Level: Intermediate and above
Requirements: Basic Metalsmithing Skills
Program: Winter
Status: Closed
Length: 2 Days
Tuition: $ 400
Materials: TBA
Date: February 02, 2008 - February 03, 2008
Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: Metalwerx

Created for people who want to become comfortable working with Argentium(r) Sterling Silver sheet and wire, this workshop will teach a variety of techniques including annealing, soldering, fusing, and hardening. Argentium Sterling has superb fusing qualities, so demos will also include fusing granules to sheet, sheet to sheet, wire to wire, and gold to Argentium Sterling.

Following demonstrations, participants will have time to make their own technical samples and/or finished jewelry projects during the class. Students with basic jewelry and metalsmithing skills, as well as professionals are welcome.

ABOUT ARGENTIUM: This exciting metal is a new sterling alloy that is at least 92.5% pure silver. It does not firescale, is highly tarnish resistant, is more malleable and ductile than traditional sterling, and can be precipitation hardened using a kitchen oven. Estimated material fees will be provided closer to registration.

Cynthia Eid, an internationally recognized metalsmith for over 35 years (www.cynthiaeid.com), has been working with this alloy for over 6 years, and is the author of the technical guide to Argentium Sterling published by the Society of North American Goldsmiths in SNAG News as well as articles for Rio Grande and Art Jewelry magazine.

Students may bring their own metal, according to the gauges and scale that are usually comfortable.

Materials & Tools

Tools And Supplies For Students That Will Be Supplied By The Instructor

• Each student will be supplied with a new board for soldering and fusing to allow for set-up at the bench, to reduce "traffic jam" at the torch stations and to avoid contamination from other metals, which could reduce tarnish resistance.
• Each student will be furnished with Argentium Hard, Medium, and Easy Solders
• A piece of Goddard's Long Shine Silver Cloth
• 1" x 3" 24 gauge AS sheet
• 1" x 3" 20 gauge AS sheet
• 6" 20 gauge round wire
• 6" 18 gauge round wire
• 6" 16 gauge round wire
• 6" 14 gauge round wire

The cost will be affected by the silver price in Feb. 2008. The approximate cost is $42/student and payable at the workshop to the instructor

Tools and Supplies for Students to Bring to Workshop

Metal: Argentium Sterling

• Students may wish to bring additional metal, according to the gauges and scale that are usually comfortable.
• Additional Argentium Sterling will be available for purchase at the workshop.
• Sources for Argentium Sterling include: Rio Grande, Stuller, Allcraft, G & S Metals, and Hauser and Miller. Though there are other sources, take care not purchase anything that is sold as "like Argentium Silver" or "the same as Argentium Silver". Since this is a patented and licensed alloy, such claims are not reliable.
• Techniques for working with Argentium Sterling will be discussed and demonstrated. Participants may do samples, or work on a piece that expands on one of the demos, or a design/project of their own choice.
• Students may wish to bring a bit of gold scrap or wire for soldering or fusing to Argentium Silver. 18K, 22K and 24K are easier to fuse to AS than 14K.

Tools and Supplies

• Safety glasses and dustmask
• Scissors, ruler, paper, pencil, fine tipped permanent marker
files
• metal shears (Hand-held) The instructor recommends Joyce Chen shears, which may be purchased from Allcraft, or at some kitchen suppliers
• Jeweler's saw and blades
• Saw blade lube
• Chain nose pliers
• Pliers, such as round nose, flat, and Half-round/flat combination pliers--- if you have them
• wire cutter
• 3 "dishes" or containers to hold solder chips, such as yogurt lids, or petrie dishes
• close-toed shoes (safety in case of dropping something hot, sharp, or heavy)
• 1 or more clean "shop cloths", such as an old towel, (to save on paper towels, and to wrap up your samples at the end of the workshop
• optivisor or clip-on magnifier-recommended by instructor for fusing

Students might also wish to bring

• apron
• Camera
• Dividers and/or compass
• Sandpaper, Sanding sticks
• Scribe
• Favorite flex shaft tools
• Favorite soldering tools (poker, tweezers, ...)

Participants may prepare for the workshop, by reading the following articles, available on-line at www.cynthiaeid.com and www.argentiumsilver.info

• The article "Road Testing Argentium Sterling" in Art Jewelry magazine, Sept. 2006
• the technical article published by SNAG News, July 2005

Note: If you are flying to the workshop, be sure to put your tools in a checked bag, rather than carry on.