• Fents.BroochAndEarrings.1
  • Fents.BroochAndEarrings.1

Engineering and Fabricating Wire Settings and Captures

In this demo and discussion based virtual workshop, students will be challenged to think outside the box of traditional stone setting to design and fabricate innovative settings and captures out of wire. Emphasis will be placed on basic engineering, problem solving, things to remember when measuring, as well as basic and intermediate techniques for fabricating forms in wire. Students will be challenged to problem solve ways in which to set unconventional shapes and/or traditional shapes in unconventional ways. Bringing specific objects to be considered during the brainstorming session at the end of demos is encouraged.

Meet the instructor

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Taylor is an artist and metalsmith with interests rooted in anthropology. She is inspired by natural curiosities and human tendencies. Taylor completed a studio residency at Contemporary Craft while finishing her MFA at Edinboro University with a concentration in metals. She is currently a bench jeweler in Lewes, Delaware.

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 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 (note that multiple sizes of wire can be used for the entrapment techniques covered in this class - choose the size you prefer): 

  • 5ft. approx. x sterling silver round wire - 20g to 16g (Rio Grande)

  • 5ft. approx. x sterling silver square wire - 20g to 16g (Rio Grande)

  • 1 pack x double sided separating disks (Rio Grande)

  • 1 pack x fiber wheels - course, medium, fine (Rio Grande)

  • 1 pack x snap on sanding disks (Rio Grande)

  • 1 pack x snap on mandrel (Rio Grande)

  • 1 pack x silicone polishing wheels - course to fine (Rio Grande)  

  • 1 pack x cup burs - size appropriate for your wire gauge

 

Hand tools:

 

Torch setup:

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

  • 1 x torch - micro-mini oxy/acetylene with #3-#7 tips (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 - hard (Rio Grande)

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

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

  • 1 x tinted soldering glasses (Rio Grande)

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

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

  • 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:

  • particulate dust mask

  • eye protection

  • fan / open window, ventilation, or outside

  • pencil, pen, paper

  • masking tape

Virtual Course
Tuition
$150.00
Instructor
Taylor Fentz
Level
Basic and above
Pre-requisites
Jewelry 1 skills required
Location
Virtual - Eastern Time Zone
Length
  • 2 days
Schedule
  • September 12 - 19, 2022
    Weekly on Monday
    6:00pm – 8:00pm
Class Dates
  • September 12, 2022
  • September 19, 2022
 

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