No more static, flat rings! Learn to move heavy metal along two intersecting axis lines and flawlessly contour bezels to curved surfaces.
Great for intermediate metalsmiths!
Students can expect an overview of synclastic vs anticlastic forming as it relates to a cigar band style ring. We will discuss template usage and manipulation and walk through the fabrication of heavy gauge sheet to create dimensional, dynamic "saddle ring" silhouettes. Creating hefty sterling bezels and fitting them with precision to the curve of the band are also covered.
All the usual perks...
lifetime access to all course contents (for as long as I'm offering online courses)
ample high quality video demos, all prerecorded so you can go at your own pace
detailed PDF handouts for benchside reference
templates for project use as well as practical tips to help you create your own designs
community support via a private FB group
all shopping links for tools and raw materials
exclusive discounts and offers for students only
Have a question?
Level:
Intermediate
Prerequisites:
Some experience with sawing and soldering
Student Supply Lists:
A Word on Torches:
Detachable torch heads with disposable butane canisters will be sufficient for this course. These should be Sterno (or comparable) heads paired with collared butane canisters that are NOT refillable. Please note that small culinary torches like Blazers will not be efficient for the full scope of this project. Dual fuel rigs and larger torches such as the Smith Silver Smith and Little Torch, and comparable systems, will work as well. For more information on my favorite soldering tools, including many used in this course, visit this blog post.
Have a question?
Absolutely. However, I recommend using a camping style torch head and disposable canister, as opposed to a small creme brulee torch. This provides ample heat, an adjustable flame, and the fuel lasts much longer than the aforementioned alternative. Additionally, a Smith Silver Smith torch or similar rig works beautifully.
Not at all. Once you've purchased the class, you'll have access to the course contents indefinitely. Everything is pre-recorded and self-paced, so you can go at your own speed and tackle the course sections as you feel ready. (Indefinite access means access for as long as I'm offering online courses- there is currently no end in sight.)
If you're totally new to soldering, I recommend starting off with the Down & Dirty: Essential Soldering Techniques course. This will provide you with a foundational understanding of soldering tools and techniques as well as help reduce the element of overwhelm. Otherwise, is you have some basic foundation skills under your belt, you'll be just fine here.
Yes! A template is provided for this course. We will discuss how to size and edit it so that it suits your aesthetic. Alternatively, you could draw out your own or even use a pancake die for cigar band rings such as those sold by Potter USA.
Students in this course will be invited to join a private group for this course, located on Facebook. Within this group, they will be able to ask questions, share struggles and successes, get additional supplemental materials or videos, and interact both with the instructor and other students. I'll be available via my website and also active in the online course community. I'm only successful if you're successful, and I'll be there to help you however I can, as promptly as possible.
No problem. Shoot me a note through the contact page of my website and I'll get your account reset from my end.
I'm so glad you're here, and hugely appreciate both your support and your trust in me. My goal is for you to be successful. If at any point you have question, please don't hesitate to reach out to me either via the Student Community or directly through my website. I'm here to help you however I'm able, and wish you all the best on this creative journey.
Warmly,
Jessica
If it matters, I hold a Bachelor of Art & Design from NCSU's College of Design, am a trained Creative Performance Coach through an ICF-accredited program, have taught thousands of students over the span of thirteen years, and have been a full-time, self-employed metalsmith since 2007.
More importantly, I don't subscribe to the idea of the starving artist. I believe we design our lives and ourselves as much as we do our work. In addition to project-based technique courses, I create immersive coaching programs and provide 1:1 containers for highly motivated, action-oriented creatives who want nothing less than intentional design, authentic expression, smart structures and studio systems, and full alignment between who they are and what they do. You build durable, valuable, expressive art. You ARE durable, valuable, expressive art. To speak with me about coaching and learn more about how I can support you, schedule free a Connection Call below.
Due to the immediate access to written instructions, video demos, templates and other resources, I do not provide refunds for online courses under any circumstances. Please make your course selections carefully.
Online courses are a privilege to teach and take. Ethical behavior is non-negotiable. Sharing passwords, downloads and other materials with anyone who has not paid for this course will result in your immediate removal from the course, nor will you be permitted to register for a future course of mine. Please note that this website tracks login geography- if you log in to your account from North Carolina in the morning and log in from California an hour later, the system will notify me of potential user abuse.
I reserve the right to dismiss any student at any time from this course if the above ethical guidelines are in question or not met. Other reasons for dismissal from this course and/or future courses include rudeness/disrespect to fellow students, to me, and teaching this course as your own.