Friction Lids: Finding the Right Fit for Your Containers!

This demo-focused virtual workshop will cover round, square and irregular form friction lids, and how the lids are incorporated into the body of a vessel or container. Class will begin with fabrication of the box - templates will be provided for individuals to create a box of their choosing - followed by lid construction and incorporation. Participants will decide which lid and body option to work with. Each participant will finish this workshop with the knowledge to continue forward making their own containers and friction lids, how to acquire a tight fit more multiple styles of container, and how to finish or clean-up the final product. Handouts will accompany this workshop, laying out the steps or each design possibility covered in demonstrations. 

Please read the Materials & Tools tab!

Meet the instructor

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Jennifer Wells is a studio artist and educator originally from the U.S but currently living in Italy. She holds an MFA, in Metalsmithing & Jewelry Design and has completed artist-in- residencies at: Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN, Pocosin Arts in Columbia, NC and the Jentel Foundation near Banner, WY. She has worked for several U.S based Craft Schools, in a variety of roles.

As an educator, Jennifer has taught for and been a visiting Artist at Universities throughout the U.S and for study abroad programs based in Italy. She serves on the Board of Vita Institute and teaches short workshops on various enameling and metalsmithing techniques throughout Europe and the U.S. In recent years she has curated multiple international exhibitions focused on jewelry and enameling.

Her works are in the collections of the Enamel Arts Foundation, Racine Museum, All Russian Museum of Decorative Arts, Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Yale University Art Gallery, Crocker Art Museum and Private Collections.

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 (6"x6" is enough for one conatiner or two small containers): 

Hand tools:

Torch setup:

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

  • 1 x Solderite™ pad / pan with pumice (Rio Grande or 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 - hard (Rio Grande)

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

  • 1 x 6” silver solder - easy (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 tempered glass container or sink - for quenching and rinsing

  • 1 x small brush - for flux

  • 1 x liquid hand soap - for cleaning metal

  • additional soft ceramic fire bricks - old bricks are fine

Other/miscellaneous items: 

  • safety glasses

  • fan and open window, ventilation, or out door area

  • masking tape - 1" wide

  • smooth surface to tape sandpaper to

Virtual Course
Tuition
$150.00
Instructor
Jennifer Wells
Level
Basic and above
Pre-requisites
Jewelry 1 skills required
Location
Virtual - Eastern Time Zone
Length
  • 2 days
Schedule
  • May 10 - 17, 2022
    Weekly on Tuesday
    10:00am – 12:00pm
Class Dates
  • May 10, 2022
  • May 17, 2022
 

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