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    Fentz.wire form in silver
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    Fentz.brass wire locket and brass capture with rock

Engineering Wire Settings and Captures 2.0

This demo focused virtual class will expand upon the first wire fabrication class, “Engineering and Fabricating Wire Settings and Captures.” Students will take their knowledge of wire fabrication one step further with an introductions to more complicated design and fabrication problems in wire. Students will be challenged to think outside the box of traditional stone setting to design and fabricate innovative settings and captures, with emphasis placed on engineering and problem solving. Bringing specific objects to be considered during the brainstorming session at the end of demos is encouraged.

For more information about virtual courses, visit our Virtual Course FAQ page.

Please read the Materials & Tools tab! 

Meet the instructor

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Taylor Fentz is an artist and metalsmith inspired by the nature of perception; how it is formed and experienced. She has over 12 years of experience in fine metalsmithing, but considers herself largely mixed media.Taylor completed a studio residency at Contemporary Craft (formerly the Society for Contemporary Craft) before spending a year developing a line of art jewelry lockets. She currently teaches Fine Art and Metalsmithing at Ball State University part-time while continuing her thesis work.

Materials & Tools

The following supplies will be used for course demonstrations and objectives. A suggested item and/or vendor has been provided below for reference. Click the vendor name to be redirected to a page where you can view the item. The quantities needed for each item are listed first. If ordering, please be aware that some items may come in larger quantities than needed for this class. We recommend not opening an item's packaging until the day of the workshop. Student participation during or in-between class sessions is not required - observers are welcome.

Raw Materials/Consumables: (note that multiple sizes of wire and sheet can be used for the entrapment techniques covered in this class - choose the size and alloy you prefer): 

  • 5ft. approx. x 925 / copper / brass round wire- 20g to 14g (Rio Grande)
  • 5ft. approx. x 925 / copper / brass square wire- 20g to 14g (Rio Grande)
  • 5"x5" approx. x 925 / copper / brass square wire- 26g to 18g (Rio Grande)
  • 1 pack x double sided separating disks (Rio Grande)
  • 1 pack x fiber wheels - course, medium, fine (Rio Grande)
  • 1 pack x snap on sanding disks (Rio Grande)
  • 1 pack x snap on mandrel (Rio Grande)
  • 1 pack x silicone polishing wheels - course to fine (Rio Grande)
  • 1 pack x cup burs - size appropriate for your wire gauge

Hand Tools:

Basic Soldering/Torch Setup:

Other/miscellaneous items:

  • particulate dust mask
  • eye protection
  • fan / open window, ventilation, or outside
  • pencil, pen, paper
  • masking tape
  • Sharpie

 

***All materials, tools, and equipment may or may not be necessary or useful to every student. If funds are limited, please feel free to come with whatever you already have and wait to make more informed purchases after you’ve watched the demos. Also, feel free to email the instructor directly with any questions or concerns at [email protected].

 

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