How to Add More Value to Your Jewelry

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 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:

• assorted copper or sterling sheet - 24g to 18g (2X 1"x1" min.)

• 1 jar min. x Thompson lead-free enamel - opaque (Rio Grande)

• 1 packet x 14/20 yellow gold-filled ear post (Rio Grande)

• 1 packet x 14/20 yellow gold-filled ear nut (Rio Grande)

• 6" or less x 10k yellow gold easy solder - optional (Rio Grande)

• 12" or less x 14/20 yellow gold-filled round wire - optional (Rio Grande)

• 4"x1" x 14/20 yellow gold-filled sheet, double clad - optional (Rio Grande)

Hand tools: 

• 1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)

• 1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 (Rio Grande)

• 1 x burlife / bee's wax (Rio Grande)

• 1 x bench pin (Rio Grande)

• 1 x half round hand file - #2 cut (Rio Grande)

• 1 x set of needle files - #2 cut (Rio Grande)

• 1 x ring clamp (Rio Grande)

• 1 x ultrasonic cleaner - any will do (Amazon)

• 1 x pen plating kit (Pepe)

• 1 x pack of fine pen plating tips (Rio Grande)

• 1 x Midas pre-plating nickel solution (Rio Grande)

• 1 x pen plating solution - 18k or other karat (Pepe)

• 1 x Goddards silver care liquid dip (Amazon)

Soldering 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 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 - easy (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

Enameling setup: 

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

• 1 x torch setup - Silversmith, Blazer, or similar style  (Rio Grande, Rio Grande)

• 1 x #1 or #2 torch tip - if using Silversmith (Rio Grande)

• 1 x striker or lighter - Silversmith system has one (Rio Grande)

• 1 x tripod or fire bricks with screen (Rio Grande)

• 1 x sifter set - 60, 100, 150 mesh (Rio Grande or Enamel Warehouse)

• 1 x steel screen - for your kiln size  (Rio Grande or Enamel Warehouse)

• 1 x steel trivet - for your kiln size (Rio Grande or Enamel Warehouse)

• 1 x tongs or tweezers - for moving hot objects (Rio Grande)

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

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

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

• 1 x klyr-fire (Rio Grande)

• sink or large tub of water - for cleaning enamel

Other/miscellaneous items:  

• 91% isopropyl alcohol or pure acetone

• nitrile gloves or similar

• distilled water

• general PPE (apron, safety glasses, face mask, etc.)

• hair blow dryer

• wooden or bamboo tongs (Amazon)

• ventilation

• small jars - for water and alcohol

• dish soap

• q-tips