Artisans who create hand-made silver items, like jewelry and household articles, are called silversmiths. The tools and techniques used by silversmiths are virtually identical to those used hundreds of years ago.
Basic silversmith tools include:
* Work bench with vice
* Hearth with charcoal and bellows
* Diluted sulphuric acid
* A steady working block
* Wire-making draw-plate
* Water source with drain board
* Anvil heads and hammers of various sizes
* Tools for cleaning, drilling, engraving, filing, sawing, polishing and burnishing
Parts used for making silver items are joined to one another using solder or rivets. These parts are usually created by one of two common techniques. Cast silver is made by melting silver and pouring it into molds of the desired shape. Hammers of various sizes are used to make “raised” silver items, by beating cold silver with hammers of decreasing size until the desired effects have been achieved. Other less common silver working techniques are engraving, die-stamping, spinning and chasing. Items may undergo additional decoration after assembly.
