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Metals
Week Workshops
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Etching
Deborah E. Love Jemmott
June 27–July 1
Course # AAJW ØØA
One-week session
Traditionally, metal has been etched with very strong acids. This class will accomplish the same technique using salt water and a rectifier – a much safer, yet effective etchant. Salt water etching works very well and very quickly on copper and copper based alloys. This is an especially exciting technique because it is so easy to set up a system to etch at home.
A second focus of the class will be the creation of etched stainless steel plates for roller printing. You will learn how to easily etch stainless steel to create your own designs that can then be used repeatedly in the mill.
This class will take you step by step through the etching process. First, we will examine many different resists or grounds that can be used to mask areas of the metal. In addition to the traditional resists, we will work with PnP sheets, which allow any black and white image to be transferred to the metal, and then etched. This allows endless possibilities for personal designs.
The week will begin with a series of exercises using different grounds to learn the basics of etching. Once you have several etched sheets you want to work with, the class will cover soldering, making cold connections and forming techniques, as they would apply to working on etched metal.
Whether you choose to make several simple finished pieces, or create a wide variety of samples and sheets of metal to use in the future, this class will enable you to feel comfortable with the etching process.
Instruction will be given for all levels of students.
Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.
Tuition: $655
Lab fee: $45 (Includes the use of all tools, equipment, and consumables such as solder and compounds.) Students are encouraged to bring their own metal and tools – but they must be clearly marked. Some metal will be available for purchase in class.
Enrollment limited to 12 students.
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Forging Neck Collars, Pendants & Slides
Fred Zweig
June 27–July 1
Course # AAJW ØØ-B
One-week session
The first portion of this workshop will deal with forging heavy gauge rod to create a stylish and versatile neck collar. We will be learning step reduction of the rod by using the rolling mill and the use of a simple leveraging tool to manipulate the metal. The second part will deal with the design and creation of slides and pendants to be hung from the collar.
Each student will create and complete a custom forged sterling collar during the first two days and will spend the following days making slides and pendants to use with their neck collars. We will be creating a variety of bails to be used with our pendants and we’ll make pendants with integrated bails. Students will learn to make fittings to easily convert brooches into pendants.
This class will also explore the plasticity of metal under the blows of a hammer. It is important to understand the ergonomics of wielding a hammer so as not to create fatigue and stress on the arms and body. To watch the transformation of metal yielding under the force of the hammer is one of the most miraculous and freeing experiences in metalsmithing. Forging is one of the most rewarding metal processes providing direct contact with the material.
I will also be demonstrating a forging technique I call “Cheap Thrill”.
Instruction will be given for all levels of students.
Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.
Tuition: $655
Lab fee: $35 ((Includes the use of tools, equipment, and consumables such as solder and compounds.) Students are encouraged to bring their own metal and tools – and the tools must be clearly marked. Some metal will be available for purchase in class.
Enrollment limited to 12 students.
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Resin Inlay
Karen Christians
June 27–July 1
Course # AAJW ØØC
One-week session
Add color to your work! You can create textures, colors and patterns without relying on high fired enamels. By employing epoxy resin, you can add wood, bone, paint pigments and sand. Raid your kitchen cabinet for spices like turmeric and oregano. You will build a palette of amazing colors and textures to build your pieces. Resin Inlay is a fun and easy to learn technique. The variety of color and material combinations are endless.
We will fabricate jewelry based on cloisonné techniques with sterling silver wire, sheet and tubing. Emphasis on improving soldering skills will be addressed, as well as tips and tricks to enhance confidence in fabrication such as soldering onto textured metal. An added feature of this class is the introduction of using a flex shaft – learn tips and techniques for its use. You will learn how to integrate this powerful tool learning grinding, drilling, polishing and have an overview of demystifying accessories.
Students of all levels are welcome. Silver soldering experience and basic knowledge of sawing and filing is helpful to accomplish more in the class.
Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.
Tuition: $655
Lab fee: $85 (Includes a kit with resin, silver wire and sheet and other consumables.) Students are encouraged to bring their own metal and tools – but they must be clearly marked.
Enrollment limited to 12 students.
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Sculpted Bezels & Non-Traditional Stone Settings
Pauline Warg
June 27–July 1
Course #
AAJW ØØD
One-week session
This class will cover an array of unusual settings for stones. Fabrication and setting techniques will be demonstrated and demystified for jewelers of all levels. The focus will be to give students the ability to set stones of many different and unusual cuts, from large, angular and irregular cabochons to a variety of larger faceted stones. Students are encouraged to bring to class any stones that have presented difficult challenges for setting. The class will spend time problem-solving for all types of settings.
