Basic Tools for Making Metal Jewelry

You'll need a variety of cutting tools to work with metal. Sometimes you'll be working with metal sheets, and sometimes you'll be working with wires of different thicknesses. You will need the right tools to cut them all.
A good pair of metal shears should be able to cut through the thin sheets of metal that you will use in your jewelry making. You'll just need to keep these sharp to make sure they keep performing year after year.
You'll also need several good pairs of metal cutters. You'll need cutters that have different head types and cutting edges. For example, you'll need a pair of cutters with a razor flush edge to eliminate any pinching on the wire, ensuring that you can make a strong connection if you are soldering or joining in another way.
Oval and taper head jewelry cutters are the most popular types of cutters, but you can also use standoff and angulated cutters to get into smaller spaces, such as to clip wires that are pulled through a tight section of beads. Cutters can also be purchased in a variety of sizes so that you are always able to get into the space, no matter the size of the bead or wire you are using.

Also known as a guillotine shear, a bench shear makes precise cuts on long sheets of metal. Think of it like a paper cutter but for metal.
A bench shear is one of the more expensive tools for jewelry making, but it can perform the work quickly and precisely, helping you save time and get better results. If you are a more advanced crafter or are considering selling your jewelry, the investment in a bench shear may be well worth it.

A jeweler's saw does the same work as a bench shear but not as quickly. The jeweler's saw is a good option if you can afford the bench shear, but know that you'll take longer to perform the same work. You'll also have to follow up your cuts by sanding the edges. Just like any other hand saw, a jeweler's saw produces some uneven edges.
The benefit of a jeweler's saw is that it allows you to do much more detail work than a bench shear. You can use it to make tiny little cuts that add detail to your work. You can buy different sized blades to meet your needs.

A lot of metal jewelry features shapes like circles and hearts, but cutting these by hand can be quite challenging. A disk punch can help you make these shapes easily.
Just put a sheet of metal into the punch and use a peg and hammer to cut the shapes. You'll get precise and beautiful cuts.
In addition to your disk punch, you might also consider getting a set of stamps. You can use the stamp and a hammer to "print" your shapes with words. This is a popular method for producing keepsake pendants and name plates, which sell quite well in online forums and at craft fairs.

Get ready to start making your own metal jewelry!