Top Ten Jewellery Making Tools For When You Are At The Bench 

10. 600 grit wet/dry Emory paper 9. RING FILE -flat and curved combo 8. RING CLAMP 7. Parallel pliers (Box Joint not overlap) 6. Eye piece magnifier (6 power) 5. 8” X 12” felt covered “Layout” work pad 4. Piercing saw (British)... aka Scroll saw 3. Tweez -multiple types 2. Triangular Needle File - “safety Edged” ...”Safety File” 1. White Nylon Bristle Brush -thin bristle brush splays well and won’t shed

I’ve been making jewelry for 50 years! I find your videos inspiring and spot-on! I’ve gotten many good tips from you! Thank you!!

Bristle brush = (look up) radial polishing wheels. AWESOME ITEM! Forget just white, i use 180(red) 400(grayblue) 1000(green) 2000(gray) 5000(white). Finished with a Blitz silver polish. This will resurface to a insanely nice mirror finish you can see yourself in. A 35$ dremel and these for $1 each, is how i started out. They last a super long time used correctly, they are dry the dust flys away so use a mask, but much less clean up.

Thank you so very much for all of your videos. I have been making artisan style jewelry for around 2 years now, and I've learned so much from you. So thank you for all you do to teach us about traditional jewelry making....

Hi Andrew. It's a rainy Saturday and I'm using my data to the limit watching your wonderful videos - and picking up some great tips. Now I need to spend some time putting into practice what you've demonstrated before I forget!! Thanks so much for sharing.

Awesome tips. I was counting down to #1 and thought you would say your torch. Surprise end.

Stay healthy. Don't die yet. U are too generous with your experience n knowledge. Thank you so much.

Thank you for showing all of tutorials，really clearly and helpfully for us！

You, sir, are a gifted artisan and teacher. I am an amateur's amateur but learned an abundance of information from you. I have what I call fun making my jewelry but wish I was more accomplished so will be watching for more tutuoria;s by you. Thank you, 1926lady

Thank you so much! I needed to understand magnifying lens and you answered a question!

I am starting, I enjoy your tips and style of teaching, thanks

I'm a beginner and enjoying your videos, information & style, thank you

One of the best instruction channals for jewelry making period !!!

Great tips. I never thought of removing the tips of the pyramid file.

Thank you for sharing your expertise! Keeps me going

I try to watch a lot of videos. Read a lot. Asking a lot of questions on google. But your videos answers most of my questions. Some straight on, and others related to what i need to know! Thanks!

Thanks for this, Andrew. The information about the Optivisor is exactly what I was looking for. :-)

Thank you for the top tool needs for the bench far shorter list then I thought. Now I have a list thanks again.

thank you so much for sharing your vast knowledge!

absolutely love your videos, very informative.

Thanks! New at the jewelry repair business and you are very informative and these tutorials are excellent!

Awesome! I watched this video a couple months ago. I came back today to see what number optivisor you said to get. I have it in my cart now. Thank you! 👍

lovely content Andrew! Super helpful and informative

I bought my saw in 1986,,,,its a unique frame,,with no screws! I bought many saws through the years,,,but I always go back to my college saw :)) THanks for the tips xx

Very very very practical session. Thank you so much

I am starting out and this has been one of the most useful videos I have found. Thank you!

Thank you so much you make things are easyer for me to begin set up my bench.

Great advice for me as a beginner! Thanks

I love this video! Just what I needed to see! And books or educational resources you can recommend for the beginner bench jeweler?

Thank you Andrew

Great starter kit list. Don't need tons of tools. Although rolling mills are very handy a bit later.

Hello Sir, thank you for this wonderful videos. Do you have one on how to select the right Jeweler's Bench for a beginner??

You are an amazing professional person. Very easy to watch thanks

Thank you!!! Your videos are very helpful!!

hi andrew, i'm piero from italy, i used to be suscribed to atthebench and we even met briefly in person years ago at baselword.. very nice video you've done here, i agree 100% i have and use almost daily every single tool you showed, modified in the same way!

Thank for another great video 😊

I definitely need this...I have made a lot of chain mail jewelry and yes I did not solder the silver ones I made and yes they came undone. So now I have to go back and solder the jump rings. Duh! Me! Thank u sir...now to build my solder kit.

Awesome

Excellent! I have a friend just starting out and all these tips will help her. For me? I'll be ordering numerous white bristle brushes:) Two things I find I'm always using - 3M radial brushes with my Foredom & blue painter's tape 💎

Great yes i got some tools already cool thank u

I am a huge fan. Respect

as always brilliant,

Thanks Andrew for your wonderful information. Your newest American fan, Gary K.

Thanks for sharing.

Highly impressive and extremely informative. I feel as if I should have paid for this lesson. 😁Thank You!

Very useful advice. Very well explained.

such a great teacher... (y)

Do you know where I can find the white nylon brushes in the USA? I buy most of my tools at Rio and the only ones they have are the 2"

Excellent as always. One problem I have is keeping my bench in order. How and where to keep my tools sorted so I can access them without looking all over for them. One thing I use is the foam on a water wienie. I slit it down the middle so it will fit over an edge. Then I stick my die grinding tool, paint brushes what ever in the foam. My goal is to be organized. Not hardly there yet. Any suggestions?

Andrew, regarding ring files, which coarseness number do you use most often, or do you keep more than one around? Do you ever use needle files?

Thank you verry much.

Thank you for shering.

I haven’t tried the new concepts saws but I did recently get a green lion saw and I absolutely love it!! Such an amazing saw! Not sure if you have tried these but they are lovely ❤️

thx - good info

very enlightening, most tell you that you need five different versions of everything or you can't work this proves that is not so

Hi Andrew! Thanks for the great videos! Could you explain how to make the felt pad? I'd love to make one but I couldn't find a how to anywhere. Thanks!

