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Lend Me a Hand - Fabricated Cuffs in Argentium
This workshop will focus on adorning the hand with beautiful Argentium cuff bracelets! We will explore a variety of techniques including hammer patterning, surface fusion, forming, fabrication, and soldering. Combining these techniques with more complex fabrication, we will design and make three distinct cuff bracelets. Students will be exposed to the rich tradition of classical techniques as well as practical shortcuts for working more efficiently.
Session One: Working with line, planes, and volume. We'll review standard measurements for wire and sheet; discuss sizing, layout, and patterning; and explore texture through the use of cross peening, file marking, and stamping.
Session Two: Altering shapes through forging, scoring and fusing; creating surface texture, pattern, and fusion; and discuss clean-up and finishing.
Session Three: Creating kinetic elements. We'll combine fabrication, soldering, and a bezel set stone to create more complicated designs with line and color.
Meet the instructor
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 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.
Raw Materials/Consumables:
- 1 x 18" Argentium square wire, 12ga, dead-soft (RioGrande)
- 1 x 2" Argentium solder, 30ga sheet (RioGrande)
- 1 x 1ft Argentium round wire, 12ga, dead-soft (RioGrande)
- 1 x 7" (minimum) Argentium # 4 low-dome, half-round wire (RioGrande)
Basic Hand Tools
1 x round nose pliers (RioGrande)
1 x chain nose pliers (RioGrande)
1 x flat nose pliers (RioGrande)
1 x snips / flush cutters (RioGrande)
1 x jewelers saw (RioGrande)
1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 (RioGrande)
1 x burlife / bee's wax (RioGrande)
1 x bench pin (RioGrande)
1 x half round hand file - #2 cut (RioGrande)
Basic Home Studio
1 x rotary tool - flex shaft, micro motor, etc. (RioGrande)
1 x set of needle files - #2 cut (RioGrande)
1 x half round forming pliers (RioGrande)
1 x center punch (RioGrande)
1 x scribe (RioGrande)
1 x ring clamp (RioGrande)
1 x rawhide / plastic mallet (RioGrande)
1 x riveting hammer (RioGrande)
1 x chasing hammer (RioGrande)
1 x steel block / steel surface (RioGrande)
1 x small steel ruler (RioGrande)
1 x sheet of sand paper - 220 to 600 grits (Amazon)
1 x calipers - optional / nice to have (Amazon)
1 x dividers - optional / nice to have (RioGrande)
1 x sanding sticks - optional / nice to have (RioGrande)
1 x parallel pliers - optional / nice to have (RioGrande)
Basic Forming Tools
1 x planishing hammer (RioGrande)
1 x ball peen hammer (RioGrande)
1 x brass hammer (RioGrande)
1 x ring mandrel (RioGrande)
1 x bezel mandrel - 1mm to 5mm (RioGrande)
1 x bracelet mandrel (RioGrande)
1 x dapping set - steel or wood (RioGrande or RioGrande)
Basic Soldering/Torch Set-up
1 x fireproof area - steel sheet, tiles, etc. (Amazon or Home Depot)
1 x Solderite™ pad / pan with pumice (RioGrande or RioGrande)
1 x compressed charcoal block - hard (RioGrande)
1 x torch - Smith mini, Silversmith, or butane (RioGrande or RioGrande)
1 x #0 or #1 torch tip - if getting Silversmith (RioGrande)
1 x striker or lighter - Silversmith system has one (RioGrande)
1 x soldering tweezers (RioGrande)
1 x soldering pick (RioGrande)
1 x 3rd arm (RioGrande)
1 x cross lock tweezers (RioGrande)
1 x paste flux (RioGrande)
1 x copper tongs - for pickle (RioGrande)
1 x 6” silver solder - hard (RioGrande)
1 x 6” silver solder - medium (RioGrande)
1 x 6” silver solder - easy (RioGrande)
1 x pickle - sodium bisulfate or citric acid (RioGrande or Amazon)
1 x brass bristle brush (RioGrande)
1 x crock pot or lidded glass container (RioGrande 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