The class is designed to let every student learn each of four stone setting processes and then approach one or two that seems to address their individual needs, skills and interests. It will be possible for each student to complete a couple of different settings during the class.
Many samples of a variety of unusual settings will be shown and explained. As time allows the class will explore diverse ways by which bezels, stone settings and any work can be decorated and sculpted. There will be handouts given to students that will facilitate their ability to experiment and explore the techniques covered when they return to their owns studios.
Setting methods covered will include:
1) Sculpted bezels are settings made of sterling silver sheet which is sculpted, carved and decorated to become the structural focal point of a piece. Students will be instructed on how to measure, form and shape bezels out of sterling silver sheet 22g–16g. Time will be spent using a variety of forming pliers for precision bending and shaping to accommodate a wide range of unusually shaped faceted and cabochon stones. Use of burs to carve stone setting seats for proper fit will be covered. The structural integrity of these heavier, stronger bezels allows one to sculpt and decorate them, creating more dramatic and unique stone settings.
2) Carved and decorated simple bezels are similar to the sculpted bezel, but less complex as there is no seat for the stone. Using heavy gauge sterling sheet, students can carve and decorate the setting and then will be taught how to hammer-set stones in the heavier gauges of sterling, creating a lovely burnished edge on the bezel.
3) Non traditional prong settings are related to seated bezels yet reveal the stones better. These settings are excellent for delicate stones such as druzy quartz. They can easily accommodate irregular edges and give stones stability.
4) Non soldered settings for irregular gemstones, rocks and sea glass. Sawing and filing are the only skills needed for these settings. Beach stones, extremely thin stones, and irregularly edged stones can be set in several different ways to display them safely and to their best advantage with these settings.
Students of all levels are welcome. Silver soldering experience and basic knowledge of sawing and filing would be helpful to accomplish more in this class.
Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.
Tuition: $655
Lab fee: $45 (Includes use of instructor’s tools and supplies, handouts and some materials.) The instructor will have a variety of stones, metals and other tools for purchase during class.
Enrollment limited to 12 students.
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Trapping Found Objects
Joanna Gollberg
June 27–July 1
Course # AAJW ØØE
One-week session
This class will cover a variety of ways to trap found objects. We will discuss cold connections such as sawing tabs and a variety of forms of riveting. In addition, we will discuss making and using simple wire prongs and forming sheet metal to hold items in place.
This class will cover a variety of other techniques including layout, transferring of design, surface embellishment using simple & found tools, and the use of a variety of flex shaft attachments for decorative purposes.
Students can choose to make an assortment of samples using different techniques, or they can work with the instructor to design & make a finished project. Perhaps both!
Instruction will be given for all levels of students.
Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.
Tuition: $655
Lab fee: $45 (Includes the use of all tools, equipment, and consumables such as solder and compounds.) Students are encouraged to bring their own metal and tools – but they must be clearly marked.
Enrollment limited to 12 students.
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Tool Making & Alterations
Val Link
June 27–July 1
Course # AAJW ØØF
One-week session
Tool making has been a primary activity of man since the beginning of time. Daily existence was totally dependent on the ability of man to devise tools used in hunting, fishing, farming, building, clothing and defending human life from predators both man and beast. Our dependence on providing these tools through our ingenuity and skill for our personal use is no longer a primary necessity. The machine age has taken care of the fast reproduction of tools of every shape and description to perform almost every function imaginable. However, a very important characteristic with many mass-produced hand tools is the general lack of functional and aesthetic quality. As personal hand contact and craftsmanship becomes less, the quality of the tool and the functions it provides suffers. In my own training as a metals artist, I was taught the process of making simple tools well which gave me an appreciation and respect for the tools and a greater insight in the creative application of the tool.
The intent of this class is to introduce students to the design and creation of simple hand tools and the general function they serve. Each student will create and have to take to their own studios, a portable 2 brick tool and small object forge, a small set of chasing tools, a variety of stamping tools and others that involve the use of hot forging steel drill rod. The principle of hot forging steel will be discussed and demonstrated. With the use of the brick-forging furnace, students will experience hot forging of steel, shaping and finishing steel and hardening and tempering steel. Sample design pieces will be made utilizing the tools and stamps created. It is necessary that students enrolling in this class be familiar with basic jewelry making bench processes, sawing, filing, sanding, etc.
Instruction will be given for all levels of students.
Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.
Tuition: $655
Lab Fee: $65 (Includes bricks for forge, tool steel, the use of all tools, equipment, and consumables such as solder and compounds.) Students are encouraged to bring their own metal and tools – but they must be clearly marked. Some metal will be available for purchase in class.
Enrollment limited to 12 students.
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