• Silver sheet can be cut to make intricate jewelry pieces.bracelet m??tal et pierre 3 image by Georges Lievre from Fotolia.com
  
  Sterling silver is an alloy used by jewelers and metalsmiths to create works of art and household items. It is more commonly available in the form of wire and sheet. Sheet metal offers an affordable alternative to wax casting and can be worked in many ways. When working with silver sheet, it is important to use the correct tools to prevent mishaps in your design and to minimize waste.
  
  

Jeweler's Saw

• The jeweler's saw is used for cutting intricate patterns into silver sheet. This is a manual saw and consists of a frame with attachable saw blades. The saw blades are available in different sizes you can use depending on the gauge of the sheet you are working. The blades can break easily but are inexpensive to replace, and you can prevent breakage by using a slow, gentile sawing motion.
  
  

Metal Shears

• Metal shears, or tin snips, are similar to scissors and are designed specifically to cut metal. This tool can be used to cut straight lines and basic patterns into your silver sheet. Shears may leave a rough edge in your sheet, which can be remedied with hammering and filing.
  
  

Disc Cutter

• Use a disc cutter to punch circles of various sizes. This tool is useful if you need to cut out a perfect circle from your sheet. It is a manual tool that requires some strength and a good hammer.