Demystify the jewelry bench! This class will open up a world of opportunities in fine metalworking.
This is the class I wish I had available to me when I started making fine jewelry. Let me save you lots of trial and error! Fine metalworking is a useful set of skills for any maker to have, not just those interested in jewelry. This class is a great place to start.
In this course, you will learn silversmithing primarily by doing, but the lessons will be grounded in some basic (and I mean basic!) chemistry and physics so that you can better understand how the metal behaves under your tools.
The 4-session structure of the course will be as follows:
Day 1: foundational knowledge + some introductory hands-on work
Day 2: raw material manipulation, safe and effective torch use, pouring ingots, rolling out square wire
Day 3: forming square wire into a ring with an eye toward minimizing surface marring, soldering with a torch
Day 4: surface cleanup, buffing + polishing and/or brushed/hammered/textured finishing
You will walk away with a basic round ring, as well as a wishbone ring to show for your efforts!
No jewelry experience is necessary or assumed. This class begins with the very basics.
Skills You'll Learn
- melting down metals into usable stock
- soldering (joining) pieces of metal to each other
- forming soft metal into desired shapes without scuffing it
- creating a variety of visual effects on the surface of metal
- buffing and polishing
- work-hardening and annealing (how to adapt to changes in the metal's structure as you work)
- basic chemistry jewelry makers should know
In this class, you'll have an opportunity to learn a variety of jeweler's hand tools (files, pliers, saws), torches, the bench buffer, as well as the rotary tool and its various bits.
What to Bring/Wear
Closed-toe shoes required. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided.
Refund Policy
Up To 1 Day Before the Event Starts
About the Instructor
Abigail Schneider (Waning Moon Metalworks) is a silversmith and jewelry teacher based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is also the jewelry manager at Twin Cities Maker, hosting events, building a community of practice, and bringing the art of jewelry making within reach for everyone. When she's not teaching or honing her craft at the bench, Abigail enjoys tending to her plants, listening to dreampop music, and biking around the lakes.
