The Bench Journal

Soldering station setup for a UK home workshop
Soldering station setup for a UK home workshop — ventilation, fire safety, kit layout
Setting up a safe and efficient soldering station at home is crucial for UK jewellers and silversmiths. This guide covers essential ventilation, fire safety, and kit organisation… Read more...
Choosing a benchtop drill press for jewellery
Choosing a benchtop drill press for jewellery — small but accurate
A benchtop drill press is a small but mighty tool for jewellers needing repeatable accuracy. Learn what specs truly matter to ensure precise hole placement on your precious metals. Read more...
Stamping vs engraving your maker's mark
Stamping vs engraving your maker's mark — which to use
Choosing how to mark your work is crucial for registration and brand identity. This guide explores stamping, engraving, and laser options to help UK silversmiths make informed… Read more...
Wax carving for ring making
Wax carving for ring making — tools and method
Mastering wax carving for ring making unlocks a world of design possibilities for lost-wax casting. Learn the essential tools and techniques to bring your visions to life. Read more...
Anvil care
Anvil care — keeping your bench surface rust-free in a UK workshop
Protect your anvil's working surface from the UK's persistent humidity with a practical, consistent care routine. Learn how to prevent rust and maintain its integrity for years of… Read more...
Sawing tight curves in silver sheet
Sawing tight curves in silver sheet — blade choice + bench technique
Mastering tight curves in silver sheet with a piercing saw demands precision in blade choice and bench technique. Achieve accurate fine cuts and intricate designs consistently. Read more...
Filing technique
Filing technique — clean edges every time
Mastering filing techniques ensures clean edges on all your jewellery projects, leading to a professional finish. Learn how to achieve crisp lines and smooth surfaces consistently. Read more...
Riveting cold connections
Riveting cold connections — joining without solder
Discover the art of riveting for strong, solder-free joins, ideal for mixed metals and intricate designs. Master this versatile technique for durable, aesthetically pleasing cold… Read more...
Hallmarking your work at the Birmingham Assay Office
Hallmarking your work at the Birmingham Assay Office — what to expect
Hallmarking your silver work at the Birmingham Assay Office is a legal necessity for commercial sales, so understand the process from registration to return. Ensure compliance and… Read more...
Engraving tools
Engraving tools — burins and gravers for working jewellers
Mastering hand engraving with burins and gravers unlocks intricate detailing for jewellers. This guide focuses on selecting, sharpening, and using your first engraving tools for… Read more...
Loupes for jewellers
Loupes for jewellers — 10x, 20x or 30x and when to use each
Choosing the right jeweller's loupe is fundamental for detailed work, impacting accuracy and efficiency, from initial stone assessment to final finishing touches. Magnification… Read more...
Polishing jewellery
Polishing jewellery — a working buff, mop and compound guide
Mastering the mirror finish on silver requires a systematic approach to buffing compounds and mops, ensuring a professional, showroom-ready gleam. This guide demystifies the… Read more...
A banded agate cabochon being set into a fine silver bezel on a ring
Bezel setting for beginners: tools and step-by-step
A bezel is the friendliest way into stone setting: a wall of metal that wraps around a cabochon and gets pushed over its edge to hold it. No claws to... Read more...
How to make jump rings at home
How to make jump rings at home — bench technique that scales
Mastering jump ring creation at home offers bench jewellers unparalleled control over their work, enabling consistent, precise components for any project. This guide details… Read more...
Pickle bath setup for sterling silver
Pickle bath setup for sterling silver — what works, what to avoid
Mastering the post-solder pickle bath is crucial for a clean sterling silver finish. Learn the essential setup for safety and efficiency. Avoid common pitfalls that can damage… Read more...
Best soldering torch for UK jewellers
Best soldering torch for UK jewellers: butane, propane, oxy/gas
Choosing the right soldering torch is crucial for UK jewellers, impacting efficiency and success. This guide breaks down butane, propane, and oxy/gas options to help you select… Read more...
A selection of five budget-friendly jeweller's hammers arranged neatly on a worn wooden bench block.
The best jeweller's hammers under £30 — UK picks for 2026
Spend any time in a shared workshop, from the Birmingham School of Jewellery to a co-op in Hatton Garden, and you'll see two types of tools: treasured heirlooms and cheap… Read more...
A tapered round ring mandrel and a stepped bracelet mandrel lying side-by-side on a worn wooden bench.
Round mandrel vs stepped mandrel: which to buy first
Walk into any working jeweller's studio, from a small setup in a spare room to a bustling workshop in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, and you'll find a mandrel. It's as… Read more...
A jeweller's workbench with a steel disc cutter set, brass hammer, and silver sheet metal.
Disc cutters explained: a practical guide
There comes a point in every jeweller's journey when sawing out a perfect circle becomes a chore. You can get close with a 2/0 blade and a steady hand, but... Read more...
A selection of essential wax carving tools arranged neatly on a wooden bench pin.
Wax carving tools: how to choose your first set
There's a unique freedom in wax carving. It’s a quiet, sculptural process that allows you to create forms—flowing, organic, complex—that are a real struggle to fabricate directly… Read more...
Close-up of a perfectly clean, unpitted silver solder seam on a sterling silver ring shank, torch in soft focus in the background.
How to solder sterling silver without pitting
We’ve all been there. You’ve spent hours filing a perfect joint, you’ve set up your piece with care, and you bring the torch to the metal. The solder flows… but... Read more...
A jeweller's pitch bowl with a piece of silver being worked with a chasing hammer and punch.
Repoussé and chasing: a beginner's bench guide
There are few techniques that feel as ancient or as transformative as coaxing a three-dimensional form from a flat sheet of metal. It feels like alchemy. But the process of… Read more...
A selection of textured silver samples on a dark jeweller's bench, lit from the side to show detail.
How to texture silver: 8 methods at the bench
The surface of a piece of silver is a canvas. A high polish is one option, certainly, but it’s far from the only one. Texture adds depth, character, and a... Read more...
A neatly arranged canvas tool roll on a wooden jeweller's bench, showing pliers, files, and a saw frame.
Jewellery school kit: what to actually bring on day one
You’ve got your place. The letter has landed, you’ve sorted your accommodation, and now a list of required materials has probably arrived from the college. It’s an exciting,… Read more...