Basic Silversmithing Techniques Create Brilliance

Skilled artisans have handcrafted magnificent objects treasured for lifetimes. Silversmiths have produced decorative ornaments, lustrous jewelry, and regal dinnerware. These pieces are quite different from the mass-produced commonplace goods we use on an everyday basis. It's easy for us to admire a fine-looking piece, but knowing about the work involved in creating it makes us truly appreciate its hidden value.

To make any kind of item, a silversmith must have a variety of tools, materials, and scientific (as well as practical) knowledge. Cutting is often the technique a silversmith uses to begin a project. Since it often comes in sheets or wire, silver must be cut according to the project's scale. Both wire cutters and saws are used to get the job done. Blades differ in their thickness, blade depth, and the number of teeth they have per inch. Blades are lubricated, often with beeswax, so that the silversmith keeps a steady rhythm until the final cut is made. Saws are also used to create intricate details in trophies, utensils, and other objects.

Cutting tends to leave rough edges on the silver, so it's necessary to file the surface. Like sawblades, jeweler's files range in size. They can be half round or flat. Some are used to quickly remove any sharp edges left from cutting or after soldering. Silversmiths often use needle files to add hair-thin details to the object. Filing requires a great deal of control. No silversmith wants to rush the job only to mar the piece.

A third technique silversmiths master is shaping. Hammering is one way to shape silver. To do this, a jeweler's hammer or mallet is required. Those who have been shaping metal for a long time have a collection of these. Their heads are shaped differently and are made from materials like metal, rubber, rawhide, brass, and plastic. Some of the heads are made to strike the silver directly; others are used when material is placed between the head and the silver. Their handles come in an array of shapes, too. They make a difference when it comes to how the silversmith will control the fall of the hammer. The way a handle is shaped can also reduce the amount of fatigue felt in the user's hand. Other tools used in this technique are dapping blocks for making domed shapes and mandrels, which are used for shaping rings and bangles. Hammering silver against texturing blocks also adds interesting detail.

Soldering is another technique commonly used in silversmithing. Oftentimes, it's necessary to join together two pieces of silver. Whether detail is being added or chain links are being closed, soldering takes time to master. It does not work like glue. It is a chemical process that actually bonds together the ends of the silver. Since solder has a lower melting point than silver, the silver does not melt during the process when both are heated. Soldering requires a fireproof surface like a soldering block or kiln brick when the torch is being used. Flux is another material that's added in the process to help the solder flow. The whole process can create surface oxidation, leave a residue, and make fire scale. To clean these imperfections away, an acid solution known as a pickle is used. Cleaning the project in this manner dissolves those eyesores away. Pickling may need to be done during different steps along the way to finishing a project.

Finishing is the final technique used for a project. Additional reshaping and texturing may need to be done, and it's common for more filing and sanding to be needed. In the end, the piece is buffed either with a buffing wheel or hand cloth. To get a mirror-like finish, a jeweler's polish, called "rouge," may be applied. Other finishes achieve a patina or antique look.

When you wear handmade silver jewelry, you're not just wearing a beautiful accessory but an example of one's skill and knowledge. When you set a holiday dinner table with silverware created by a master craftsman, it's as if the artisan is with you at the table. When you display your silver cup from the golf tournament, know that it was made by someone just as dedicated to a skill as you are.