How we review
Every guide tells you exactly what its recommendations are based on. This page explains our three review labels and the process behind them.
Last updated
Our three review labels
Each buying guide, comparison and review shows one of these labels near the top of the page. The label describes the strongest basis for the page — never more than we actually did.
Hands-on Review
The editor owns or has personally used the product covered here. Observations come from that use and are stated as such.
We use this label only when the editor owns the product or has personally used it for real bench work. The article describes how and for how long it was used. Hands-on observations are clearly separated from information taken from manufacturer documentation or other sources.
Tested Comparison
Every product compared here was physically tested by us. Where we could not test something, we say so.
We use this label only when multiple products have genuinely been physically tested, using the same tasks and materials where practical. If a comparison includes products we could not test, they are identified individually.
Research-Based Buying Guide
We have not personally used every product in this guide. Recommendations are based on specifications, manufacturer documentation, specialist references and owner experiences.
Research-based guides are useful when a category contains expensive machines that no single workshop could own at once. They are written to help you narrow a choice and understand trade-offs, not to claim test results.
What we never do
- Imply physical testing that did not happen.
- Publish star ratings, scores or "tested" badges.
- Display Amazon customer ratings or scraped retailer data.
- Hard-code prices. We use relative price tiers and send you to the retailer for current pricing.
- Accept payment for inclusion, placement or a favourable description.
How we select products
We start from the job the tool needs to do, then build a shortlist using:
- manufacturer specifications and documentation;
- specialist supplier catalogs and technical references;
- the range of prices and configurations a home jeweler or small studio would realistically consider;
- owner experiences from specialist communities, weighed for consistency rather than volume;
- availability, support and replacement parts.
Whether a product has an affiliate program plays no part in selection. Some products we recommend are not sold through any affiliate program.
How we choose sources
We prefer primary and specialist sources, in roughly this order:
- Manufacturer documentation, manuals and published specifications.
- Established reference books and trade training material on jewelry making and metalsmithing.
- Specialist suppliers' technical catalogs.
- Experienced practitioners and specialist community archives.
Retailer listings are used to confirm availability, not as a source of specifications. Sources are listed at the end of each guide.
Price tiers
Prices change constantly, so we show a tier instead of a number. Tiers are relative within a tool category — a "$" rolling mill costs far more than a "$" saw frame.
- $ — Budget
- $$ — Mid-range
- $$$ — Upper mid-range
- $$$$ — Professional
Last verified dates
Articles and product records carry a "last verified" date showing when details were last checked against the manufacturer or retailer. Records that have not been checked are marked "Not yet verified". Pages still awaiting research are labelled as editorial placeholders and kept out of search engine indexes.
Updates
We revisit buying guides when products are discontinued, replaced or materially changed, and when better sources become available. The "updated" date reflects meaningful editorial changes, not cosmetic edits.
Corrections
If you find an error, email [email protected]. Material corrections are made promptly and noted on the page. See our corrections policy.
Affiliate relationships
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Retailer links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. They are marked as sponsored links in the page code, and commission never affects which products we include or how we describe them. Full details are in the affiliate disclosure.