Love the videos. Was wondering where the best place to get silver is in the US.

I'm just setting up a workspace at home. Do you have any suggestions on what tools I should get first to get myself started? I do already have a bench and a few other tools. I have a small butane torch, burnisher, a ring file, needle files, the third hand, and a few other things. I'm just finding it a bit overwhelming to decide what else I need to purchase and what is most important.

Ty

hi andrew. i see that you are based in south wales, and i am wondering do you teach at all please? i'm not far away in gloucestershire, and am just begining in silversmithing/metalwork, although i have been making jewellery with various techniques for several years.

wow nice jobb

They also have a dapping block and multiple stakes.

Andrew, this is exactly what I was looking for. However, went to Amazon and says Optimizer #4 is 2x magnification. Made by Donegan. Is this the correct one, or do you recommend 4x power. Thank you for clarifying sir.

Andrew what are the essential jewellers tools I need in my tool box to take with me to my club?

As a wannabe home hobby jeweller I'm loving your videos. My question is, could we use flexshaft/rotary tool sanding disks/abrasive wheels and sanding drums instead of files and buffing sticks?

I find 600 grit too fine for taking out scratches, especially if they are a bit deep. I use 320 grit for general finishing work and go to brass-wire brush after that, then polishing. I have used buff sticks but like using sandpaper in my hands. I fold them over a few times to get some stiffness. I can control the sandpaper better in my hands, especially around curved surfaces and when I want to soften the edges. I enjoy watching your videos.

Desert Island...with electricity. LOL! Thanks Andrew!

Which coarseness would you recommend for a general use ring file as demonstrated in the video? (number 9) Thank you

Cheap as Chips! Love it, so English

Hi...I have bought a Smith Little Torch and a reconditioned Oxycon. I have had it for months because I seem to be missing one part......do you have any experience of this Andrew. I need help please

Thank you!

Would you know what the nylon bristle brush is called when ordering from Rio Grande? Thanks.

Loved this video. Can I ask what you think of adjustable piercing saws?

What are your favorite flux's & polishing compounds for finishing a piece ? Flux I'm having a hard time with. It either drys up in a container with a lid on and the liquid flux leaves a residue all over the container I squirt it out of which eventually clogs the needle tube on top. Thanks, Love your videos !

You way of teaching is the best I have ever seen my grandfather was a silver Smith in Cornwall 60 years ago I have just found most of is old tools I have just started making jewellery with my grand daughter if I joined at the bench is it allowed for tamszen to watch the course at her home using my account

What’s the most affordable Dremel type machine I need? The one that holds the “white Bristle Brush”...

any idea where i can purchase the white bristle brushes in America ?

What filers would you use to file ring prongs? And what tool is used to push the prongs in?

Hi what would be the best place to start for someone who a beginner

Is a warding file similar to your “doctored” triangular file?

I would love it to be a third of length =) Thanks for the info!

great videos - could you update on what the name of the polish you mention is after "tripoli". It sounds like you are saying something like "menzula" but that must not be quite right. Thanks again for your time!

Hey Andrew, been a subscriber for a while and love the channel! I was just curious what's the black bottle on your bench? Cought my attention an curiosity 😂. I know it's not related to the video but now I have to know... Haha. Thanks in advance for sharing! ♥

Is it possible to repair a hairline crack which occured on a cuff bracelet after a second bending.? The 8 gauge rail slightly (1/2") separated from the backplate.

wondering what cad software to buy and pricing

HI, I live in Europe and my question is: What is the acid name that i need to use and dosent it damage the ring gems?

Felt pad is the best advice. I use a 72 ring travel tray. Keeps all your priorities and projects laid out visually. You can dremel resurface rings each grit all at once. I also use the ring slots to hold rings for setting stones if they need glue to dry, and it holds them upright when you apply the glue. It seems like a useless tool, but it's about production, you'll get sick of seeing the same items on your pad and be motivated to complete them. You forgot one of the most important overlooked tools, the chair. If it's uncomfortable you will be less likely to make jewelry. The safety needle file would be helpful cleaning up sharp edges where a split shank band attaches to the back of the bezel. I had a whole batch of rings like that, and the dremel scratched up the backs good lol.

What brand are the two torches you have on your bench. Also what models please ?

@Marco Polo - Diamonds may be hard, but they are brittle and chip easily. Hardness doesn't equal toughness.

Hi Andrew. What Number is that Ring File's Teeth? I am looking into buying one and wondered what you thought the best tooth size was. Thanks.

Hi Andrew, firstly, thanks for your videos, they are very educational :) I was wondering whether you'd know if there is a vegan product similar to the OptiVisor - it looks like the OptiVisor has a leather part (the head-band). However, I haven't managed to find anything that would seem to be a good replacement as of yet.. Thanks in advance!

Whats the best way to make a cat pours on a ring

How do you “fix” your tweezers?

Which video covers the basic tools? I’ve seen you use all kinds of things not mentioned here.

I am an absolute RAW beginner in making jewellery, so I freely admit that this may well be a daft question, but I am also a firm believer in the old adage "how can you find the answer, if you don't ask the question", I would like to know the answer, so I'm asking the question. Is there a way to make a chain WITHOUT soldering the individual links ?. I heard that someone had managed to do it, but I have no idea whether they were just yanking my chain, but after several attempts I have thus far had no success in finding any mention of it. Can you please help ?.

Do you have any suggestions on where to purchase these items?

What strength Optivisor lens magnification do you recommend, please?

May I ask if your Optivisor is a Donegal? I’m trying to decide which Optivisor is best. Thanks, Andrew!

How does the emery paper stick to the buff sticks?

I'm racking my brains out trying to find what uk site you buy from