Basic Silversmithing Tools for Beginners

This video covers the basic tools needed to get started in fabricating silver jewelry. This includes estimated price based on research at time of filming (September 2023). Your location may play a role in price variation as well. The video covers basic hand tools, power tools, consumables (pickle safe, flux, polishing compounds, rotary tool bits, etc.), as well as a section about some tools that are nice to have, but you won't need immediately.
I enjoy sharing my knowledge with others, as I've taught people for most of my life. This hobby turned into a fun side gig for me for years while I taught public school. I love suggestions and hearing about others' experiences. What is your favorite project? What kind of tutorials would you find useful? Scroll down for information on my new Patreon!
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Chad Parker
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Important tools for beginning silversmiths
Silversmithing on a budget
Making Silver Jewelry
Making Jewelry

[@jay8353]

Man this was soo helpful, I have seen so many that say you need 3 to 4 times the amount of tools to start. Thank you for keeping it basic for us beginners.

[@chadssilversmithing]

It's always fun to get new tools, but you can do quite a bit with some pretty basic stuff:). Thanks Jay!

[@lindascrofano5120]

This was exactly what I needed! I've been a wire artist for about 9 years and tried out silver clay last year, but I really want to learn how to be a silversmith. Thank you!

[@chadssilversmithing]

That’s great Linda! Good luck in your silversmithing journey:)

[@Greblav]

Thank you ❤

[@chadssilversmithing]

My pleasure:). Glad you found it useful Greblav!

[@PsillyGoose]

Finally got a workspace set up to get back into it. Thanks for all your tutorials They're awesome and you're awesome (:

[@chadssilversmithing]

That’s exciting PsillyGoose! Thanks for the nice comment:)

[@dennisalanvids]

Thanks. Trying to get into working with silver and maybe gold. Will binge watch your videos to learn more

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello Dennis! Thanks for watching. I'm glad you are enjoying them:)

[@anagrunauer6643]

Very good explanation about the important tools to take into account. Thank you so much!!!!💙

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Ana!

[@elisazulueta9535]

Thanks for your tutorial video, very useful for a beginner like me in metalsmithing ❤

[@chadssilversmithing]

I'm glad you found it useful Elisa! Thank you for the nice comment:)

[@user-zd3ow9kw4z]

Tool catalogues - highly addictive! But think whether an item will be useful long term or will be at the back of a drawer within weeks. Depends on what you want to make.

[@melindakeith4103]

I love the tool video! I struggled with my sawing until I watched a lady sawing, she was just resting the sawblade on her work and letting the saw do the work. Now I am still using the old frame I bought years ago for about two dollars and dulling most of my blades.

[@chadssilversmithing]

I avoided sawing for years, as I really struggled with making good cuts. The better saw let me dislike it less, and so I’m now getting a little better at it because I do it more:)

[@margaretgibson7063]

Experience with the butane torches is they are cheaply made and those selling them make big profit for ripping off the pubkic. They are mostly junk. You may get one in a hundred that work great! But they have cost me way more than i was willing to continue shelling out. I got so agravated, i just went out and bought a little torch a propane tank and an oxygen concentration unit from a medical supply near me. Brand new. I was not willing to risk a rebuilt one. It cost much more than a used one but mine has a warranty and the company i bought mine from will.maintain my once a year. Its worth the peace of mind.now i have none of those problems getting in abind because my equipment was sub par. I agree. I love my tools also. Especially the ones that work to make me money.😊

[@chadssilversmithing]

Same experience I had with the little butane torches:). Thanks for the nice comment!

[@Wishingwell688]

You’re best silversmith KZbinr!

[@chadssilversmithing]

What a nice thing to say! Thanks Wishingwell!

[@janmcmullan468]

im new to this and you help me so much im 65 and want to make things for my grandkids

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Jan! I’m glad you are finding these useful:)

[@lindascrofano5120]

Thanks! This was a big help!

[@chadssilversmithing]

You’re welcome! Thanks for the donation!

