Level: All Skill Levels
Requirements: Jewelry I or Equivalent
Program: Winter
Status: Closed
Tuition: $ 545
Materials: $ 50
Date: January 22, 2008 - April 01, 2008
Time: Every Tuesday at 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: Metalwerx

Learn to use a hammer to transform a straight piece of wire into jewelry of elegant fluidity. Participants will learn how to hammer comfortably and with control.

Through forging, metal is stretched or compressed, changing its form. After learning the basic forms by practicing on bronze, students may choose to forge in silver. Students may create variations of the jewelry demonstrated, or develop their own designs. This class will focus on forging for rings, bracelets, and brooches.

"Forging in Hammering Heaven" is appropriate for students with basic metalsmithing skills as well as advanced.

This class will be 8 sessions long. Each session is 4.25 hours with a 15 minute break. Class will run until 2:15 PM. There will be no class on February 19, March 4, and March 11, 2008. If there needs to be a make-up class, it will be held on April 8.

Materials & Tools

The materials kit includes brass, bronze, and Argentium Sterling to start your projects. Students may wish to purchase more during the class depending on their individual designs.

Students should bring:

Hammers:

Students should bring any hammers that they have, such as planishing, forging, and forming hammers. A recommended basic hammer selection includes hammers similar to the following two hammers (Allcraft catalog #s):

• #37.329 - This is a 3/4 pound hammer with one cross-peen face and one flat
• 077-01 planishing hammer

Other useful hammers for forging include:

• 079-03 a heavier forging hammer - 1 lb. 2oz.
• 077-06 a smaller, 4 oz. hammer with one cross-peen face, and one flat
• 078-02 a forming/forging hammer with broad, synclastic cross-peen faces-1lb.
• If a student is interested in forging a spoon or letter-opener, a 2 pound forging hammer may be good to have.

Students may wish to prepare by buying hammers before the session begins (It is suggested that students order from Allcraft, and say that the order is for Cynthia Eid's forging class. To save on shipping, students may request that all the hammers be shipped to Metalwerx in one box.) Students may also choose to consult with the instructor at the first class, and use studio hammers during class.

Other suggested tools:

• Some people like to bring thin gloves, such as bicycle gloves, to wear while hammering.
• The "usual" hand tools.---Eg. Wire cutter, Files, saw, saw blade, sandpaper, sanding sticks, ruler, paper and pencil, pliers ...
• As always in the studio, each student should have a pair of their own, comfortable, safety glasses and a dust mask.
• Students should always wear closed toed shoes in the studio, and have a way to fasten long hair..