Captured Quartz & Bimetal Pendant
In this demo-focused virtual class students will learn how to hand fabricate a capsule-style pendant for holding tiny objects like stones, found objects or mementos, or anything else that can fit inside! Student will start by learning how to fuse and mill their very own 18k and silver bimetal, in order to create a two tone pendant for quartz crystals to be set (captured) under a clear crystal layer. Students will then learn to hone their soldering skills with multilayer construction, with emphasis placed on depletion gilding and practicing carefully setting the crystal face within the bimetal pendant.
Students can opt to put alternative materials other than quartz crystals in the pendant, but the contents must be no larger than 2mm and no harder than a 7 on MOHS hardness scale!
Meet the instructor
Baleigh has tinkered with craft and jewelry since she was a wee adolescent. After pursuing a BFA in Creative Writing she realized she had made a terrible mistake on a very expensive education because what she wanted to do was work with her hands. She then enrolled in the North Bennet Street School’s Jewelry Making & Repair program in Bahston, MA and everything was good again. Baleigh was technically trained to craft her own tools, fabricate intricate pieces from scratch, handset diamonds & precious gems and repair fine jewelry.
Baleigh is a process jeweler and gets turned on from the problem solving involved in designing intricate pieces and setting weird stones. Her work employs clean lines, industrial elements & graceful geometry that she finds inspiring from everyday design. Baleigh works out of her home studio that she shares with her husband Alex, along with their three adorable floofs.
Materials & Tools
Students will have the opportunity to purchase a captured quartz pendant materials kit, estimated at $180-$230 depending on gold pricing, directly form Baleigh, should they wish to purchase one - kits will be available on the instructors website starting June 23rd and a link will be added here to take you directly to the kit. Kit will include the following items:
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1 x sapphire crystal - 14mm to 15mm
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1" x hard and medium solder sheet
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2"x2mm x fine silver bezel wire
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17mm x sterling silver sheet square - 16g
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18mm x fine silver sheet square - 12g
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15mm x 18k gold sheet square - 24g
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3" x sterling siler wire - 20g
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1 x steel bird nest for soldering
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1 x sandpaper barrel
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1 x drill bit - 1mm
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 to be redirected to a page where you can view 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 not required - observers are welcome.
Metal/raw material:
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metal listed in kit above - if not purchasing kit
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tiny quartz crystals - around 4cts worth or other materials
Torch setup:
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1 x fireproof area - steel sheet, tiles, etc. (Amazon or Home Depot)
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1 x compressed charcoal block - hard (Rio Grande)
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1 x torch - Smith mini, Silversmith, or butane (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
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1 x striker or lighter - Silversmith system has one (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 3rd arm (Rio Grande)
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1 x paste flux (Rio Grande)
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1 x copper tongs - for pickle (Rio Grande)
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1 x 6” silver solder - hard (Rio Grande)
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1 x 6” silver solder - medium (Rio Grande)
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1 x pickle - sodium bisulfate or citric acid (Rio Grande or Amazon)
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1 x crock pot or lidded glass container (Rio Grande or 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
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1 x liquid hand soap - for cleaning metal
Hand tools:
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1 x round nose pliers (Rio Grande)
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1 x snips / flush cutters (Rio Grande)
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1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)
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1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 (Rio Grande)
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1 x burlife / bee's wax (Rio Grande)
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1 x bench pin (Rio Grande)
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1 x half round hand file - #2 cut (Rio Grande)
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1 x rotary tool - flex shaft, micro motor, etc. (Rio Grande)
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1 x set of needle files - #2 cut (Rio Grande)
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1 x half round forming pliers (Rio Grande)
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1 x scribe (Rio Grande)
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1 x rawhide / plastic mallet (Rio Grande)
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1 x chasing hammer (Rio Grande)
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1 x steel block / steel surface (Rio Grande)
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1 x sheet of sand paper - 220 to 600 grits (Amazon)
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1 x calipers (Amazon)
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1 x sanding sticks (Rio Grande)
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1 x parallel pliers (Rio Grande)
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1 x ring mandrel (Rio Grande)
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1 x rolling mill - if students don't have access to a mill, kit come with premade bimetal strip, which is what the mill will be used for
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