My Guide to Handmade Jewelry

Over the years of making jewelry, I have tested a lot of tools and supplies - some amazing, some... not so much. So, I have created this page: a collection of the pieces I genuinely use and love at my bench. If you're learning, experimenting, or just curious about my process, this is a great place to start:

Here are ALL my tools in once place: My Amazon Storefront

Some links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). I only share things I actually use in my own studio.

PART 1: Safety Gear

I want you to stay safe while you create. Jewelry making involves heat, dust, and chemicals, so protecting your eyes and lungs are essential to keep you healthy and creating for a long time. These are the safety essentials I use at my bench.

  • Safety Glasses
  • Respirator / Mask
  • Fume Extractor 
  • Finger Protection

PART 2: Tools

These are the core tools that I began with and continue to reach for again and again. You don't need everything at once - so start simple, learn as you go, and build from there. I start the list with most essential and as we go down, you'll see tools that are needed for specific types of jewelry.

  • Flex Shaft - also highly recommend Dremel. It's the most hardy and affordable. 
  • Butane Torch - highly recommend Dremel 
  • Flux (Chemical or Borax Cone)
  • Heat-Resistant Surface 
  • Solder Pick(s)
  • Metal Shears
  • Metal Files
  • Bezel Pusher
  • Sanding and Polishing Bits/Wheels
  • Pliers (Needle nose, flat, etc)
  • Third Hand tool
  • Ring Mandrel
  • Ring Clamp
  • Ring Sizer
  • Tumbler
  • Steel Shot
  • Pickle
  • Ultrasonic 

PART 3: Materials and Findings

These are the metals and components that actually become the jewelry. For quality and consistency, I source my metal and findings from professional suppliers rather than Amazon.

  • Silver Sheet
  • Silver Wire
  • Bezel Strip (gauge vs width)
  • Solder (easy, medium and hard)
  • Jumprings
  • Chain

 

Think of this as a peek into my studio set-up. I share my techniques and process openly, so if you'd like to keep learning, you can find free videos and behind-the-scenes moments on my TikTok and socials (@CheyenneAutumnJewelry)!