BASIC METALSMITH COURSE INFORMATION
5 Week Metalsmithing Basics
Scope and Sequence
Week 1:
Skills Focus: Understanding metal properties/ annealing, sawing, texturing,forming, filing/sanding/polishing
Project: Ingot casting demo, Basic sterling ring
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- Students will make a cuff bracelet, practicing skills that will be used throughout this course and expanded upon for more advanced projects. They will leave with an understanding of metal properties and how to use basic tools.
Skills Focus: Designing and measuring, sawing, forming, bezel making, soldering, stone setting, filing/sanding/polishing
Project: Bezel set ring
- Students will create a bezel set ring, and learn about incorporating a stone into their design aesthetic. They will learn about the shape of different stone cuts, how to properly shape a bezel and solder it to a back plate, and design and attach a ring shank that works with the overall design.
Week 4:
Skills Focus: Designing and measuring, sawing, forming, soldering, filing/sanding/polishing
Project: Advanced saw skills/ Pierce cutting
- Students will design and create a project of their choosing (pendant, earrings, cuff…) that includes pierce cut design elements, where they can practice more advanced saw skills. This is an opportunity to get very creative with “drawing” in metal.
Week 5:
Skills Focus: All skills from previous weeks
Project: Student choice
- This class is an opportunity to finish any project from a previous week that was not finished, or begin a new project that utilizes skills from previous weeks.
Materials:
Included in this course fee, students will receive brass for the cuff and any additional brass desired for other projects, as well as a 1 ounce ingot of sterling silver.
We will provide our Rio Grande student discount code to enrolled students. If they feel they will likely want more silver, they should order it prior to the start of class.
Shop Time:
Included in the cost of this course are 10 “shop hours”. Students may come in between the weekly class meetings, and during posted shop hours for this class. This is a great way to catch up if needed or to make additional jewelry items learned from that week. Note: additional silver to be purchased by student. This shop time will not exceed past the end of the 6 week session. Additional shop time may be purchased at the $10/hr shop rate
Shop hours;
Sunday 10-2 pm
Wednesday 4-7pm
Friday 1-4 pm
Absence:
Please confirm that the class dates will work for your schedule prior to payment and signing up! Due to the nature of the scheduling, make up for missed classes will not be available. You will have shop time available to you, and if you miss a class we are happy to add those hours to your shop time so you can come in and work. Robyn and/or Chantal will be available for questions during shop time. Please email with any questions you may have,
Cheers,
Chantal and Robyn