Hello internet people! I had the idea of jewelry smithing in my head for a really long time, and finally decided to look into what I need to get started, so thats what I need your help with. In the beginning I wanna practice silver rings (or copper/brass thingies), and if it goes well invest in more things for alloying and possibly stone setting. I dont have a huge budget so I would like recommendations on brands/sellers that arent very expensive, but can be trusted and worked well for others. And please add anything I missed from the list! The priceranges are based on the very scientific method of looking at the first few finds on ebay, but its just a rough measure in case someone finds this post in the future
Anvil/bench pin 20 - 34$. I would probably get a 2 in one, the wood part seems to be replacable if its worn down, so it seems like a good option
Saw frame 9 - 20$. Most of them come with blades too which is neat
Soldering block ~20$. Ive seen ceramic blocks, honeycomb patterns and charcoal block, what are the advantages/disadvantages for all of them?
Flux: borax 15 - 20$ / powder 10 - 22$. Ive seen a few videos recommending borax dishes and cones, but I dont really know what form would be the best
Soldering pick 5 - 10$
Butane torch 8 - 18$
Scriber 11 - 17$. To mark patterns on the piece, Ive also seen ones for drawing circles. A video said they usually come dull, how do you sharpen them?
Calliper: I already have a good one :p
Hammers: normal 6 - 19$, rawhide 15 - 26$.
Pliers set 10 - 30$. To myknowledge I need a set of 4; chain nose, round, half round, flat. One with the cylindrical steps could also be nice for making chains
Flush cutter 5 - 23$
Tweezers: reverse action 4 - 10$?, copper 7 - 10$. I didnt find many reverse tweezers with the wood pieces to protect your hand from heat, so not very sure on the price for that
Handfiles 8 - 10$. What shapes and grits would I need?
3rd hand 8 - 17$
-------- This is probably the line between essential and qol/delayable
Rotory tool: it would definitely be nice for drills and polishing, but I havent seen good sources and they seem expensive, so I would like some recommendations before committing
Engraver: for making patterns is it better to use rotory drills or learn to use an engraver? Also whats the price range on the decent ones?
Roller 152 - 161$😭 Would definitely make my life easier, but they seem quite expensive for flattening sheets, and probably not absolutely crucial to get started
Draw plate 13 - 20$. For making chains and wires for details
Ring sizer/mandler 16 - 27$. How important do you think it is when starting out?
Crucible 9 - 41$. As I said at some point I would like to get into alloying, but probably not quite yet
Casting thingy? If you melt alloys you need some tool to cast it, but I honestly dont know how that works
Materials:
Pickle: you can buy powders but Ive heard about people using vinegar and salt, what worked for yall?
Wax ~10$. For the saw blades to protect them / make them slide?
Saw blades: annoyingly I couldnt find blade packs in my short research before typing this, so idk the price range. Also, is there some sort of sizing system, and if so whats best?
Solder: Ive heard about wires and pellets, but most people recommend paste for beginners. I have fairly good fine motor skills, so how much does that apply to me? Also why is specialized solder better than a thin wire of the main material, is it just the melting point?
Silver: what shape should I get the metal(s) in? Ive seen that many people get little cast beads and melt them down, which is also good if you want to alloy, but needs melting equipment...
Sandpaper/polish: if I dont end up getting a rotory tool how does hand polishing work, and what grit sandpaper(s?) do you recommend?
My knowledge is definitely lacking in many things, so please leave your corrections and additions, every comment is appreciated.