Metalsmithing For Beginners: Basic Metalworking Files & Techniques

Build out your workbench step by step… Welcome back to our series of blogs exploring beginner jewellery making tools and the techniques you need to develop in order to become a pro-jewellery maker. In the last installment we looked at the 12 metal forming tools you need as a beginner. This installment is all about filing tools and techniques. Tools for cutting and filing metal will become a vital part of your jewellery making tool kit as you progress in more complex projects. It is important to get to grips with filing metal edges and varying metalworking files as a beginner metalsmith, as this will give you the groundwork you need to build up your repertoire and move onto investing in more mechanised processes in your studio. Here are the basic metalworking files you’ll need when starting out as well as some handy tips to help you develop your filing technique. Which set of jewellers’ files do you need? When dealing with the cutting and soldering of sheet metal, you’re inevitably going to need a set of files that will help you to create a refined and professional finish. As a beginner you’ll want to make an investment in the following jewellers’ files: 5-6 pre-selected needle file set – all the varying file profiles you’ll need for basic tasks. Flat course file – to remove excess material from your sheet or metal pieces. Half round, medium cut file – an excellent multi-purpose file with a flat cutting face and a convex cutting face. There’s no need to buy any more files at this stage in your metalsmithing career as the multitude of options can get confusing. Use your course flat file to power through straight edge filing jobs. Keep your half round, medium cut file for curved pieces that need a little more care and attention. Finally, use your set of needle files for more intricate filing work as these will be much smaller than your standard flat and half round files. As a beginner, ordering a needle file set with a round, pillar, half round, square, triangular, and barette needle file will give you all the shapes necessary at this stage in your metalsmithing journey. Did you know? The cut of metalworking files refers to the arrangement of the teeth and subsequently the amount of metal that the file will remove. Metal cutting files range in cut with 0 being the coarsest, and 6 being the finest. A 0 jeweller’s file will remove the largest amount of material while the finest cut will remove less material. However a finer cut also means that it is less likely that you will damage the precious metal you’re working with. As a beginner, using a file that features a medium cut (2-3) will remove excess metal efficiently enough while reducing the risk of major marks and scratches. Filing metal techniques for beginners Skilled filing is a jewellery maker’s task that should be worked on constantly to master straight lines, curved edges and a professional finish. Conquering all filing techniques takes time and a lot of practice, so here are some basic filing tips to help you get started. Set up a comfortable seating position for filing Setting up the right seating position at your workbench before you begin filing sheet metal is important. If your seat is set too high or too low the way in which your arm is positioned will affect the angle of the file, and subsequently affect how straight the line is that you’re filing. Long consistent strokes are key The teeth of a flat file are cut in one direction only. This means that using a sawing action with your file will not be of any benefit to you. It will instead blunt your file and potentially damage the precious metal piece that you’re working on. Use long consistent strokes that move away from you, working with the direction of the file’s teeth. Mark your metal for a guideline Use a scriber and a steel square to mark a perfect straight line in your sheet metal before you start filing. That way you have a clear steer on the straightness of your work as you file. It will also act as a clear indicator that you may be applying too much pressure in one direction, allowing you to correct yourself as you work. Check your progress often Whether you’re a beginner metalsmith or you’ve been working with precious metal for years, it’s important to get into the habit of checking your progress as you file as often as possible. This means there is less chance of wasting excess material as you file to correct an error, and it also means that you can more easily identify where your current technique needs work. Regularly clean your files Using a steel bristled brush, make sure you regularly clean your files. This will keep your files in the best shape possible, removing any debris that’s clogged in the teeth of your file, helping you to work more efficiently on your current project. Purchase a handle that works for you With many metal cutting files, you’ll find that you have to purchase a handle separately. This means that you can buy a handle that you find comfortable. Whether it’s a wooden handle or a rubber handle, make sure you find a fit that works for you. Want to learn more about stocking up your workbench with the necessary tools to succeed as a jewellery maker? Use our Beginners’ Guide to Jewellery Making Tools for a complete list of all the recommended tools you’ll need for your workbench, and visit Cooksongold for all the silversmithing supplies you require.

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