• Shop
    • Stockists
    • Events
    • Mission + Bio
    • Portfolio
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Blog
  • Sign In My Account
Menu

MeritMade

  • Shop
  • About
    • Stockists
    • Events
    • Mission + Bio
    • Portfolio
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Blog
  • Sign In My Account
kansas city merit made meritmade kc handmade jewelry art jewelry unique jewelry

MeritMade Lessons - What tools do I need to get started?

May 11, 2016

Tools are a super important part of being a Metalsmith. Without the right tools making jewelry can be exponentially more difficult, but there are so many tools out there. How do you know what are the right tools for you? Of course, much of it depends on what you are trying to do and accomplish. Below I've listed a set of tools that I think all beginners should start out with.

Getting familiar with these tools will take practice. To help, we offer workshops via our sister company, Alloy, where you will have the opportunity to create jewelry hands-on (you do not have to own tools to participate in classes).

Workshop info

I've broken my recommendations down into sections below so you can adjust depending on what techniques you want to focus on.

Basic Tools

  • Saw Frame (4" depth)

  • Saw Blades (2/0 size is a good general size, but you will want to adjust to the gauge of metal you are using)

  • Cut Lube or Beeswax

  • Flat Nose Pliers

  • Needle Nose Pliers

  • Round Nose Pliers

  • Flush Cutting Snips

  • Needle Files #2 (various shapes - round, triangle, flat, barrette, etc)

  • Large Hand File #0 and #2 (flat and/or half-round)

  • Ring Clamp

  • Ring Mandrel

  • Metal Shears or scissors

  • Steel Block or anvil with a flat surface

  • Set of small Drill Bits that are compatible with your flex shaft/dremel

  • Workstation (Table, Bench, Plank of Wood… etc.)

  • Bench Pin

  • Steel Wool (superfine 00, 000, or 0000)

  • Rawhide or Neoprene Mallet

  • Dremel or Flex Shaft - I've never used a dremel, but I've heard they are usable...That said a flex shaft is a very handy precision tool to have.

  • Safety Glasses

  • Dust Mask

  • Sandpaper (180, 220, 320, 400, 500, 600 grits)

Soldering
If you are interested in soldering/torches, follow this link to another blog post that goes more in-depth about the subject.

  • Solder - hard, med, easy (sheet, wire, or chip. Any form is fine)

  • Copper Tongs

  • Sparex #2 or other type of pickling solution

  • Small Crock Pot to heat pickling solution

  • Tweezers

  • Soldering Pick

  • Flux - I recommend Grifflux #1 or Handy Flux

  • Third Hand

  • Tripod w screen (optional but super helpful)

  • Charcoal Block

  • Torch - I recommend the smith torch for larger applications (cuffs, large rings, etc). If you are going to stay pretty small the little torch will be all you need.)

  • Gas - Depends on the torch you select, but keep in mind you will need tanks of gas (acetylene, oxygen, and or propane). If you live in the Kansas City area, I recommend Hohenschild. I've been using them forever and they are easy to work with and very helpful.

Bezel Setting

  • Burnisher

  • Bezel Roller

  • Bezel - 28 ga Fine Silver Bezel (various heights and types)

Stamping

  • Stamps - Various Designs and Shapes made from Hardened Steel

  • Brass Mallet

I order a lot of my tools and supplies from Rio Grande. They have a huge selection, and everything is of good quality. Purchasing items from Amazon or Etsy is doable, but I haven't been overly impressed with the quality. Not to mention you often have to use separate sellers just to get everything you need. Otto Frei also has many good quality tools. In this other blog post, I go into more detail about my favorite vendors.

If convenience is your goal, I highly recommend our Beginners Tool Kit! We’ve sourced a majority of the above listed tools for you without a lot of unnecessary extras. If you plan to set up an at home studio, you will still need to buy a few things individually to get started (soldering set up, flex shaft, etc). Download the PDF of my recommended tools for full tool descriptions and images.

