Description

Instructor: April Bower

Format: ONLINE: HYBRID (combination of live and recorded)

Dates of Class: November 1, November 3 and November 5, 2021

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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

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Class Fee: $195
Level: intermediate, must be comfortable with a torch
Type: A Project and Technique Workshop

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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CONTACT INFO

Instructor Email Address: AprilBowerJewelry@gmail.com

Instructor Website: AprilBower.com