What tools are available in your local 'HARDWARE STORE' ? => 20 photos

 Instead of going online for some basic jewellery tools, I HAVE ANOTHER SOURCE OF TOOLS FOR EVERYONE.

 I often frequent my local hardware store near where I live in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada. The owner has greatly helped me in the past in locating many 'specialty tools' for gemstone setting.

 (In our bi-lingual country of Canada, we have "FRENCH & ENGLISH", all of the packaging are in two languages.)

 (I'm not going to give prices in this essay, but these 'non jewellery' suppliers costs are just truly fantastic).

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 These 'needle files' can be used without any hesitation in our profession. They even have their own handle, WOW, eh? 

 I took a close-up photo of these files, I'd use them without any second thought.

 The nice thing about these files is that they all came with handles. There is no need to spend more money looking for handles when they are all attached to the tools.

 Upon looking at these emery burs, the little problem is the diameter of the burs. I suggest a separate 'adjustable, handpiece' to accommodate the larger diameter.

If a non-jewellery craftsperson can buy these sheets of emery papers, why can't we?

 These 'plastic and softer-bristle' file cleaners are just what I was looking for. Instead of buying one brush at a time, these three brushes came ALL IN ONE CONTAINER.

 These 'paper emery sheets' even have their own 'grit' displayed. No more guessing, "what is the grit"?

 Be always on the look-out for something that might be of use 'now, or later'. If you are searching for that one specific tool, then its there waiting to be used. Never say "I don't need it now".

Interesting assortment of screwdrivers? You are truly investing in 'your future of tools' at your bench.

 If you need a smaller coarse file, I'm sure that they will be made for 'us'.

 These are basically tooth-brushes for the average user, not for 'us'. We could use them to brush away any remaining 'shards of metal' while we are cleaning our delicate projects.

 If you are using silver, gold, platinum or even waxes. It is 'best' to keep these brushes separate and not to contaminate the brushes to each metal.

 I knew of a 'ring polisher' who kept all of his cloth-polishing wheels separate from each metal. His selection even went into 10kt, 14kt and 18kt gold especially polishing his Platinum jewellery.

 He would go 'totally ballistic' if someone mixed his polishing wheels without telling him. I heard his yelling one day. Contamination of metals even on cloth polishing wheels is totally forbidden.

 Supposing that you need to cut a metal tube, why would you use a saw-blade? The best route to use is this 'metal-tube' cutter that would cost you the equivalent of 'two cups of coffee'.

 These coarse files are great if you are using them for wax carving.

  I used these files for larger wax patterns and there is still wax-residue still in the file.

 I kept much of the wax still in the file just to prove that I used them and not just writing about it.

 Remember, these large files were bought in a "Dollar (hardware) Store" and not from any 'brand-name' tool supplier.

 These little rotary emery wheels were a part of a "DREMEL" tool package.

 What a vast display of mini-emery burs and at a 'cost saving experience'? All it took was a bit of 'looking' and researching into other 'tool avenues'.

 This plastic tray gave me a whole new appreciation of not staying within the realm of the brand name tool suppliers that 'we all know'. 

When I first saw this tray and its emery burs, I was truly excited over 'this discovery'.

"WHY PAY RETAIL, WHEN YOU CAN BUY THE SAME WITHOUT EMPTYING YOUR WALLET?"