• Special tools help goldsmiths create gold jewelry.Gold jewelry set image by lune from Fotolia.com
  
  A goldsmith is a person who works with precious metals, such as gold, to form jewelry, flatware and decorative items. Goldsmithing dates to medieval times, when goldsmiths were organized by trade guilds and trained by apprenticeship. Today, goldsmith training is provided at many schools in special courses. To practice goldsmithing, a variety of tools are required to create objects of gold.
  
  

Soldering and Casting Tools

• Several tools are needed to melt the gold to solder or cast for making and repairing gold items. A torch melts the gold or gold solder. A casting machine creates casts to make gold rings and items. The casting machine creates a wax form that's filled with melted gold to create an item. Use safety goggles, air respirators and gloves when soldering and handling melted gold..
  
  

Hammers and Pliers

• A goldsmith needs a few pliers, such box joint, flat, chain nose, long-beaked and wide-beaked, to work with gold. A basic bench hammer is also handy, as it can be used with round, flat and bevelled engraving tools.
  
  

Polishing and Other Tools

• A silicon carbon sanding disk is a necessary tool for scoring and bending the gold. Hand files and cutters help file and cut the piece of gold into a desired size. Buffs, brushes and brass and nickel brushes polish the gold to a shiny finish. A 10X power loupe--a small magnifying glass-- is also helpful.