How to Cut Silver

Things You'll Need

Jewelry saw
Drill with small drill bit
Traced pattern, if applicable
Rubber cement, if applicable
Straight edge, if applicable

You can cut intricate patterns in silver with a jewelry saw.

There are a variey of ways to cut silver. Ingots are cut using metal cutting band saws, while large pieces are cut using metal cutting reciprocating saws. While both of these methods work for cutting larger bulk pieces of silver, cutting smaller pieces requires a different type of saw. Smaller pieces are mainly used for making jewelry and the best way to cut silver in this instance is with a jewelry saw.

Step 1

Design a piece of jewelry and trace the design onto a piece of paper, if applicable to your situation. Glue the traced design onto a piece of silver with rubber cement. If you just want to make a clean and precise straight cut on a piece of silver, draw a line across the piece with a straight edge.

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Step 2

Drill a small hole where you want to begin cutting the silver, if this is to be done on a specific pattern. The hole diameter must be larger than the width of the jewelry saw blade. Remove the saw blade from the saw by unscrewing the blade holder on the saw handle. Slide the saw blade through the hole, then re-attach it to the saw handle. For correct cutting, make sure the teeth are pointing back in the direction of the handle.

Step 3

Place the toothed side of the saw blade against the silver piece as close to the handle as possible. Gently pull the saw towards you while maintaining slight pressure where the blade meets the silver. This will be your first cut. Keep contact with the silver piece and push the saw back down to the starting position, then draw the blade towards you again. Continue doing this until the cut is complete.

Tip

Always hold the piece of silver firmly on a bench or a table when cutting. Smaller pieces are held in place with a jewelers bench pin, while larger flat pieces are held in place with c-clamps. A jeweler's saw always cuts when pulling the blade towards you, so adjust your technique and posture for best results.

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