding/Brazing station. I just made a tiny version with a tungsten tip for holding small jewelry parts in place. Nice for when a little weight is needed.

[danhoyt]

I just saw a vise grip type radiator hose pinch off tool in the Harbor freight catalog for about $10.00 bucks that I think would make good draw tongs if the jaws had some teeth cut in them with a triangular file. they would be nice because the clamp up with the jaws parallel.

[MARIETTAGILWAY]

Good morning Chad, its always nice and educational to watch your videos.It's wonderful to see how your channel has grown since I started watching you around 400 subcribers. Congratulations... I have come up with an idea, , I called Rio one day to see if they had any small strainers to add to my small pickle pot so my silver balls wouldn't get lost in there. They said no they didn't. So I asked him if it would be ok to use my old Mr. Coffee pot strainer or would it contaminate the pickle and he said no not at all. So I just rinse it really well after each use. So much easier then picking them out one by one with my tweezers.

[Galaxysparkles]

Awesome video thank you much needed information. We need Pepe tools to sponsor you a flex shaft

[JustME-ftdi]

I think Foredom should send you a micromotor to review. Much better than a Flexshaft! You could probably do with a lovely hammer hand piece as well…

[scarab]

Chad, Harbor Freight has a 1/4 hp rotary tool with foot control for about $45. Foredom knock off. I have been using one for about three years now 0 problems with it. The also have portable desktop with a rechargeable battery for around $35.

[stephenbergendahl]

can you pssibly touch upon your begginings and your endevor to overcome the school of hard knocks whimsical in a masterful way