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Where's the Clasp? Making a Front Key Clasp Necklace
Where’s the clasp on your necklace? Why it’s right under the pendant – it's functional adornment! Create magic with a one-of-a-kind front key clasp necklace with a stainless-steel neck wire seamlessly connected to the clasp. In this virtual class, artist Alison Antelman will show students how to fabricate a front key clasp necklace with stainless steel neck wire along with fabricating terminals and soldering sterling to stainless steel cable.
This class is designed for artists, students, and metalsmiths interested in thinking about about connections: functional, practical and aesthetic aspects of use along with making their own front clasp necklace. Beyond learning how to create and engineer a unique, functional piece of jewelry, this class will increase and challenge your fabrication and soldering skills, including learning to solder stainless steel to sterling silver. As you follow Alison's guidance, you'll be encouraged to use your own design style and explore new ideas in creating cohesive finished jewelry. Clasps can be textured, chased, roller printed, etched, domed, hydraulic press shapes, with stones, with enamel…the possibilities are endless as you come up with your own solutions.
As part of this class, clear step-by-step handouts are provided; samples as well as a short power point presentation demonstrating Alison's own use of this clasp will be shown. Students may purchase a materials kit directly from the instructor, or build their own (see Materials & Tool section for more information).
Basic fabrication skills including knowledge of soldering is required. This class is open to advanced beginners with soldering under their belt, as well as seasoned pros who are looking for an excellent exercise in fabrication and soldering challenges!
Meet the instructor
Alison B. Antelman exhibits and sells her work from her studio, galleries, online and at craft shows nationally where she has received numerous awards, including 2015 Niche award winner: Silver category, Best of Show at the Sun Valley Center Arts & Crafts Festival in Ketchum, Idaho and the Scottsdale Arts Festival in Scottsdale, AZ. Most recently, she has won the Charles-Lewton Brain Fold-Forming Competition. Her work is published in Showcase 500 Art Necklaces and 500 Gemstone Jewels by Lark Books, Art Jewelry Today 3 by Schiffer publishing, Lapidary Journal's Jewelry Artist magazine and The San Francisco Chronicle. She teaches workshops through art centers, and Guilds nationally. She is often found creating one-of-a-kind jewelry in her well-lit studio, The Sawtooth building in Berkeley, California.
Materials & Tools
Students have the option to buy a materials kit directly from the instructor. The kit fee is $55, inclusive of shipping & handling, and is non-refundable. Registered students can purchase a kit here. A list of the materials included in the kit can be found below. Please note that shipping times can vary. If you want your kit to arrive in time for the start of class please order by 5/21/25. Students are welcome to order a kit after that date with the understanding that it may not arrive in time for the class.
Student participation during or in-between class sessions is not required - observers are welcome.
Materials Kit:
- 4 inches of 1.6mm x .010mm light wall tubing, sterling silver (Hoover&Strong)
- 2 strips of 3mm x 6-inch sterling silver sheet, 22ga - for clasp walls (RioGrande)
- 3 inches of sterling silver round wire, 18ga - for stem of key (RioGrande)
- 3 inches of sterling silver round wire, 20ga - for safety latch, hinge pins (RioGrande)
- 12 inches of medium silver solder wire - fold soldering applications (RioGrande)
- 40 inches of 304 stainless steel, non-coated, 7 x 7 strand core cable size 1/32"(Grainger)
- 1 x sheet 220 grit wet/dry sandpaper / or similar (McMaster)
- 1 x square of scotchbrite - to clean the stainless steel (any convenience store)
Students Should Supply:
- 1" x 6", 22ga or 24ga sterling silver sheet (RioGrande or RioGrande, respectively) - this is a suggested minimum amount.
- Silver balls made from scrap silver
- Bezel wire and stones - optional (only if you plan on using a stone)
- Setting tools/burs - optional (only if you're setting a stone)
- Extra sterling sheet and round wire in 16, 18, or 20ga
- Center punch
- Drill bits in various sizes 2 - 2.5mm or in between - to fit the ball of your key
- Burs- round or cone
- Steel wire cutters - for cutting the stainless steel wire (the instructor recommends Lowes or similar)
- Shears
- Tube cutting jig or mitre jig
- Sharpie
- Safety glasses
Suggested But Not Mandatory
- Brass, copper, or steel tubing for wire solder - as a handle to hold the wire solder
- Mini files (4" length), cut # 2 round, three-sided, flat/equaling - for getting into small places
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.
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 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)
Basic Soldering / Home 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
Other/Miscellaneous Items
Hard work surface
Fan and open window - or ventilation system
Safety glasses
Pencil, Sharpie, notebook
Rags/towels
See "Students Should Supply" section above.