Toolsmith guides

UK buying guides and technique walk-throughs for precision tool trades

Practical, bench-tested guides for UK jewellers, silversmiths, watchmakers, dental lab technicians, farriers and veterinary professionals. Every article is written by someone who actually uses the tools it covers — no affiliate-link listicles, no padded word counts, no recycled marketing copy.

Most guides focus on the same three things: what to buy, in what order, at what realistic UK price in 2026. Others cover technique that isn't well-documented elsewhere — like how to hold a hammer properly, how to replace a watch spring bar, or how each dental wax carver tip geometry actually differs from the one next to it in the kit. For the tools themselves, see our main Toolsmith catalogue or jump straight to Jewellery Making, Watch & Clock, Dental, Farrier & Veterinary or Surgical.

New guides added regularly. UK warehoused · same-day dispatch before 2pm · free UK delivery · 30-day returns.

Toolsmith Guides

Dental Burs for Lab Technicians: Carbide vs Diamond vs Tungsten (UK Guide)
|16 min read
Carbide for the bulk cuts. Diamond for the porcelain. Tungsten for the chrome. A UK dental lab technician's guide to bur material, shape, shank and the brands worth stocking. Read more...
Watchmaker Tweezers: AA, 3C, 5 — Anti-Magnetic, Brass & Carbon (UK Buying Guide)
|15 min read
AA for hairsprings. 3C for jewels. Number 5 for the bench. Brass for steel parts. Anti-magnetic carbon for balance work. A UK watchmaker's tweezer set is five tools — never... Read more...
Chasing, Repoussé & Forming Hammers: A UK Silversmith's Hammer Library
|14 min read
Chasing pushes detail in. Repoussé pushes it out. Raising lifts a hollow form. Planishing smooths a surface. A UK silversmith's library starts at five hammers and finishes at fifteen. Read more...
Goldsmith's Soldering: Yellow, White & Rose Gold Without Pitting (UK Bench Guide)
|17 min read
Silver solders one way. Gold solders three. 9ct yellow, 18ct white and 14ct rose each need different solder grades, different fluxes and different torch heat. A UK bench guide to... Read more...
Pavé, Channel, Flush & Gypsy: A UK Jeweller's Stone-Setting Techniques Guide
|16 min read
Pavé glitters. Channel locks. Flush sits clean. Gypsy hides — and each technique needs different burs, gravers and pressure. The UK bench jeweller's sequel to our bezel-vs-prong guide. Read more...
Burs for Jewellery Making: Hart, Bud, Cup, Ball & Wheel Burs Explained (UK Guide)
|15 min read
Hart, bud, cup, ball, wheel, setting and reverse cone burs — what each shape actually cuts, why Busch and Edenta dominate the trade, and which six burs sit at the... Read more...
Hand Gravers for UK Bench Jewellers: A First-Buy and Sharpening Guide
|15 min read
Onglette, flat, knife, round and square gravers — what each one cuts, which to buy first, how to sharpen, and where the £8 Indian set falls short of the £40... Read more...
A Farrier's Guide to Hoof Knives: Curved, Loop & Inside
|12 min read
A practical UK buying guide for farriers choosing a hoof knife, covering blade types, handles, steel, sharpening, and when to upgrade your kit. Read more...
Dental Lab Sterilisation: A UK Practice Guide
|11 min read
A complete guide to dental lab sterilisation workflows in the UK, covering HTM 01-05, instrument processing, cycle types, and GDC compliance. Read more...
UK College Jewellery Tool Orders: A Trade Account Guide
|10 min read
A practical guide for UK college staff on setting up a trade account, managing bulk tool orders, standardising kit lists, and handling VAT for jewellery courses. Read more...
Lino & Block Printing Tools: A UK Buying Guide
|12 min read
Our expert guide to lino and block printing tools for UK makers, covering cutters, blocks, inks, and papers to help you buy the right kit first time. Read more...
Bezel vs Prong: A Stone-Setting Guide for UK Jewellers
|11 min read
Learn the difference between bezel and prong settings, the tools you need, and the step-by-step process for setting stones securely as a UK apprentice. Read more...
Nail Drill Bits Explained: A Guide for UK Nail Techs
|11 min read
A practical guide for UK nail technicians on choosing the right e-file bits, covering diamond, carbide, and ceramic materials, shapes, grits, and safety. Read more...
Watch Demagnetisers: A UK Guide to Buying and Using One
|12 min read
Learn why your mechanical watch runs fast, how to test for magnetism, and the correct way to use a demagnetiser with our plain-English UK guide for professionals. Read more...
Bench Fire Safety: A UK Silversmith's Essential Guide
|10 min read
Master essential fire safety for your UK jewellery workshop. Our guide covers torches, gas storage, extinguishers, and insurance for professional practice. Read more...
Your First Vet Surgery Kit: 12 Essential Instruments
|12 min read
A practical guide for new UK small-animal vets on selecting 12 core surgical instruments, from scissors and forceps to needle holders and retractors. Read more...
How to Sharpen Damascus Knives with Whetstones
|13 min read
A step-by-step guide for UK professionals on sharpening Damascus steel knives using whetstones, selecting angles, and when to use a pro service. Read more...
Aquascaping Tools: A UK Guide to Curved Scissors, Tweezers and Substrate Care
|10 min read
Trimming carpet plants, planting stems through 7cm of substrate, removing dying leaves without disturbing the scape — three jobs, three different tools. UK aquascaper's guide to choosing the right kit. Read more...
Filing Like a Pro: A UK Bench Jeweller's Guide to Hand Files
|11 min read
Cut grade, profile shape, length and handle — the four file decisions that quietly separate finished work from a bench full of compromises. UK bench-jeweller guide to filing technique. Read more...
Disc Cutters for Jewellery: A UK Buyer's Guide to Round, Heart, Oval and Multi-Shape Sets
|11 min read
Disc cutters slice clean blanks from sheet metal in seconds — but only if you buy the right set and use it correctly. UK guide to round, heart, oval and... Read more...
Bench Blocks for Silversmiths: Rubber vs Steel (UK Guide)
|10 min read
Rubber bench block, steel bench block, or both? UK silversmiths explain the trade-offs that cost cheap blocks their reputation, and what each block actually changes about your stamps, dings, and... Read more...
Doming & Dapping: A UK Jeweller's Guide to Steel Punches and Forming Blocks
|9 min read
Practical UK guide to doming and dapping at the bench: which punch set to buy first, why a heavy steel dapping block earns its keep, and the brass-mallet rule that... Read more...
Charcoal Blocks for Soldering: A Jeweller's Guide
|12 min read
Learn why charcoal is a preferred soldering surface for jewellers, how to choose a block, and how it compares to Solderite, magnesia, and firebrick. Read more...
Metal Punch Stamps: A UK Maker's Guide
|11 min read
A comprehensive UK guide for jewellers and makers on selecting and using metal punch stamps, covering types, steel hardness, technique, and hallmarking. Read more...