[@NewYorkCityGritty5]

Thank you so much for the video! There are a couple things I don't have that you went over. I love your work ❤

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Gritty! I appreciate the nice comments:)

[@Gazz_R]

Great vid Chad! I'm pretty much covered for basic tools, it's time to stock up on some materials for me. Thanks for sharing and enjoy the rest of your week.

[@chadssilversmithingshorts]

Thanks. Been putting this one off for a while:)

[@luelaprs]

I'm new to silversmithing. I've been planning and collecting tools for a while, before actually getting started, and this video has been very helpful! Thank you so much! I'll be subscribing and hopefully learning from you! Blessings!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Luelaprs! Welcome! I hope you find lots of useful information here:)

[@flyingcheff]

Oh, one more little tip (watching all your videos - again - in binge mode while I work away in my studio, lol), if you need to dap or make a shallow form/shape often just hammering on a thickly folded towel works really well! Cheep cheep 🐦

[@chadssilversmithing]

That’s a good idea flying chef! I hadn’t thought of that:)

[@v65sabreking]

Good video

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you Sabreking!

[@matthewwarner9039]

How's it going, looking to get into silversmithing just ran across your channel.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello Matthew. Welcome:). Thanks for making me part of your silversmithing journey!

[@jay8353]

Funny because I'm exactly the same, wanting to start setting my own stones,ones I have found and polished, and l also have started cutting opal I have purchased. So I'm so happy I found this channel.

[@Twiggyshayz]

Thanks for the video! I have a question: why are polishing wheels necessary? Assuming you have a Dremel or a Foredom flexshaft, you can use a variety of brushes with/without polishing compound to finish a piece. What is the advantage of using a polishing machine?

[@chadssilversmithing]

That is a great question. To really remove firescale, what I always called firecoat or firestain, you need something with some horsepower. A Foredom has a decent motor that is unlikely to bog down when applying pressure, so it will generally do the job. Dremel tools, while useful, don’t really have the oomph to remove firescale. A 6” polishing wheel with 1/2 hp motor or better does the trick pretty well and quicker than a Foredom:). From what I’ve read, firescale is an oxide of copper that happens because of the 7.5% copper that is in Sterling. Hope this helps:)

[@Twiggyshayz]

@@chadssilversmithing This is very informative, thank you so much!

[@flyingcheff]

Hi Chad, I just wanted to share some info; your "Magic C" saw is a total rip-off of the excellent Green Lion Saw made by Green Lion Studios, a maker of handmade tools. The real thing (which is far superior to the cheap knock-off, in longevity and quality of material, and sturdiness) is an excellent saw and worth its $63 price tag. It is more affordable than the also excellent Knew Concepts saw at $124. Its always good to know the source of tools we buy. I believe we get what we pay for, another reason YOU are worth it!! 🌺🌺🌺 oh, another question; I'm very curious why you say a rawhide mallet is a "not". Why is it harder to use than plastic? My wide-nose flats are my favorite too. 😅

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Flying Chef! I’m sure that the Green Lion version is better, but this knock off is so much better than my old saw that I am almost enjoying sawing:). As far as the mallet goes, it is lightweight and has a large head making it hard to concentrate force in a small area. The plastic ones have a metal center that gives them some weight as well as a smaller head. There is nothing wrong with rawhide ones; I just find them less versatile. Good comment!

[@flyingcheff]

Thanks, that totally makes sense. I use both. The nylon one for precise spot shaping, the rawhide one for shaping rings on a mandrel. My rawhide mandrel is weighted too. I'm super glad you're enjoying sawing more, whatever saw makes it good for you is the right one. The reason you love it is because it's a great design - sawing is my personal zen. I challenge myself to not break bladed - I count the days and projects on one 4/0 blade. Goofy, I know. I'm competitive with myself, but no one else. 😂

[@SatendraKumar-nw1mb]

Har har mahadev🙏🙏💚💚😗🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌷🌷🌷✡✡✡🕉🕉🕉🕉🔱🔱🔱🚩🚩🚩🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿☘☘☘☘☘☘☘

[@musicinfusedmoods1910]

Thanks Satendra!

[@user-zh7kd1jq7i]

How much tools will u buy

[@chadssilversmithing]

? Could you elaborate?