Introduction to Fine Silver Jewelry Making: Fabrication
Instructed by Brian Schmid

Introduction to Basic Metalsmithing - 1/2 day

Introduction to Fine Silver Jewelry Making: Fabrication - 3 days (see below)

July 15, 2008: Introduction to Basic Metalsmithing

If you have never used a jeweler's saw or soldering torch, take this introductory class to be ready for Introduction to Fine Silver Jewelry Making: Fabrication (below). Students will become familiar with and comfortable handling the tools necessary for jewelry fabrication with emphasis on safety.

The goals of this introduction are:

• Introduce you to the unique tools often associated with the fabrication of fine jewelry.
• Give you time to participate in classroom demos in the use of some of these basic tools and methods.
• Learn how to set up the unique "jewelers' saw", insert the blade, and practice how it is used.
• Learn how to use a soldering torch, fine tune the flame and observe the various "hard" solder joints used in jewelry fabrication.
• Become familiar with buffers and polishers.
• Learn important safety issues associated with the use of the equipment.

This class is ONLY for students who have no experience in Jewelry Making or Metalsmithing.
3 hours, $30

Class Schedule:
Wednesday 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Click here for application.

July 16 - July 18, 2008: Introduction to Fine Silver Jewelry Making: Fabrication

Learn the basic techniques used to fabricate, design and make a piece of fine jewelry. The pieces you create may include: a band ring with a bezel stone setting, a bracelet, or pendant. You will learn jewelry making techniques including cutting with the jeweler's saw, hand drilling, shaping the metal, soldering, setting a stone into a bezel and finish buffing and polish of the piece.

Focus is on learning and refining basic techniques. You will be asked to think about form and function as you apply these techniques to your own design in the workshop. You'll be amazed how you can transform simple sheet metal and wire into something beautiful! When you finish this workshop, you will be ready to design your own creations.

This class is for students who have no experience or who want to renew their basic skills in Jewelry Making. Students are required to purchase materials which are the basics for a jewelry fabrication kit to use at home.

Cost: 3 days, $200.00 + $35.00 lab fee + required materials.

Advance Reservation must be accompanied by a non-refundable deposit of $100 plus cost of required materials kit (either $90 for Sterling Silver Kit or $50 for Nickel Silver Kit) and be received by May 16, 2008. Class size limited so you receive lots of individual attention. Full fee required after May 16.

Click here for application.

Prerequisites (see Introduction to Basic Metalsmithing above)

• Know how to use the unique "jewelers' saw", including setting it up and inserting blades.
• Know how to use a torch and fine tune the flame.
• Be Familiar with buffers and polishers.
• Understand safety issues with the basic equipment.

Please see the required materials list below which you MUST have for class.

Class Schedule:
Wednesdau through Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm with lunch break

Porter's Barbecue:
You are invited to the Porter's barbecue and music Saturday night. You'll be glad you came!

Brian Schmid's Background:

Brian Sculpting in Rebar

Brian has taught jewelry fabrication and visual arts in the school districts of Jamestown, ND, Billings and Missoula, MT as well as through adult and continuing education programs for more than 30 years. Brian lives in Frenchtown, Montana and has a Masters of Arts Degree in Painting from the University of Montana.

In addition to teaching visual arts, Brian is a creative illustrator, painter, muralist and sculptor with exceptional ability to reproduce the human form. He has proven ability to work with a variety of people and age groups and is production-oriented.

Brian creates commissioned life-size action portraits of athletes on canvases ranging from 18" x 24" to 9' x 20' and recently he has been creating monumental size figurative "rebar" sculptures.

Be sure to look for his Aviation Art in the Missoula Airport and visit his website.

Required Materials - feel free to bring your own, or purchase this kit as part of the workshop package

1. Jeweler's Saw frame
   • 4" deep throat or more
     
     • A 3" frame can be too short and it becomes difficult to make extremely detailed cuts as the frame keeps getting in the way of the metal (hitting) - one has to continually back the frame out of the cut and reenter the cut from other angles, not a huge problem, just a time issue.
   • Adjustable frame
     • Adjustable frames allow you to reuse longer parts of broken blades.
   • Made of spring steel
     • The non-springs are useless as they do not get nor keep the proper tension on the blades. Generally, the Swiss frames are spring steel.


2. Safety goggles or glasses
• Your choice, just make sure they are approved for eye safety.
  


3. Ring clamp
• Hard plastic doesn't break as readily as the hardwood ring clamps with metal bands.
  


4. Bench pin, V-slot with clamp
• You may want to buy a cheap "c" clamp to use with the "pin" because some of the commercially designed "sets" come with too weak of clamp.
  


5. Metal Sheet - 2 oz of 18 - 20 gauge nickel silver or sterling silver sheet, approximately 6" x 2"
• Your choice, but nickel costs much less

Items pictured are representative only of the kit you will receive in class if you purchase the Silver Package or Nickel Package.

Recommended

• Tweezers - locking ones are great
• #400 and #600 grit wet/dry emery paper or very fine steel wool
• Tool box or tote - helps to have places to put small pieces of solder, wire, parts of a project, blades, etc.
• Needle nose pliers
• Wire cutter - if not part of the pliers
• Scissors or shears to cut metal sheet