Sunday, April 16, 2023
2:00 - 5:00 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.
Beads are lightweight, elegant, and cost-effective, offering you the ability to create wonderfully three-dimensional work without breaking the bank. You will learn to make beads from sheet metal to 3-dimensional form, and how to put your own spin on this essential jewelry building block. Demonstrations will include how to cut, form, and (most importantly) solder fully closed hollow forms. As always, there are easy ways and hard ways to accomplish the construction of these multi-dimensional works. In this class, you will learn how to take advantage of the easy ways, and avoid the difficult pitfalls (like actual explosions, yes, for real!)
Skill Level: Beginner/Intermediate - Some jewelry-making experience is highly recommended, especially some familiarity with using a jeweler’s saw, and some practice soldering on your own.
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:
- ~3”x3” - 22 ga sheet
- 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) - T-pins 2” or 1.5” (Amazon)
- Baking soda
Special tools (required to dome bead halves):
-
Dapping block and dapping punch set - 112929 (inexpensive) There are much more expensive dapping tools, but these will get you started :)
You can also use wooden dapping blocks and punches. Check out this article Julia wrote on how to make your own inexpensive wooden dapping punches.
Tools to make a small bead soldering support:
- soft fire brick (k-23 kiln brick) - Amazon.com
- set of 6 paddle/spade bits - Amazon.com
- old bread knife or hack saw - Amazon.com
Layout tools you may want:
Basic Tools recommended to have at your bench for this project:
- Torch, fuel, & spark
(both these torches use disposable 1lb propane tanks, most insurance allows this size inside the home) - Bernzomatic Propane Torch - HOME DEPOT (includes built-in lighter)
- OR Orca EZ Torch - OTTO FREI 114.250 (for DISPOSABLE tanks)
- 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. hardiebacker tile board) -
Pickle - 5010233
OR sodium bisulfate for pools from a 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 = length of wire coat hanger (point on one end + flat spiral handle)
- Soldering tripod with medium-mesh screen - 502087
- 6” Lazy susan turntable (all metal) (Amazon)
- 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
- Finger gauge set - 116021
- Dividers - 116224
- Brass sliding gauge - 116075
- Pin vise - 113146
- Center punch - 118117
-
Chasing hammer - 112225
OR small ball pein hammer - 119333 - Flat/half round forming pliers - 111180
- Chain-nose pliers - 111911
- Flat-nose pliers - 111912
- Round-nose pliers - 111913
- Side cutters - 111931
- Ring mandrel - 112575
- 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 #4) - 114796
- Joyce Chen shears (Amazon)
- Emery board or sapphire nail file (Amazon)
- Sandpaper (800, 600, 400, 220 grits) + popsicle sticks + masking tape
- Patina - Liver of Sulfur gel - 331033
- Polishing cloth - 337039