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Pin Back Perfection: Brooch Pins and Catches
Brooches aren’t just for grandmas! Pins (aka brooches) are a popular format of jewelry in the metalsmithing world because of their ability to act as small canvases where artists can quickly and efficiently explore new techniques and ideas without the hindrances that come along with the creation of bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and rings. In this demo-focused virtual workshop, Marissa will resolve one of the most difficult aspects of making a brooch; the pin back.
The basic anatomy of a successful pin back, the difference between a left-handed and right-handed mechanism, and how to make both single and double stem pin backs with corresponding catches will be explained. The pin styles covered in this class are simple and clean solutions that can easily be integrated into any brooch design.
Meet the instructor
Marissa Saneholtz makes narrative based jewelry and objects using humor and sarcasm to comment on gender roles in American society. She has been published in several books, including Art Jewelry Today II edited by Jeffery Snyder, Humor in Craft by Brigitte Martin, and Narrative Jewelry: Tales from the Toolbox by Mark Fenn. Her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally and can be found in multiple collections including the Racine Art Museum, the Mint Museum in Charlotte, NC, the Enamel Arts Foundation in Los Angeles, CA, The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in Little Rock, AR, and the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, CA.
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 (instructor recommends minimum two pieces of 2"x3" 18g sheet and 1"x1" or smaller 14g or 16g sheet):
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18g sheet - copper, nu gold, or sterling (Rio Grande)
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14g or 16g sheet - copper, nu gold, or sterling (Rio Grande)
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12" x stainless pin wire - 0.037" or smaller (Component Supply Co.)
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12" x sterling heavy wall tubing - 2.03mm (Rio Grande)
Hand tools:
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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 burlife / bee's wax (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 scribe (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 (Amazon)
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1 x sanding sticks (Rio Grande)
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1 x parallel plier with snip - optional (Otto Frei)
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1 x pack of 1mm cross cut bur (Rio Grande)
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1 x pack screw top mandrel (Rio Grande)
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1 x pack separating disc (Rio Grande)
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1 x pack polishing wheel - silicone (Rio Grande)
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1 x drill press - if no flex shaft - optional (Dumore)
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1 x miter or tube cutting jig (Contenti)
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 - Smith mini, Silversmith, or butane (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
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1 x #0 or #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 paste flux (Rio Grande)
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1 x copper tongs - for pickle (Rio Grande)
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1 x 6” silver solder - hard (Rio Grande)
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1 x pickle - sodium bisulfate or citric acid (Rio Grande or Amazon)
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1 x crock pot or lidded glass container (Rio Grande or Amazon)
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1 x tempered glass container or sink - for quenching and rinsing
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1 x small brush - for flux
Other/miscellaneous items:
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safety glasses
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fan and open window, ventilation, or out door area