Description
Instructor: April Bower
Format: ONLINE: HYBRID (combination of live and recorded)
Dates of Class: November 1, November 3 and November 5, 2021
Class Schedule
November 1, 3, 5th
9:00 am until 10:00 am
***PHOENIX TIME***
Students will participate in a daily Zoom classroom with April. Question and answer period, live demos and further instruction will occur during these classroom meetups.
Instructional Videos will include:
- Creating with Argentium sheet and wire
- Creating Argentium dust
- Fusing
- Granulation (creating balls)
- Texture (rolling mill or hand fabrication)
- Forming
- Finishing
- Burnishing
- Polishing and oxidizing
Friday, November 12
3:00 – 4:00 pm
***PHOENIX TIME***
Sip-&-Share
Grab a beverage of your choice and join us online for some social time! Totally casual – time to share your finished pieces with fellow students – share your thoughts on the class – relax and enjoy new and old friendships
Class Fee: $195
Level: intermediate, must be comfortable with a torch
Type: A Project and Technique Workshop
Optional Kits are available on a first come-first serve basis.
price $125*
includes the following items and domestic shipping.
Order directly thru April with payment thru PayPal.
*price may need to change due to precious metals price.
Double check with April at time of order
allow ten days for shipping
- 24g ARSS sheet 3 inch by 1.5 inch
- 16g round ARSS wire
- .925 ear wires w/bead – 1 pair
- 18g 3mm sterling jumprings – 2
- 18g ARSS wire – 6 inches
- 18K y/g sizing stock 1mmx3mm 1/2″ for dust and moons
- 3 lidded cans for dust and granule collection
- oilcan dispenser with dispenser for liquid flux
- Yellow Aqua Flux in dropper jar
- Spatula
- Parchment paper sheet
- 26 g steel binding wire – 1 yard
- Index card
STUDENT SUPPLIES LIST – you will need the following to complete each project. If you have chosen to purchase a kit from April, you may skip down to the next section.
24g ARSS sheet 3 inch by 1.5 inch
16g round ARSS wire
.925 ear wires w/bead – 1 pair
18g 3mm sterling jumprings – 2
18g ARSS wire – 6 inches
18K y/g sizing stock 1mmx3mm 1/2″ for dust and moons
3 lidded cans for dust and granule collection
oilcan dispenser with dispenser for liquid flux
Yellow Aqua Flux in dropper jar
Spatula
Parchment paper sheet
26 g steel binding wire – 1 yard
Index card
STUDIO TOOLS and EQUIPMENT
Hand tools
Bench pin
Bench block
Side cutters to cut wire for granules
Metal shears
Vise grip pliers, any size will do
Jewelry flat or half round file and sanding sticks to smooth edges
Fine tweezers
Burnisher, curved tip preferred
Sharpie, fine tip
Hole punch pliers (1mm) or # 55 drill ( or close) for ear wire hole
Coarse flat 6″ or larger flat file with handle. Flat Bastard or wood file (refer to “About Files” handout)
Sandbag or wood forming block
Scratch brush
Planishing hammer for flattening granules & mallets for forming
Bar keepers friend or pumice for cleaning metal
Dish soap or Mr. Clean type liquid cleaner
Rubber gloves, kitchen type works well
Fine sand sponge or green scratch cloth to preclean the metal
An extra large foil lasagna type pan or a metal cookie sheet with parchment paper sheet liner to catch filings
A clean dry paint brush to sweep up filings and a business card or index card to use as dust scoop
A small soft artists paintbrush to clean up dust/flux application (inexpensive)
Clean shop rag or paper towels
Masking tape
Safety glasses
A cell phone tripod is nice if you have one, but if not, a soldering tripod with out the screen makes a very good support for cell camera to show jewelry projects
Torch. I use Eurotool Handy Flame butane, but use what you have. Larger bushier flame is better than small pinpoint flame. Your acetylene and air torch should work well with a medium/small tip (#1). A Smith “Little Torch” will do, but make sure to use a large tip with a softer flame. (See Torch video)
Solder station. Heat safe area with cookie sheet and fire brick or annealing tray. Solder pick and tweezers. A clean flat solderite board (preferred for fusing) & charcoal block to melt granules on.
Pickle and rinse water and a simple dish of water for washing and rinsing metal (if no sink).
*Flux: like Batterns, Rio My T flux, Aquaflux. (the clear yellow stuff, not white paste flux) *I supply some in your kit
Patina. your favorite blackener: Liver of Sulfur, Goshiba, Jax, Black Max
*Rolling mill. flat or combo
*You could replace the rolled texture with a stamped or hammered if no rolling mill.
*Polishing lathe or flex shaft for clean up and polishing
*Steel wool and pro polish pad will do. I supply some in your kit
OPTIONAL ITEMS
In addition to the items included in the kit, the following items are available for purchase through April:
Burnisher, 1.5″ curved
Flush cut Xuron snips with retainer
Forming set
Scratch brush
3”x6” solderite board
Charcoal block
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Our timing is approximate. Some sessions may last a bit longer; others may end a little early, depending on student’s level of experience and Q-&-A.
CONTACT INFO
Instructor Email Address: AprilBowerJewelry@gmail.com
Instructor Website: AprilBower.com
