Soldering

---

 
Description: Make a handmade basket-prong setting from scratch, and use it to capture cabochons, drusies, and more. Hone your soldering skills as you fit the setting to a stone and solder it all together. This class covers a range of techniques, including floating up to two wires for the sides, making vertical prongs, making a textured background, and forming a custom bail in a mix of sterling and copper.

 
Students will Learn: How to fabricate and solder a prong setting from sheet and wire to custom-fit a stone, including soldering, adjusting and setting the prongs, using multiple flow points (temperatures of solder), and polishing with power tools.
 
Prerequisites: Previous experience soldering precious metal is required (for example, a basic soldering class). Please note that low-temp soldering (stained glass and electronics) and fusing is not equivalent experience for this class.
 
Project will be completed in class.
 
At least 16 years old.
 
Supplies to Bring: Bench block, fine-tip marker, safety glasses. Required: drusy or cabochon to set (1-1.5 in. diameter recommended). Round, oval, or irregular stones without sharp corners are easier to set. Avoid very soft or fragile stones for your first setting. Bring an apron and dish towel size rag (both in natural fabric, like cotton). Optional: Low power magnifiers (1.25 - 2x, like head band magnifiers, reading glasses, or clip on magnifiers), and a small, portable task lamp. Instructor will bring all other tools and supplies for the project, including torches and butane, for students to use and share during class.
 
Pliers: Chainnose without grooves, flush side-cutting, standard roundnose.
 
Materials in Kit: Sterling wire and solders; copper wire and sheet; sandpaper; full-color step-by-step handout.
 
Limit: One seat per person per class.