I will teach my way of silversmithing, including using nothing but "hard" solder, spraying on flux, seldom using a jeweler's saw, and never using rouge to polish silver--to mention just a few.
Every aspect and technique of silversmithing for jewelry making that a beginner needs to know will be taught during this class. It will be taught as if each member wants to become a professional silversmith. This means that whether you wish to do it as a
hobby, or pursue it as a career, you will have the knowledge necessary to be a successful silversmith.
To view samples of my students work, please go either here:
or here
For this fee each member will receive the following for Fourteen (14) weeks:
1. One lesson per week emailed to your personal email address. Each lesson is described below. The photos will be included with these emails via click on links. A secret location on my site will also be given to you to view or copy the photos as you wish.
2. Membership in an email list set up only for students of this class for the purpose of discussing the class and questions every member of the class has. It, of course, is a moderated list where no question will be considered stupid or too simple and will be answered thoroughly. If more photos are needed because of these questions they will be added to the site.
3. My personal help via email or by phone.
4. My guarantee that you will successfully complete the pendant and love it for its beauty.
You will have to purchase some tools, supplies, silver, and equipment to complete this class. I will supply you with a list during the first class, and several mail order suppliers where they can be obtained. If you have no tools, supplies, silver,
or equipment at all, the cost of all these will only be about another $150.00. Yes, that is all it should cost for the tools supplies, and equipment that you really need to do silversmithing.
Lessons
Week 1: Tools and equipment needed for silversmithing.
Week 2: Supplies, chemicals and silver needed for silversmithing, including types, sizes, and gauges.
Week 3: Metals, their melting temperatures, characteristics, and uses. Types of solder will also be discussed at
length.
Week 4: Making a perfect bezel every time. (A bezel is the silver part of a piece of jewelry that holds the stone in
place.)
Week 5: Soldering, including lighting the torch, varieties of solder, how to solder, and much more.
Week 6: Jewelry designing. Very basic jewelry design principles that will help you design saleable jewelry.
Week 7: Shaping sterling silver. This includes twisting wire, making balls (exact same size, graduated and random
sizes), bending design elements, and making jump rings and half round design elements. This also includes
soldering on of all types of design elements.
Week 8: Making leaves and soldering them in place without ever filling in the detail with solder.
Week 9: Cutting off excess metal and filing to shape, including using a grinding wheel for silver.
Week 10: Bails, different types, and different ways to solder them on.
Week 11: Setting stones and pre-polishing.
Week 12: Buffing and finishing.
Week 13 Ring Band 1
Week 14 Ring Band 2
