Unconventional Settings!
This virtual workshop will focus on unusual ways to trap stones, pearls, or found objects, while placing emphasis on small scale fabrication. Building a basket style setting, tab settings, and mountings for pearls or found objects will all be covered throughout the course. This is a perfect class for makers with some jewelry experience seeking to refine their skills and learn time-saving shortcuts for designing and fabricating settings efficiently! A variety of mounting styles will be demonstrated and design considerations will be discussed.
Meet the instructor
Paulette Werger is a metalsmith and teacher who works in Lebanon, NH. She sells her work both nationally and internationally and is owner of Metalpeople East, a jewelry and hollow ware studio. She has taught metalsmithing at the University of WI, Montana State University, and at craft schools throughout the country.
Materials & Tools
The following supplies will be used for course demonstrations and objectives. A suggested item and/or vendor has been provided below for reference. Click the vendor name (in red) to be redirected to a page where you can find the item. The quantities needed for each item are listed first. If ordering, please be aware that some items may come in larger quantities than needed for this class. We recommend not opening an item's packaging until the day of the workshop. Student participation during or in-between class sessions is welcomed but not required - observers are welcome.
Metal/raw materials:
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12" min. x Argentium® round wire - 12g dead soft (Rio Grande)
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12" min. x Argentium® round wire - 16g dead soft (Rio Grande)
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12" min. x Argentium® round wire - 18g dead soft (Rio Grande)
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12" min. x sterling silver rectangular wire - 4x1mm (Rio Grande)
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6" min. x fine silver or Argentium® 1/4" bezel - 26g (Rio Grande)
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2"x2" min. x Argentium® sheet - 22g dead soft (Rio Grande)
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small piece x Argentium® wire solder - medium (Rio Grande)
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cabochons, gemstones, pearls, found objects, rose cuts - to set
Soldering setup:
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1 x fireproof torch area - steel baking sheet, tiles, etc. (Amazon)
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1 x 6"x6" Solderite™ pad (Rio Grande)
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1 x compressed charcoal block (Rio Grande)
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1 x torch - Smith mini or Silversmith (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
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1 x #0 torch tip - if getting Silversmith (Rio Grande)
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1 x soldering tweezers (Rio Grande)
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1 x soldering pick (Rio Grande)
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1 x cross lock tweezers (Rio Grande)
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1 x Ronda purple flux (Rio Grande)
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1 x paste flux (Rio Grande)
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1 x piece Argentium® wire solder - medium (Rio Grande)
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1 x copper tongs - for pickle (Rio Grande)
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1 x pickle - for non-ferrous metals (Rio Grande)
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1 x crock pot or tempered glass container with lid (Amazon)
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1 x tempered glass container or sink - for quenching and rinsing
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1 x small brush - for flux
Hand tools:
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1 x needle file set - #2 or #4 cut - optional (Rio Grande)
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1 x half round file - #2 or #4 cut (Rio Grande)
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1 x pliers and flush cutter (Rio Grande)
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1 x half round forming pliers (Rio Grande)
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1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)
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1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 or 4/0 (Rio Grande)
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1 x dividers (Rio Grande)
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1 x bench pin (Rio Grande)
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1 x rotary tool - flex shaft, micro motor, etc. (Rio Grande)
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1 x pack of pumice flat edge wheels - medium (Rio Grande)
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1 x 1/16" screw mandrel 303 - 3/32" shank (Rio Grande)
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1 x slotted mandrel - 3/32" shank - optional (Rio Grande)
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1 x center punch (Rio Grande)
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1 x ring clamp (Rio Grande)
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1 x shears - Joyce Chen recommended (Rio Grande or Amazon)
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high speed twist drill bits - #67, #60 (Rio Grande)
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wet/dry sandpaper - 220, 320, 400 grits (Amazon)
Forming tools:
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1 x rawhide mallet (Rio Grande)
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1 x planishing hammer (Rio Grande)
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1 x cross peen/texturing hammer (such as Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
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1 x ball peen hammer - 8oz (any hardware store or Amazon)
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1 x steel block (Rio Grande)
Other/miscellaneous items:
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hard work surface
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fan and open window - or ventilation system
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safety glasses
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pencil, Sharpie, notebook
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rags/towels