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Hot Argentium Earrings!
This live, three-session weekly course will delve into the vast topic of earring design and fabrication, with focus on Argentium fusion and torch use. Students will design and make several earring styles using fused Argentium wire, sheet metal, and varying combinations of both to create hoops, kinetics, links, and post style earrings that wiggle, pivot, drape, and become a focal element. Embellishment, texture, pattern development, as well as tips and tricks for soldering findings with Argentium silver will be covered throughout the workshop. Previous torch experience required.
Please read the Materials & Tools tab!
Class will be held live via Zoom during the designated time frame. A link to the Zoom room will be sent via email.
Each session will be recorded and you will receive a password protected link to the recordings that expire after 30 days.
Meet the instructor
Paulette Werger is a metalsmith and teacher who works in Lebanon, NH. She sells her work both nationally and internationally and is owner of Metalpeople East, a jewelry and hollow ware studio. She has taught metalsmithing at the University of WI, Montana State University, and at craft schools throughout the country.
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 (in red) to be redirected to a page where you can find 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 strongly encouraged but not required - observers are welcome.
There are several distributor for many of these items such as Otto Frei, Contenti, and Gesswein. The instructor recommends price comparing based on promotions and sales.
Argentium wire will be the focal material in this workshop:
- 12" x Argentium® round wire - 12g dead soft (Rio Grande)
- 24" x Argentium® round wire - 14g dead soft (Rio Grande)
- 24" x Argentium® round wire - 16g dead soft (Rio Grande)
- 24" x Argentium® round wire - 20g dead soft (Rio Grande)
- 1"x3" x Argentium® sheet metal - 22g dead soft (Rio Grande)
- 1 x sterling hoop finding set (Rio Grande)
- small piece x Argentium® wire solder - medium (Rio Grande)
A soldering setup:
- 1 x fireproof torch area - steel baking sheet will work (Amazon)
- 2 x 6"x6" Solderite™ pad (Rio Grande)
- 1 x compressed charcoal block (Rio Grande)
- 1 x torch - Smith mini or Silversmith (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
- 1 x #0 or #1 torch tip - if getting Silversmith (Rio Grande)
- 1 x titanium soldering tweezers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x tungsten soldering pick (Rio Grande)
- 1 x Ronda's Purple flux (Rio Grande)
- 1 x copper tongs - for pickle (Rio Grande)
- pickle - for non-ferrous metals (Rio Grande)
- crock pot or tempered glass container with lid - for pickle (Amazon)
- tempered glass container or sink - for quenching and rinsing
- small brush - for flux
Hand tools/supplies:
- 1 x needle file set #2 or #4 cut (Rio Grande)
- 1 x half round file - #2 or #4 cut (Rio Grande)
- 1 x plier and flush cutter set (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
- 1 x half round forming pliers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)
- 1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 and 4/0 (Rio Grande)
- 1 x bench pin (Rio Grande)
- 1 x rotary hand piece (Rio Grande)
- 1 x pack of pumice flat edge wheels - medium (Rio Grande)
- 1 x 1/16" screw mandrel 303 - 3/32" shank (Rio Grande)
- 1 x slotted mandrel - 3/32" shank (Rio Grande)
- 1 x center punch (Rio Grande)
- 1 x ring clamp (Rio Grande)
- 1 x shears - Joyce Chen recommended (Rio Grande or Amazon)
- high speed twist drill bits - #54, #55, #60 (Rio Grande)
- wet/dry sandpaper - 220, 320, 400 grits (Amazon)
Forming tools:
- 1 x rawhide mallet (Rio Grande)
- 1 x planishing hammer (Rio Grande)
- 1 x cross peen hammer (such as Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
- 1 x bracelet mandrel (Rio Grande)
- 1 x ball peen hammer - 8oz (any hardware store or Amazon)
- 1 x steel block (Rio Grande)
- 5/8" and 3/4" wooden dowels - a few inches is plenty
Other/miscellaneous items:
- hard work surface
- fan and open window - or ventilation system
- safety glasses
- pencil, Sharpie, notebook
- rags/towels