Intermediate Silversmithing Classes
My Intermediate Silversmithing Classes are true project classes. I am going to offer three different Intermediate Classes as I travel and return to the shops that host my classes. The three classes are Intermediate Solid Band Ring Class, Intermediate Hollow Form Class, and the Intermediate Basket and Stepped Bezel Class. You will make one main project during each class. Each provides many learning possibilities, and even more hands on skills, especially soldering. All three were chosen as projects for these classes to teach many different skills from making bezels to soldering different metals to each other. Of course, as with all my classes, emphasis is placed on finding the easiest, fastest, and simplest way to make high quality, sellable pieces that display the high craftsmanship that went into them. You will also be working on at least one simple, quick and easy project in each class.
The solid band ring not only teaches how to make a wide solid band ring the correct size, and how to size rings, but how to make small bezels. The smaller the bezel the more difficult it is to construct. No complicated, but difficult. Then it allows me to teach how to fit a bezel to a curved surface, and how to solder the bezel to the ring, quickly and easily. We will also texture this ring for those that choose to do so. We will discuss how this ring could be made to be only of the few rings that I recommend to make a good profit for your shows. You will also be working on at least one simple, smaller ring, using round wire. It is a ring that even though being a continuous soldered ring, it is very adjustable. I call them story rings too, if you choose to add symbols to the design.
We will learn how to make a large basket setting for a large free form faceted stone, using wire and pick soldering. The second project in this class will be a stepped bezel for faceted stones. I will add more information soon.
We will also make a simple adjustable square wire ring that is of my own creation and each one will be one of a kind! The basket setting will allow you to learn pick soldering, how to set up a basket setting for even larger irregular faceted stones, how to hold as many as 8 prongs in place while soldering them together. A stepped bezel is a very useful setting for faceted stones, and stones with irregular shapes and thickness. All I can say about the adjustable ring is that you will be amazed at how nice it is and how it works. This is a very saleable, profitable ring!
The photos that you on this site were all made by students while taking one of these two day classes. I will be adding more in the near future.
Scroll down for more photos!
