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Riveting: BIG and Small!
Rivets are one of the oldest and most prolific cold connection joinery techniques mankind has utilized throughout history. Whether decorative or functional, rivets add a distinct visual style to anything they find themselves incorporated into. In this demo-focused virtual workshop, students will learn the ins and outs of hammering metal rods/wire into these structural and decorative elements, with a distinct focus on a range of small to large, and in two variations used most commonly in jewelry and metalsmithing: flush rivets and mushroom rivets.
Larger rivets require larger tools and items to complete and the instructor will demonstrate using a drill press to create the large holes required for the technique.
For more information about virtual courses, visit our Virtual Course FAQ page.
Please read the Materials & Tools tab!
Meet the instructor
William Vanaria is a Massachusetts based artist with a penchant for oddball materials. His work utilizes traditional metalsmithing techniques and a wide verity of non-traditional materials to produce jewelry which both questions and comments on notions of romanticism, value, fakery, and the hierarchy of materials present within modern day consumer culture. Through his work he pushes for a broader system of value which has been formulated though experience, consideration, and critical thinking.
William received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a concentration in "Jewelry & Metalsmithing" in 2012. Afterwards, he spent time working within the jewelry industry and volunteering as a teacher's assistant for various art institutions. He found that the latter was much more fulfilling, so he went on to further his education within the arts and to pursue a career in teaching. William received his Masters of Fine Arts degree from the University of Massachusetts: Dartmouth in 2016; once again with a concentration in "Jewelry & Metalsmithing."
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:
- 6" x 14g round copper wire (Rio Grande)
- 1" x 8g round copper wire (Rio Grande)
- 2 x 1"x2" or scrap pieces of copper sheet - 16g (Rio Grande)
Hand tools:
- 1 x flat nose pliers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x snips / flush cutters (Rio Grande)
- 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 rotary tool - flex shaft, micro motor, etc. (Rio Grande)
- 1 x center punch (Rio Grande)
- 1 x riveting hammer (Rio Grande)
- 1 x steel block / steel surface (Rio Grande)
- 1 x 4mm setting bur or ball bur (Rio Grande)
- 1 x 3mm ball bur or drill bit (Rio Grande)
- 1 x drill bit - #53 (Rio Grande)
- 1 x reamer/brooch set (Rio Grande)
- 1 x c-clamp or hand clamp or tape - to hold metal (Amazon)
- 1 x drill press - able to hold 8g bits
- 1 x sturdy surface - to clamp down metal to
Torch 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 compressed charcoal block - hard (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 copper tongs - for pickle (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
Other/miscellaneous items:
- safety glasses
- flat work surface