Prior to Februay 15, 2004.
After Februay 15, 2004.
January 1, 2005
After February 19, 2005
After September 20, 2005.
After December 8, 2005
After January 1, 2006
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.

Intermediate Solid Band Ring 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.
Intermediate Solid Band Ring Class Projects



The Basket Setting and Stepped Bezel Class
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 Basket Setting and Stepped Bezel Class Projects

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!
After January 1, 2008
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Hollow Form Pendants
Front
Back and Side
Raylene Looking through her "window to the future"! When she squinted she said that I looked just like Paul Newman.
Close up showing the hollow form, within a hollow form "window".
Close up showing the hollow form's back side that has been textured.
Click here
for more Solid Band Ring Photos.
Prong Setting and Stepped Bezel Class
Featuring the new faceted stones Cobalt Blue Ice.
All stones, silver, supplies and tools furnished.
You do not need to bring anything to the class.

This is a project class for my students that have taken my Beginning Silversmithing Class.
It is my “fare well” to teaching class. It will be my last class at each location where I teach it.
You will make five projects.
Stepped Bezel on a Solid Band Ring
Prong Setting using a large freeform Cobalt Blue Ice Stone
Pendant and Earrings using several 5mm Cobalt Blue Ice stones
Exposed Edge Pendant using a large faceted Blue Cobalt Blue Ice stone
A Cobalt Blue Icycle, a one of a kind shape mounted in a copper wire finding will be solder to fit it.

Examples of student projects of the Stepped Bezel Setting for large and free form stones.
Examples of student projects of the Square Wire Freeform Pendant. Constructed with 12 gauge square wire.
Academy of Silversmithing and Art Metal
dnorris@frii.com                                   Don Norris                                   303-517-1068
Solid Band Intermediate Silversmithing Class.
Don Norris teaching polishing with 6" buffer.
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Solid Band Ring Class
Hollow Form Ring Class
Basket Setting and Stepped Bezel Class
The Intermediate Hollow Form Class
The hollow form pendant was also chosen for all the skills that can be incorporated into the construction of your unique design of  your choosing. We will create a hollow form within a hollow form thus open a "window" through your piece. This piece will be reversible which will make it even more versatile for the wearer. It will teach you how to make a very heavy looking piece that is very light weight, and yet very durable and strong. We will also use copper for one of the sides to practice soldering different metals, without the soldering showing or looking messy. Again we will texture one or more sides of this piece using different texturing techniques. I will demonstrate how to solder a hollow form without having to drill, or leave, a hole somewhere in your design to let the steam out, so that the hollow form does not "explode".  However, we will discuss the use of a drill, and how to properly drill soft metals such as copper and Silver. And, even though I teach that if you pick up a jeweler's saw, you are most likely losing money, you will learn how to properly use the saw, including my method of mounting the blade, and using the saw so that you will rarely break a blade. I taught this method to one class of seven students and we finished all seven projects without breaking a blade. All seven students used the same blade. This project would make a good class all by itself, but added to the solid band ring and the smaller project makes this class a must to take for any serious Silversmithing Student. You will also be working on at least one simple project using square wire to make an unusal pendant.
Intermediate Solid Band Ring 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.
Large Free Form 10 x 40 mm Cobalt Blue Icycle that is faceted not molded
We will make a cage and prong setting show a side veiw of the setting.
Each student can choose one of these free form stones or an oval one.
Each student can choose one of these free form stones or an oval one.
The projects below were made in past class by my students.
I will not have these stones for future classes.
Prong Setting
Stepped Bezel Setting
Will be soldered on to the solid band ring as show above in the Solid Band Ring Class
Exposed Edge Pendant
You will learn how to solder four prongs to a sheet and how to make one of a kind free form exposed edged pendants.
Simple Wire Pendant and Earrings
You will learn how to make very profitable, easy to make, quick make and simple pendant and earrings using 5mm faceted stones set in Easy-Set heads. You will make your own designs.
A Cobalt Blue Icycle
A Cobalt Blue Ice rod will be melted and shaped into a one of a kind shape and a copper wire finding will be solder to fit it.