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Give Me A Hand: Argentium Stacking Cuffs

This live, virtual workshop will focus on adorning the hand, as students design and make Argentium stacking cuffs, while exploring a variety of designs and techniques such as hammer texturing, forging, forming, and fabrication. Proper cuff sizing, experimentation with length/form, and Argentium fusion will also be covered. This workshop will expose students to the rich tradition of classic jewelry techniques as well as the practical shortcuts for making work efficiently.

This course will consist of two sessions. There will be a no-class day between each session. 

Class will be held live via Zoom during the designated time frame. A link to the Zoom room will be sent via email. 

Each session will be recorded and you will receive a password protected link to the recordings that expire after 30 days.

Please read the Materials & Tools tab! 

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.

There are several distributor for many of these items such as Otto Frei, Contenti, and Gesswein. The instructor recommends price comparing based on promotions and sales.

Argentium wire will be the focal material in this workshop (6" is enough for one cuff):

  • 6-18" x Argentium® square wire - 10g dead soft  (Rio Grande)
  • 6-18" x Argentium® square wire - 12g dead soft  (Rio Grande)
  • 12" x Argentium® round wire - 20g dead soft (Rio Grande)
  • extra sheet metal - silver, bronze, gold - bronze will be demoed
  • Argentium® scrap wire or sheet metal - cleaned/pickled

A soldering setup:

  • 1 x fireproof torch area - steel baking sheet will work (Amazon)
  • 2 x 6"x6" Solderite™ pad (Rio Grande)
  • 1 x compressed charcoal block (Rio Grande)
  • 1 x torch - Smith mini or Silversmith (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
  • 1 x #0 or #1 torch tip - if getting Silversmith (Rio Grande)
  • 1 x titanium soldering tweezers (Rio Grande)
  • 1 x tungsten soldering pick (Rio Grande)
  • 1 x paste flux (Rio Grande)
  • 1 x liquid flux (Rio Grande)
  • 1 x piece Argentium® sheet solder - easy and medium (Rio Grande)
  • 1 x copper tongs - for pickle (Rio Grande)
  • pickle - for non-ferrous metals (Rio Grande)
  • crock pot or tempered glass container with lid - for pickle (Amazon)
  • tempered glass container or sink - for quenching and rinsing
  • small brush - for flux

Hand tools:

Forming tools:

Other/miscellaneous items:

  • hard work surface
  • fan and open window - or ventilation system
  • safety glasses 
  • pencil, Sharpie, notebook
  • rags/towels
 

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