03/23 - 04/13 Boxes (4 sessions, Wednesdays, 4 weeks)
Wednesday, March 23 - April 13, 2022
4 sessions, 4 weeks
10:00 am - 12:00 pm PDT
Instructor: Julia Lowther
Zoom link and instructions for joining the call will be emailed 1 day prior to class.
The class supply list is below and contains links to buy the supplies you need.
This class will be recorded, and the recording will be available for students to access through their Little Metal Foxes accounts for a full month after the live class.
Every tiny precious object deserves a beautiful small box to keep it safe, a box that opens smoothly on well-constructed hinges and closes with a satisfying snap of the clasp. We'll build such containers in this class, starting with texturing/stamping to decorate the box lid, followed by demos and discussion of the infinitely variable intricacies of constructing boxes, hinges, and catches.
Skill Level: Intermediate - You must be able to solder on your own.
Additional images from Student R. Greening.
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. Registered Little Metal Foxes students can access the Rio for Schools program for significant savings (discounts and flat-rate shipping). 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
You will need 18ga and 20ga sheet, 3/32" tubing, and 14ga wire. These can be copper, brass, silver, etc. Here are the links for copper, the least expensive option:
- 3"x3" - 20 ga copper sheet - 132120
- 2"x3" - 18 ga copper sheet - 132118
- 3" - 14 ga copper wire - 132450
- 26ga stainless steel binding wire - 503073
- Solder 3" each: Easy - 101100, Med - 101703, Hard - 101704
- Paste Flux - fluoride free - OTTO FREI 154.440 (Ottoflux, Superior #6, Grifflux #1, Dandix = all the same. Rio Grande does not carry a fluoride free paste flux)
- 2" brass tubing 3/32" diameter - K&S brand - AMAZON.COM
- T-pins 2"or 1.5" - AMAZON.COM
Special tools (helpful to form box sides and make sure box is square):
Basic Tools you should have at your bench:
- Torch and fuel (both these torches use disposable 1lb propane tanks, most insurance allows this size inside the home)
- Sparker or Torch lighter - OTTO FREI 114.205
-
Solderite pad 6"x6" - 502064
OR other fireproof soldering surface (fire brick, or scrap of cement board, i.e. Hardie backer cement board) -
Pickle - 5010233
OR sodium bisulfate for pools from the hardware store -
Pickle pot - 501021
OR small crockpot
OR glass jar + PLASTIC lid + mug warmer - Copper tongs - 501017
- Flux brush - 115141 OR small cheap paintbrush with natural bristles (size 4 is good)
- Solder pick. This can be made from a length of wire coat hanger (pointed on one end with a flat spiral handle)
- Tweezers (for solder placement) - 115018
- Jewelers saw frame (2.25" throat) -110039
- 4/0 jewelers saw blades (pkg/12) - 110304
- Bench pin & anvil - 110014
- Cross-lock tweezers - 115051
- Dividers - 116224
- Brass sliding gauge - 116075
- Pin vise - 113146
- Center punch - 118117
-
Chasing hammer - 112225
OR small ball pein hammer - 119333 - Riveting hammer - 112087 (optional, if you have a chasing hammer)
- Flat/half round forming pliers - 111180
- Chain-nose pliers - 111911
- Flat-nose pliers - 111912
- Round-nose pliers - 111913
- Side cutters - 111931
- Nylon mallet - 112013
- Metal ruler - 116493
- Flat hand file (#2 cut is good, get a handle as well) - 114925
- Half-round hand file (#2 cut is good, get a handle as well) - 114931
- Set 6 needle files (cut #2) - 114797
- Joyce Chen shears - AMAZON.COM
- Emery board or sapphire nail file - AMAZON.COM
- Sandpaper (800, 600, 400, 220 grits) + popsicle sticks + masking tape
- Patina - Liver of Sulfur gel - 331033
- Polishing cloth - 337039