Where can I buy a quality basic tool kit to start making silver jewellery at home?
Posted on October 31st, 2009 by admin
I´d like to start making silver jewellery at home. I understand I will need a selection of pliers, a soldering torch, saw etc. but where can I buy a good quality, but reasonably priced, kit (maybe online)? I live in Barcelona… Thanks!
I´d like to start making silver jewellery at home. I understand I will need a selection of pliers, a soldering torch, saw etc. but where can I buy a good quality, but reasonably priced, kit (maybe online)? I live in Barcelona… Thanks!
p.s. I only speak beginners Spanish so a jewellery course here would be impossibe. I also have an educational background in art & craft up to degree level so feel confident I can master jewellrey design at home without the aid of a course… hopefully…
Do you already have a background in jewellery making? If not then I would recommend doing a basic course first so you can get a taste of different techniques and the tools which you need for it. That’s what I did.
Standard tools like basic pliers, calipers, jeweller’s saw, plastic hamers, rulers, sandpaper, files, polishing tools, cuters, etc. can all be bought through standard hardware stores.
Specialised tools like ring gauges, silver solder (note, this is not the silver solder sold in hardware stores), heat resistant pliers, casting pans, mould sand, shaped wire bending pliers can be bought through stores which cater to jewellery makers. If you join a course you should be able to arrange such orders through your teacher. He’ll also be able to give advise. You will also need to get you silver there. Another source of silver is you local silversmith. That is, if he’s willing to part with it.
I just saw that there will be a jewellery fair in Barcelona at the end of the year. You could go there and talk to silversmiths and ask them for local tool and material sources:
http://www.biztradeshows.com/trade-events/barcelona-jewellery-fair.html
Edit: to react to your additions: I’m sure you can find a course in Barcelone itself in Spanish. There will probably be leaflets on the show. With your background you should be able to design jewellery but I think that a basic course will be usefull to learn how to actually use silver and to make contacts. One tip: you can work with Brass to practise the techniques before using silver. Brass is much easier to find.
By the way, what kind of jewellery do you want to make? Your toolset will depend on that.
October 31st, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Try here, they might deliver to spain
http://craftingdirectcom.drct2u.com/home.jsp
References :
October 31st, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Do you already have a background in jewellery making? If not then I would recommend doing a basic course first so you can get a taste of different techniques and the tools which you need for it. That’s what I did.
Standard tools like basic pliers, calipers, jeweller’s saw, plastic hamers, rulers, sandpaper, files, polishing tools, cuters, etc. can all be bought through standard hardware stores.
Specialised tools like ring gauges, silver solder (note, this is not the silver solder sold in hardware stores), heat resistant pliers, casting pans, mould sand, shaped wire bending pliers can be bought through stores which cater to jewellery makers. If you join a course you should be able to arrange such orders through your teacher. He’ll also be able to give advise. You will also need to get you silver there. Another source of silver is you local silversmith. That is, if he’s willing to part with it.
I just saw that there will be a jewellery fair in Barcelona at the end of the year. You could go there and talk to silversmiths and ask them for local tool and material sources:
http://www.biztradeshows.com/trade-events/barcelona-jewellery-fair.html
Edit: to react to your additions: I’m sure you can find a course in Barcelone itself in Spanish. There will probably be leaflets on the show. With your background you should be able to design jewellery but I think that a basic course will be usefull to learn how to actually use silver and to make contacts. One tip: you can work with Brass to practise the techniques before using silver. Brass is much easier to find.
By the way, what kind of jewellery do you want to make? Your toolset will depend on that.
References :
Personal experience
October 31st, 2009 at 12:59 pm
try maybe a nearby craft store/bead store to try and get a class in this…it will give you the basics and hopefully get you started…if not, try a hardware store for basic tools, but for more specialized things, try http://www.firemountaingems.com or http://www.thunderbirdsupplycompany.com hope this helps*
References :
October 31st, 2009 at 1:37 pm
You can try reading links of tutorial online
post your questions and queries on forum related to your work
like this forum
http://groups.google.com/group/beads-jewellery/web/fashion-jewellery
http://groups.google.com/group/beads-jewellery/web/shopperswing-jewellery-display
you will get better answer in forum
good luck
References :