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Classical and Historic Fused Chains in Argentium

This one-session Virtual Class is designed to peek into the past of jewelry history and introduce the fundamental technique of fusion for making two styles of historical chains. Techniques and tools for making links, fusing argentium silver, live demonstration, Power point of jewelry history and more will be shared.  This is a great way to understand argentium fusion as well as to become part of the continuum of deep history of jewelry making!    

Meet the instructor

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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 strongly encouraged but not required - observers are welcome.

 

Metal/raw materials:

  • 12" min. x Argentium® round wire - 22g dead soft (Rio Grande)

  • 12" min. x Argentium® round wire - 20g dead soft (Rio Grande)

  • 1 Pint min. x Ronda's Purple Flux #504008 (Rio Grande)

  • 1 x 5.5"x2.75" Compressed Charcoal Block (Rio Grande)

 

Basic Hand Tools:

 

Forming Tools:

 

Basic Soldering/Torch Setup:

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

  • 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 using 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 paste flux (Rio Grande)

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

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

  • 1 x crock pot or lidded glass container - for pickle (Amazon)

  • 1 x brass bristle brush (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

 

Other/miscellaneous items:

  • Wooden Dowels 3/8"

  • 1/4" Thick Hard Wood 6" Long OR Transfer punches from Harbor Freight (Item # 3577)

 

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