Wednesday, January 27, 2021 
6:00 - 8:30 pm PST
Alternative Stone Setting Series, Class 1

Instructor: Jennifer Stenhouse

Beginning to Intermediate Levels

Zoom link and instructions for joining the call will be 1 day prior to class.

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

Bezels are one of the first stone settings most jewelers learn to do. In this 4 hour workshop, we will focus on the techniques used to create bezels, finishing them with professional results, altering the bezel, and finding new ways to make a bezel with materials other than plain bezel wire. We will begin by using bezel wire, showing all the tips and tricks to create unique settings with beautifully finished results!  Students will also be learning ways to hone their soldering skills and setups, fabrication tips, and improving finishing skills. We will cover how to create bezel settings for cabochon and faceted stones, unusual shapes, and found objects. We will show you great ways to use the flex shaft for clean up, setting, and finishing. Demonstrations will include the use of sheet, bezel, step bezel, and gallery wire to create settings for stones. We will also discuss working with and reshaping problem stones, simple solutions for unique bezels, and more. The focus will be on demos, soldering and construction tricks that help hold the work together, and to use of polishing wheels and burs for clean-up.  Students may just observe, or work along to create samples for settings to use for finished pieces.

Prerequisite: Beginning Jewelry or equivalent. Students should have some soldering skills.

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.

Recommendation for materials:

• Fine silver bezel wire
• Silver solder wire 3” each
• Flux
• 20g sterling sheet (copper or brass sheet may also be used for your samples)

Recommended Tools:

• Jeweler saw & 4/0 blades
• Small hammer
• Small rawhide mallet
• Drill of some kind, pendant drill, flex-shaft, hand drill
• Center punch/scribe
• Bezel mandrels
• Forming pliers
• Pin vise
• Bench pin
• Needle files
• Ball burs
• 6” half round file
• Small tweezers
• Ring clamp
• Burnisher
• Agate burnisher
• Flush wire cutters
• Magnifiers

Supplies from the hardware store:

• Paper and pencils
• Safety glasses
• Set of small drill bits
• Pack of craft needles
• Emery paper
• Small pack of drill bits
• Large craft needles or tapestry needle
• Little paintbrush for flux (no metal parts preferably)

Optional:

• Good option: Paste Solder, 1oz.
• serrated bezel wire, 3-12”, Scalloped bezel wire, 3-12”
• Gallery wire, sterling, 3-12”, 14g half-round wire
• 1x3mm rectangle wire
• Fine silver coin, ½ or 1 troy ounce can be purchased at a local coin, stamp, and metal shop. Great material if you have a rolling mill.
• Cabochon cut stones: oval, round, teardrop, square, freeform cabochon stones will all work. Also, found objects and enameled elements can potentially be used.