Applied Stamping Techniques for Stunning Belt Buckles

The following supplies will be used for course demonstrations and objectives. A suggested item and/or vendor has been provided below for reference. Click the vendor name (in red) to be redirected to a page where you can find the item. The quantities needed for each item are listed first. If ordering, please be aware that some items may come in larger quantities than needed for this class. We recommend not opening an item's packaging until the day of the workshop. Student participation during or in-between class sessions is strongly encouraged but not required - observers are welcome.

Metal/raw materials:

• 3"x3" x silver or copper sheet - 16g (Rio Grande)

• 1"x1" x sterling silver sheet - 20g (Rio Grande)

• 5" x silver wire - 10g (Rio Grande)

• 2" x silver wire - 19g (Rio Grande)

• 1 x mineral oil - 8oz or 16oz

This workshop will be focusing on working with tool steel. 5/16" O1 tool steel is recommended, but you can also convert old W1 or O1 steel nail punches and other old steel tools (no thinner than 1/4"). 

• 3"x6" min. x sheet metal - 14g sterling silver or copper (Rio Grande)

• 3-5 x pieces of 3" tool steel - 1/4" to 5/16" thick - W1 or O1 (McMaster Carr)

Torch supplies:

• 1 x fireproof area - steel sheet, tiles, etc. (Amazon or Home Depot)

• 1 x compressed charcoal block - hard (Rio Grande)

• 1 x torch - Smith mini, Silversmith, etc. (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)

• 1 x #1 and #2 torch tip - if getting Silversmith (Rio Grande)

• 1 x striker or lighter - Silversmith system has one (Rio Grande)

• 1 x soldering tweezers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x soldering pick (Rio Grande)

• 1 x cross lock tweezers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x paste flux (Rio Grande)

• 1 x copper tongs - for pickle (Rio Grande)

• 1 x 6” silver solder - hard (Rio Grande)

• 1 x 6” silver solder - medium (Rio Grande)

• 1 x pickle - sodium bisulfate or citric acid (Rio Grande or Amazon)

• 1 x crock pot or lidded glass container (Rio Grande or Amazon)

• 1 x tempered glass container or sink - for quenching and rinsing

• 1 x small brush - for flux

Hand tools:

• 1 x flat files - #0 cut and #2 cut (Rio Grande and Rio Grande)

• 1 x parallel round file (MSC)​

• 1 x pack saw blades - 1/0 and 5/0 (Rio Grande and Rio Grande)

• 1 x hammer - 14oz-20oz - instructor uses ball peen (Rio Grande)

• 1 x steel block or anvil (Rio Grande)

• 1 x piece of Plasticine (Blick)

• 1 x bottle of mineral oil (Amazon)

• 1 x bag of vermiculite (Amazon or My Perfect Plant)

• 1 x optivisor (Rio Grande) 

• 1 x round nose pliers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x chain nose pliers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x flat nose pliers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x snips / flush cutters (Rio Grande)

• 1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)

• 1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 (Rio Grande)

• 1 x burlife / bee's wax (Rio Grande)

• 1 x bench pin (Rio Grande)

• 1 x half round hand file - #2 cut (Rio Grande)

• 1 x rotary tool - flex shaft, micro motor, etc. (Rio Grande)

• 1 x set of needle files - #2 cut (Rio Grande)

• 1 x half round forming pliers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x center punch (Rio Grande) 

• 1 x scribe (Rio Grande)

• 1 x ring clamp (Rio Grande)

• 1 x rawhide / plastic mallet (Rio Grande)

• 1 x riveting hammer (Rio Grande)

• 1 x steel block / steel surface (Rio Grande)

• 1 x small steel ruler (Rio Grande)

• 1 x sheet of sand paper - 220 to 600 grits (Amazon)

• 1 x calipers (Amazon)

• 1 x dividers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x parallel pliers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x ball peen hammer (Rio Grande)

• 1 x dapping set - steel or wood (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)

Other/miscellaneous items: 

• hard/stable work surface

• escapement files - optional

• safety glasses 

• ruler

• old files/nail setters/chisels

• fine point permanent marker 

• glass jars/containers - for oil and vermiculite