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Tiny Tension Catches!
Have you mastered tiny hinges and fallen absolutely in love with making all your jewelry tiny?! In this demo-focused virtual workshop, students will learn techniques for making tiny catches three different ways for hinged jewelry and body jewelry. Missing a torch setup? No problem! There is no soldering required for the techniques in this course; however soldered alternatives will be discussed for those with a torch setup.
This class on tiny clasps pairs perfectly with Taylor's other upcoming virtual class, Tiny Hinges! on June 4 and 9, 2026.
For more information about virtual courses, visit our Virtual Course FAQ page!
Meet the instructor
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.
Metal/raw materials (NOTE choose wire gauge to suit your comfort level with working small and know that small drill bits may break, so having more than one could prove helpful - additionally, thicker wire will be carved, so pick any shape you like):
- 1"-3" x silver, brass, or copper wire - 14g to 10g (Rio Grande)
- 1"-3" x sterling round wire - 20g, 22g, 24g, or 26g (Rio Grande)
- 1 x drill bits - #s 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78 (Rio Grande)
- 1 x diamond coated carving bits (Rio Grande)
- 1 x round bur set (Rio Grande)
- 1 x cup burs - OPTIONAL (Rio Grande)
- 1 x krause burs (Rio Grande)
- 1 x separating discs (Rio Grande)
- 1 x screw mandrel - for separating discs
- 1 x angle scraper - (Rio Grande)
- OPTIONAL but RECOMMENDED:
- JETT Basic: Fixture and Tool Compound (RioGrande) - for holding small parts for setting/detail work
- OPTIONAL:
- Magnifying device (eg. glasses, setting scope, bench top magnifying arm, whatever is typically used)
- Additional carving and setting burs (used for carving)
Hand tools:
- 1 x round nose pliers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x chain nose pliers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x flat nose pliers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x snips / flush cutters (Rio Grande)
- 1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)
- 1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 (Rio Grande)
- 1 x burlife / bee's wax (Rio Grande)
- 1 x bench pin (Rio Grande)
- 1 x half round hand file - #2 cut (Rio Grande)
- 1 x rotary tool - flex shaft, micro motor, etc. (Rio Grande)
- 1 x set of needle files - #2 cut (Rio Grande)
- 1 x half round forming pliers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x center punch (Rio Grande)
- 1 x scribe (Rio Grande)
- 1 x ring clamp (Rio Grande)
- 1 x rawhide / plastic mallet (Rio Grande)
- 1 x steel block / steel surface (Rio Grande)
- 1 x small steel ruler (Rio Grande)
- 1 x sheet of sand paper - 220 to 600 grits (Amazon)
- 1 x calipers (Amazon)
- 1 x dividers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x sanding sticks (Rio Grande)
- 1 x parallel pliers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x pin vice (Rio Grande)
- 1 x hand vice (Rio Grande)
Other/miscellaneous items:
- hard work surface
- fan and open window - or ventilation system
- safety glasses
- pencil, Sharpie, notebook
- rags/towels