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Chain Making: Simple, Soldered, & Fused
This class covers strategies for making both traditional chains as well as stepping outside of the box to create unusual linkages. A wide range of chain styles will be demonstrated including fused, cold-connected, woven, and soldered link chains.
Get started with simple connections that only require wire and basic hand tools. Some chains that don’t involve heat include the Egyptian spiral chain, Viking Knit chain, wire-wrapped links with beads, etc. Techniques covered include use of pliers, basic hammering and wire forming, methods for weaving wire, hand surface finishing, and making jump rings.
Students will move on to work with a torch to fuse and solder links. Chains covered in the second portion of class will be a basic cable chain with variations, twisted links, self-linking chains, designs made by balling up wire, and simple loop in loop. Joy will present alternative strategies for approaching each chain style and show many examples from her own production line. In addition, tips on soldering large rings with glass or gem beads right on the rings will be given.
Time will be spent working on samples of chain styles in base metals (copper, brass, bronze) but students are welcome to pursue finished pieces in silver if they wish. Silver is not provided in the kit, but Metalwerx can coordinate a group order if desired.
There will be no class on Jan 30 and Feb 20. If a make-up class is necessary, it will be held on Apr 3 and/or Apr 10.
You can see more of Joy's work on her website www.joyraskin.com or her webstore http://store.metalornaments.com/
Meet the instructor
Joy Raskin has been a silversmith since 1984 and has exhibits throughout the United States, Ireland and New Zealand, showcasing both her jewelry and flatware designs. Joy is a native of New Hampshire, having attended public schools in Manchester and Concord and was accepted as a member of the League of NH Craftsmen while still in high school. She received her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and her MFA from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Joy is an instructor at Metalwerx in Waltham, MA, The Craft Center in NH, Sharon Art Center, and many other schools.
Joy has received many awards for her work. She was commissioned by the NH State Council on the Arts to create the Cultural Access Award for the Governor’s Awards in the Arts in 2001. Her work is included in many collections, including the White House and Smithsonian Institution. Joy's work is found in multiple galleries throughout New England, including the League of NH Craftsmen Galleries, Boston Society of Arts & Crafts, Guilford Art Center, Millbrook Gallery, and others.
Materials & Tools
The $20 materials fee, payable when signing up, includes plenty of base metal wire, one spool of silver plated wire, and other miscellaneous supplies for creating chain samples.
Please note: Students may want sterling silver to complete a final project. Students can bring their own or Metalwerx can coordinate a group order.
Students Should Bring:
- Any stone they wish to set
- Favorite hand tools
- Notebook and pencil
- Sanding sticks (if you already have them)