Bi-Metallic: Working with 18k Gold and Sterling Bimetal

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 materials (to order from Shine BiMetal, call 1-800-710-1050 or email [email protected] - Shine BiMetal cannot accommodate sheet orders smaller than 3"x3"): 

• 2"x2" or 1"x3" min. x 18k bimetal - 22g or 24g (Shine BiMetal, LLC or other)

• 6" min. x Argentium® round wire - 20g, 16g, and 14g (Rio Grande)

• 1" min. x Argentium® sheet solder - medium (Rio Grande)

• additional silver sheet and/or wire you want to work with

Torch setup:

• 1 x fireproof area - steel sheet, tiles, etc. (Amazon or Home Depot)

• 1 x Solderite™ pad - hard (Rio Grande)

• 1 x compressed charcoal block - hard (Rio Grande)

• 1 x torch - Smith mini, Silversmith, or butane (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)

• 1 x #0 or #1 torch tip - if getting Silversmith (Rio Grande)

• 1 x striker or lighter - Silversmith system has one (Rio Grande)

• 1 x soldering tweezers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x soldering pick (Rio Grande)

• 1 x 3rd arm (Rio Grande)

• 1 x cross lock tweezers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x paste flux (Rio Grande)

• 1 x copper tongs - for pickle (Rio Grande)

• 1 x 6” silver solder - medium (Rio Grande)

• 1 x pickle - sodium bisulfate or citric acid (Rio Grande or Amazon)

• 1 x brass bristle brush (Rio Grande)

• 1 x crock pot or lidded glass container (Rio Grande or Amazon)

• 1 x Rhonda's purple flux (Rio Grande)

• 1 x tempered glass container or sink - for quenching and rinsing

• 1 x small brush - for flux

• 1 x liquid hand soap - for cleaning metal

Hand tools:

• 1 x round nose pliers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x chain nose pliers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x flat nose pliers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x snips / flush cutters (Rio Grande)

• 1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)

• 1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 (Rio Grande)

• 1 x burlife / bee's wax (Rio Grande)

• 1 x bench pin (Rio Grande)

• 1 x half round hand file - #2 cut (Rio Grande)

• 1 x rotary tool - flex shaft, micro motor, etc. (Rio Grande)

• 1 x set of needle files - #2 cut (Rio Grande)

• 1 x half round forming pliers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x center punch (Rio Grande) 

• 1 x scribe (Rio Grande)

• 1 x ring clamp (Rio Grande)

• 1 x rawhide / plastic mallet (Rio Grande)

• 1 x riveting hammer (Rio Grande)

• 1 x chasing hammer (Rio Grande)

• 1 x steel block / steel surface (Rio Grande)

• 1 x small steel ruler (Rio Grande)

• 1 x sheet of sand paper - 220 to 600 grits (Amazon)

• 1 x calipers (Amazon)

• 1 x dividers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x parallel pliers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x planishing hammer (Rio Grande)

• 1 x brass hammer (Rio Grande)

• 1 x ring mandrel (Rio Grande)

• 1 x dapping set - steel or wood (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)

Other/miscellaneous items: 

• hard work surface

• fan and open window - or ventilation system

• safety glasses 

• pencil, Sharpie, notebook

• rags/towels

• file folder, paper punches, decorative scissors