DragonWerx Class Activities

Class Activities

	Sterling silver and copper pendant; student work during a combined jeweler saw and silversmith classes. The copper overlay and silver leaf were cut out with the jewelers saw. Then the copper was soldered to the leaf shape. A copper wire was flattenend with a hammer and soldered to the back of the leaf. It was twisted into a loose spiral to make the bail. This was just one of the projects that was completed during a three-day class.
	Here is a final project made during a 3-day combined class, piercing and basic silversmithing. After the elements were soldered for the pendant, it was pierced from the backplate so the half-ring and bead details could be seen, without weakening the design. An independant free-hanging bail was added by cutting a shape out of silver, fastening a wire, putting the pendant on, then soldering the wire closed at the back of the bail. This way, the pendant hangs freely, there's plenty of room in the bail for a large chain if desired, and no issues with soldering the bail to the pendant by mistake. The stone is a green aventurine, a type of feldspar.
	In the first part of the silversmithing class, the student made the bezel box and wire decoration to fit the red jasper stone. Then she selected random copper scrap and silver wires to design a frame for the stone setting. A hammer was used to texture the copper and flatten the silver wire. She then soldered the copper components together, soldered on the setting, and colored them with the heat of the torch. To preserve the color, the bail was riveted in place, then the stone was set.
	Student at the jewelers bench during one of the classes.