4 Day Introduction to Metalsmithing

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Morning Day One:

Project: The day will begin with a brief introduction to general metal and jewelry terminology, Students will start on making 2 pair of simple pieced earrings and learn tool usage and safety.

Techniques: Sawing a simple circle out of copper and learning to how use tools to turn the flat piece of metal into stylish and contemporary earrings. This will be approximately 4.5 hours.

Metals: 4x4 inch piece of 20 gauge copper

Afternoon Day One:

Introduction to Soldering (Brazing)

The afternoon  is mostly demonstrations  and lecture, introduction to soldering, torch terminology and tools. Torch safety will be emphasized. Students will work with the metal and texturing of the metal will be demoed and students will texture the wire for stacking rings. Student leaves with 2 pair of finished earrings and metal textured for the next day.

Morning Day Two:

The students will learn to measure their wire to the correct size, learn to file a perfectly flat end to the wire and will solder their rings together. Students will texture flat wire for bracelet.

Approx 3 hours.

Metals: 10 inches of 8 gauge round sterling wire, 12 inches of 1x2mm flat wire

Afternoon Day Two:

Finishing, polishing texturing and patina again will be demoed and discussed.

Additional rings can be made and a bangle bracelet. Students wishing to make additional bracelets and rings will need to purchase additional metal.

Students leave with 3 rings and a bangle bracelet, ready to wear or sell.

Day Three:

Pierced Piece, Necklace

Students will work with me on design (Design basics lecture before this starts.) Students will take much of the day working on designs, learning piercing, filing, sanding and finishing textures. Design and placement of bails will be stressed. Several different finishing techniques will be demoed and student will be familiar with these by the end of the day.

Metals: 2x3 inch 20g sterling

Day Four:

Students will continue with design of their pierced piece and finish their piece. If there is time left over before the end of the day, students may repeat any pieces they feel comfortable with need help with and have extra metal for adjustments.