Download pdf of my recommended tools
Purchase the MeritMade tool kit

Hoped this helps get you started. Don't hesitate to comment below or email me with questions.

xo - Kelly

In Lessons
← MeritMade Commentaries - IntroductionsMeritMade Stories - The Augustus Necklace →
  • Commentaries
  • Lessons
  • Stones
  • Stories
  • Welcome
Blog RSS
View fullsize Coming to Cabs and Coffee? Here is a quick rundown of why stone hardness matters when you are shopping for stones. 

-When you shop for stones, you are probably considering color, pattern, sparkle, uniqueness, symbolism or maybe even the metaphysical
View fullsize Cabs & Coffee is about more than just stones. It’s about the people behind them.
We’re kicking off our vendor spotlight series with @kwmlapidarystudio !
They’ll be at @bliproasters on July 26 with a table full of tasty gemmy cut
View fullsize July is heating up at Alloy! 🔥 Our highlights: 
-Spinner ring workshop
-Multi-stone ring workshop
-CABS AND COFFEE!

Don’t forget to Save the Date for July 26th at @bliproasters to browse beautiful cabs while sipping on delicious coffee. 

Sen
View fullsize Here’s a little secret… we’re dropping a mini workshop next month! 🔥🔥
Want first dibs?
Our email list always gets access before Instagram.
→ Tap the link in bio to subscribe

Then head to our stories for some things we are g
View fullsize
View fullsize Looking to grow your jewelry practice or finally have a space that feels like yours? Our bench memberships are built for makers at every stage — whether you’re building a business or creating just for the love of it.

Choose from shared o
View fullsize The studio’s refreshed, the torches are ready, and we’ve got snacks (you’ll have to show up to see what kind 😉).

Our Grand Reopening Party is TOMORROW, and we can’t wait to welcome you in.
We’ll be posted up from 1-4pm
View fullsize Thinking about a private lesson but not sure if it’s the right fit?

Here’s what you need to know:
✔ You choose what we focus on — troubleshooting, learning a new technique, or refining your skills
✔ It’s fully customized to y
View fullsize Cabs & Coffee is back on Saturday, July 26, and we couldn’t be more excited for a fun morning like this!

Here’s why we love it:
- Browse and shop one of the best parts of jewelry design: picking out stones for your one of a kind piec
View fullsize Help us give a warm welcome to Cord- he’s our newest instructor on our DIY Wedding Band team!! 🥳

Cord brings decades of jewelry-making experience, starting all the way back in high school at Shawnee Mission East. He’s been a profes
View fullsize
View fullsize It’s Member Spotlight! 🎉
Meet Keith Montgomery (@kwmlapidarystudio ), one of our social members and friends of the studio. He’s been an Alloy member just shy of a year, and will be one of our vendors at our upcoming Cabs and Coffee event
View fullsize We’re bringing back Cabs & Coffee on July 26 from 10AM–1PM at Blip Roasters (1301 Woodswether Road, KCMO).
It’s the perfect mix of coffee, stones, and community!

Come browse tables full of smooth, domed cabochons (aka, the gems
View fullsize
View fullsize ATTENTION - if you were interested in becoming a vendor for Cabs + Coffee, now is the time to sign up! Let us know asap if you would like us to reserve your vendor spot at this fun summer event in our Alloy studio.

Event details:
Date: Saturday, Jul
View fullsize
View fullsize
View fullsize Mark your calendars 👀 — we’re throwing a party!! 🎉 
We’re thrilled to announce the grand reopening of our metalsmithing studio, now located one floor up in the same building! Join us as we celebrate our new space with a fun and in
View fullsize REMINDER— the Liz Canter workshop is happening next week, and we cannot wait.

If you’ve been thinking about signing up, now’s the time. Expect expert tips on marketing for metalsmiths, building a strategy to set yourself up for suc
View fullsize 4 different ways to make a ring at Alloy?! YES PLEASE! We got a fresh drop of summer Make & Take classes waiting for you to check out! These spots won’t last long so don’t sleep on them. If you have any questions about our classes sho

i would love to touch your inbox

WAIT! WHAT?!

Seriously though, I would love to connect with you via email.  If you are interested in keeping up with all things meritmade, gaining access to exclusive releases, receiving first looks before any of my other social media, and enjoying some of my only slightly funny commentary then you should sign up for my mailing list.

Sweet!!! I promise I will only send you the good stuff!