There’s something magic about getting your first set of real tools. The potential they bring makes ideas feel suddenly possible. Whether you’re shopping for an aspiring jeweler or you are that jeweler (no shame in gifting yourself), these beginner-friendly tools make the perfect entry point into metalsmithing. I’ve curated this list from both my early studio days and the tools I still reach for 10+ years later. No flashy machines, no unnecessary gadgets — just reliable, essential pieces that help build real skill and confidence at the bench.
Clockwise from the top:
Annealing Pan with Third Hand: An absolute upgrade for soldering confidence. The pan allows you to heat metal evenly while the rotating base keeps you from twisting like a contortionist. The third hand does what its name promises — holds your work steady, lifts pieces for solder flow, and makes small joins feel infinitely less chaotic. A sanity saver for beginners learning heat control.
Mitre Jig: A precision tool that saves hours of frustration. This jig holds metal square while filing, helping beginners cut perfect angles or flat surfaces for ring shanks, bezels, and box forms. Clean joins = happier solder sessions. It’s one of those tools you don’t think you need until you try it — then you wonder how you ever cut angles by eye.
Handheld Hole Punch: Think of this as a mini disc cutter — perfect for holes that are a bit too big for a drill bit. This handheld punch creates clean, round openings and small discs. It’s ideal for earrings, small charms, layered pendants, and anywhere you want a crisp circle without the setup (and price) of a full disc cutter. Surprisingly powerful, incredibly useful — a studio win.
Rawhide Mallet: Gentle shaping without marks, flattening metal, and more. Great for learning hammer control + forming metal without damage. A staple tool no one regrets owning.
Jewelry Soldering Kit with Pickle Pot: A full starter setup in one bundle. Instead of hunting down every soldering component separately, this kit gives you the torch accessories, pickle pot, and tools needed to start joining metal properly. It’s the only piece on this list above $50, and for good reason — it’s the step that turns curiosity into actual fabrication.
Steel Bench Block + Hammer Kit: The foundation of forming metal. A bench block gives you a solid surface for shaping, texturing, straightening, stamping — everything starts here. Paired with the right hammer, it becomes a powerhouse for learning how metal moves under force. It’s simple, sturdy, and one of the first tools you’ll use daily (and likely forever).
Blazer Butane Torch: The gateway to soldering. Small but mighty, perfect for learning heat control without committing to a full gas setup. It’s portable, refillable, and approachable — everything a new maker needs to start soldering rings, links, bezels and beyond. A single flame unlocks a whole world of metalwork.
Metalsmith Society's Guide to Jewelry Making Book: Like having a friendly mentor at your bench. This book is packed with beginner-friendly tips, process photos, safety guidance, and technique walkthroughs that feel both accessible and inspiring. It’s a reference new jewelers return to again and again — especially while learning terminology and workflow.
These tools are the kind that grow with you — not the kind you outgrow. If you’re gifting a new jeweler (or treating yourself), these Bench Picks build a solid foundation without blowing a budget. One or two tools spark curiosity… a few of them together spark skill.