24/03/16 Alternative Stone Setting: Fancy & Fragile - VIDEO ONLY

Recorded Live Saturday, March 16, 2024 

This class was previously recorded, and the recording will be available for students to access through their Little Metal Foxes accounts through 4/16/24.

Instructor: Jennifer Stenhouse

Finding new and creative ways to set stones can be tricky, especially when you are working with setting materials that are unusual, fragile, and extra fancy! If you are craving the opportunity to work with setting something delicate and treasured, this is for you! Let's find some new ways to set your alternative materials that will show them off while supporting them securely. Jenifer will walk you through a series of steps to design the perfect constructions for your work using metal sheet and wire. She will also show you how to brainstorm answers through models and other materials.

So bring your treasures, problem settings, and fragile parts that may need something besides a bezel or prong to hold it in place, and we will take it from there to create something totally new and different for your work. 

The class supply list is below and contains links to buy the supplies you need.

Supply List for Students

The links below will take you to RioGrande.com or other suppliers. To see prices for precious metal items, you need a free Rio Grande account. Students in the Rio for Schools program enjoy wholesale benefits for six months (instructor code = RFSLMF). This site may contain Amazon and other affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, at no cost to you, we may receive a small commission on qualifying purchases.

Recommended Materials:

A small variety of wire gauges, sheet metal and tubing profiles afford you a broader range of experience and design possibilities. You don't need a lot of material to work with. A foot or two of different wire, tubing and a few crimp beads make this easy! We will also be discussing a number of adhesives that will help connect your objects.
Listed below are options that I will be discussing and demonstrating. It is not necessary to purchase all of them to be able to work on your jewelry.

Metal options:

• Crimp beads (fits 18-20 gauge wire)
• Tubing, 2mm, one foot 
• Half round wire is a great option for making bails. The size will depend on the size of the pendant you are working with.
• Double half round wire. This is great for creating rabbit ear bails. Again the gauge depends on the size of the piece.
• 20-16ga sterling round wire. You can use other gauges, you just need to have a tube that fits the wire inside. And of course other wires an be added for decorative effect! I’ll be demonstrating with 19ga because I like it for earring wires. I will also be using the 16ga for a heavier joint demo.
• Solder of your choosing.

Recommended Tools:

• Torch to solder
• Tweezers to pick up wire
• Slide gauge
• Drill of some kind
• #70 Drill bits for 22ga size hole
• Small round/ball bur (5.-1mm)
• Pin vise
• Bench pin
• Needle files
• 6” half round file
• Flush wire cutters
• Magnifiers
• Magnifier or Optivisor 

Supplies from the hardware or craft store:

• paper and pencils
• Safety glasses
• Set of small drill bits
• Pack of craft needles
• Large craft needles or tapestry needle
• Little paint brush for flux
• Emery paper
• Wet/dry emery paper, 200/400/600
• Fine sharpie