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Miniature Mechanics: Nuts, Bolts & Threaded Connections
Unlock the potential of precision in this online workshop focused on creating tiny threaded connections—perfect for jewelry and small-scale sculpture. Instructor Kristin Mitsu Shiga demystifies the world of taps and dies, the essential tools used to cut matching male and female threads, allowing you to create miniature nuts, bolts, and other functional cold connections entirely by hand.
You’ll learn how to choose the right sizes, understand the often-confusing thread standards, explore the best materials for durable cold connections, and even discover how to fabricate custom tubing in any size or metal. Alongside the technical skills, we’ll explore both practical and creative applications of threading—whether you're building moveable joints, mechanical clasps, or incorporating changeable elements into your designs. Solutions for both removable and permanent threaded connections will be discussed.
This class is ideal for metalsmiths ready to add precision engineering to their creative toolbox. No soldering required—just smart techniques, good design, and a few tiny threads that hold it all together.
For more information about virtual courses, visit our Virtual Course FAQ page.
Meet the instructor
Kristin Mitsu Shiga (she/they) is a maker, educator and small business owner with more than 30 years of experience currently living and working in rural Oregon.
Throughout her career, Kristin’s desire to balance her individual studio practice and working as part of a larger team allowed her to build an unusual skill set that includes everything from nonprofit arts administration and bookkeeping to armature-building for stop-motion animation studios. From a long line of educators, Kristin is passionate about teaching and has shared her knowledge with students at venues all over the US including Penland, Arrowmont and Haystack Mountain schools of craft, along with programs she established in New York, Oregon and Hawai’i.
Kristin believes that service is a crucial component of any career and has served in a variety of volunteer roles and on numerous nonprofit boards since 2001. She currently serves on the boards of the Hawai'i Artist Collaboration and Frogwood Artist Collaboration, and is in her second term as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the American Craft Council (ACC).
Kristin has shown her work internationally, and is included in several notable collections, including the Kamm Artful Teapot Collection and the Permanent Collection of the White House. You will find her work published in numerous books and magazines, including Art Jewelry Today, The Art of Enameling, Metalsmith’s 2017 Exhibition in Print, and several of Lark’s 500 Series books. Learn more about Kristin’s past work on Oregon Artbeat (segment originally aired in 2010).
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.
Consumables/Raw Materials:
- 1 x Mixed Nuts & Bolts Kit, 3/8 inch x 0-80 (ReactiveMetalsStudio)
- 1 x HSS Machine Tap (ReactiveMetalsStudio)
- 1 x Tap Handle (ReactiveMetalsStudio)
- 1 x Miniature Hand Die (ReactiveMetalsStudio)
- 1 x Die Handle (ReactiveMetalsStudio)
- 1 x # 55 HSS Drill Bit (amazon)
- 1 x # 52 Drill Bit (amazon)
- 1 x 4oz Tap Magic 30004P ProTap Cutting Fluid (amazon)
Suggested but Not Required:
- 1 x Threaded Rod, 12 inch x 0-80 - your choice of brass or stainless steel (ReactiveMetalsStudio)
- 1 x 2 Pack Thread Lock Medium and Strong Strength for Nuts, Bolts, and Metals (amazon)
- 1 x 3.9x3.9 inch Brass Sheet, 12ga (amazon)
- 1 x Nickel Silver Sheet, 12ga (Parawire)
- 1 x 1/16 inch Brass Rod (amazon)
- 1 x 1/16 inch Stainless Steel Rod (amazon)
- 1 x 1/16 inch Nickel Silver Rod (amazon)
- 1 x 3x1 inch Sterling Silver Sheet, 12ga (RioGrande)
Basic Hand Tools:
- 1 x jewelers saw (RioGrande)
- 1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 (RioGrande)
- 1 x burlife / bee's wax (RioGrande)
- 1 x bench pin (RioGrande)
- 1 x half round hand file - #2 cut (RioGrande)
Basic Home Studio:
- 1 x rotary tool - flex shaft, micro motor, etc. (RioGrande)
- 1 x center punch (RioGrande)
- 1 x riveting hammer (RioGrande)
- 1 x steel block / steel surface (RioGrande)
- 1 x calipers - optional / nice to have (Amazon)
Other/Miscellaneous Items:
- 1 x bench vise (HarborFreight)