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Hand-fabricated Deep-threaded Catch with Swivel
This demo-centered virtual workshop will focus on hand-fabricated threaded catches with a swivel mechanism -- a feat of engineering, technical aptitude, and thorough design considerations. Hand-fabricated threads have a unique advantage over those made with tap and die in functionality and their visual aesthetic qualities, making them a high caliber option for those looking for an alternative mechanism.
Through technical demonstrations, discussions, visual images, and an examination of various samples, special emphasis will be placed on problem-solving and creative applications useful to a variety of jewelry formats and approaches. We will explore useful soldering and fabrication strategies, which can be applied to numerous methodologies in jewelry and metalsmithing studios, including those beyond the scope of the project and applications covered in this course.
Meet the instructor
Tom Muir is Distinguished Research Professor at Bowling Green State University, where he is head of the Jewelry and Metalsmithing area in the School of Art. He received his MFA from Indiana University, Bloomington, and his BFA degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Mr. Muir has lectured and taught widely, holding positions at universities and craft schools around the country. He is Past-president of the Michigan Silversmiths Guild, was appointed distinguished member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths, and currently serves on the executive committee of the International Jewellery College Association as the representative of the Americas. Mr. Muir was the recipient of the 1995 Olscamp Research Award at BGSU and his award-winning work has been published extensively and included in more than 500 national and international art, design and craft exhibitions; these include The White House Collection of American Crafts and The Beijing International Craft Biennial.
Collections include the Art Institute of Chicago, Renwick Gallery of the National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution and The White House Collection of American Crafts, National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. He is the recipient of an Arts Midwest/National Endowment for the Arts Regional Artist Fellowship, Michigan Council for the Arts Fellowship, and numerous Ohio Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship Awards. In 2009, Tom received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Ohio Designer Craftsmen for having made a major contribution to craft in Ohio.
Click here to learn more about Tom and his work.
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:
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12" x brass rod - 1/8" diameter (K&S Metals)
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12" x brass tubing - 7/32" diameter (K&S Metals)
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24" min. x round nu-gold brass wire - 20g (CR Hill Co.)
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24" min. x round nu-gold brass wire - 18g (CR Hill Co.)
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2"x2" min. x brass sheet - 20g or 22g (Rio Grande)
Hand tools:
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1 x chain nose pliers (Rio Grande)
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1 x flat nose pliers (Rio Grande)
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1 x snips / flush cutters (Rio Grande)
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1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)
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1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 (Rio Grande)
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1 x bench pin (Rio Grande)
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1 x half round hand file - #2 cut (Rio Grande)
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1 x rotary tool - flex shaft, micro motor, etc. (Rio Grande)
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1 x set of needle files - #2 cut (Rio Grande)
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1 x center punch (Rio Grande)
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1 x scribe (Rio Grande)
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1 x steel block / steel surface (Rio Grande)
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1 x small steel ruler (Rio Grande)
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1 x sheet of sand paper - 220 to 600 grits (Rio Grande)
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1 x flat nosed pliers with nylon or delrin jaw (Rio Grande)
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1 x parallel pliers with brass jaw (Rio Grande)
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1 x digital calipers - 6" to 12" (Rio Grande)
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1 x surgical or razor blade with safe edge (Rio Grande)
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1 x miter cutting jig (Rio Grande)
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1 x drill index #1-60 (Rio Grande)
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1 x drawplate - optional (Rio Grande)
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1 x small drill press - optional (Rio Grande)
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1 x cutting broach set - optional (Otto Frei)
Torch setup:
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1 x fireproof area - steel sheet, tiles, etc. (Amazon or Home Depot)
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1 x Solderite™ pad / pan with pumice (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
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1 x torch - Silversmith or similar (Rio Grande)
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1 x #00, #0, and #1 torch tip - if getting Silversmith (Rio Grande)
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1 x striker or lighter - Silversmith system has one (Rio Grande)
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1 x soldering tweezers (Rio Grande)
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1 x soldering pick (Rio Grande)
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1 x 3rd arm (Rio Grande)
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1 x cross lock tweezers (Rio Grande)
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1 x paste flux (Rio Grande)
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1 x bottle of yellow ochre or liquid paper (Amazon)
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1 x copper tongs - for pickle (Rio Grande)
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1 x 12” silver solder - hard (Rio Grande)
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1 x 12” silver solder - medium (Rio Grande)
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1 x pickle - sodium bisulfate or citric acid (Rio Grande or Amazon)
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1 x brass bristle brush (Rio Grande)
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1 x crock pot or lidded glass container (Rio Grande or Amazon)
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1 x small brush - for flux
Other/miscellaneous items:
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particulate dust mask
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eye protection
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fan / open window, ventilation, or outside
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isopropyl or denatured alcohol - 1 pint
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boric acid fine powder form - sold as roach killer
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pint glass or plastic jar - wide mouth
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inexpensive brush - approx. 1/2"-1" wide
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medium duty pliable leather gloves
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masking tape - apprx. 3/4" wide
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4.5" or larger jaw machinists vise - mounted to bench or stump with padded jaws