Alex will provide strategies for setting stones with more difficult shapes including acute angles and other complicating factors. Students will learn how to fabricate bezels for and set pear and trillion faceted stones. Techniques apply to any angular faceted stone.
Remote Instruction
This is an online, live, interactive class. Alex Boyd will connect to the BoMA studio live on our large screen TV via Zoom. The first part of the class will be used for introductions, sharing some of Alex's work and history and demonstrations. All of the demonstrations have been filmed in advance to have the best possible camera angles and explanations. After that, students will have time to work on the techniques on their own and if they have questions, they can call, text or video chat with Alex. Alex will address questions which have universal appeal. Students will have more time for independent work and Alex will continue to be available for questions until the end of class.
Students will have access to the videos from the class for 2 weeks after the class. Alex will also answer emailed questions for two weeks after the class.
Prerequisite
Intermediate or advanced metalsmithing skills are required for this class.
About the Instructor
When Alex Boyd was a young boy he stole an enchanted ring from a powerful bruja. That night his slumber was disturbed by a tapping at his window. When he slid the window open a huge raven rushed in, flew around the room and perched on his bookshelf. "I know what you have taken from me," the raven cawed. "I don't know what your talking about," Alex lied, hiding his bejeweled finger behind his back. "No matter. It is your problem now. The wearer of that ring is indentured to create more talismans of power, either for 1000 years or until he makes something so sublime, so perfect, so beautiful that the spell is broken and he is freed." "1000 years it is," Alex said as he thrust the raven out the window and slammed it shut behind her. He has been making jewelry ever since.
Materials Kit* $35 payable to instructor
(materials kit will be available for purchase in the BoMA studio for those students working in the studio on the day of the class and be shipped to students working from their home studio)
3.4mm (8 gauge) sterling silver sheet 2cm x 1cm .8mm (20 gauge) sterling silver sheet 2cm x 2cm 2mm (14 gauge) sterling silver 4mm x 3cm
.5 mm (24 gauge) fine silver bezel wire 1mm x 6cm Hard silver solder
Pear CZ 5mm x 7mm Trillion CZ 5mm
8 gauge round brass wire
*Materials kit purchase is required for all BoMA workshops. The kit insures all students have the same tools and materials require to learn the technique and allows the instructor and the students to focus on the technique rather than the materials.
Tools & Equipment Students will Need to Provide
(both students working in the BoMA Studio and those working in their home studio)
Rio Grande item # unless otherwise specified:
Scribe #118459
#2 cut needle file set #114764
#4 or #5 cut needle file set #114766
(Notes about needle files: I can’t recommend a good set of needle files in both these cuts more highly. They are one of the keys to the quality of craftsmanship I can achieve, but they are also a substantial investment. If you aren’t ready to make that leap this project can be completed with a lesser degree of refinement with the following files: #2 square, #2 round, #2 half-round.)
180, 320 and 600 grit sanding sticks (I make my own with 3M wet/dry papers) #337595
1mm drill bit #342582
1mm ball bur #341280
.6mm ball bur #341176
0 cut flat file #114924
2 cut round file #114713
Needle file handle #114849
Permanent marker
3” medium grit 3m bristle disc wheel #332333 (This is my go to. If you prefer a high polish on your work go with a cotton buff and polishing compound)
2/0 blades #110306GR
Sticky wax/charcoal pick-up (I’ll teach you how to make this. Beeswax works too)
Tools & Equipment Available in BoMA Studio
(students who will work from their home studio will need to supply all of these)
*Torch (at least acetylene/air preferable fuel/oxy) #500700 This is my favorite torch Pickle #5010233*Chain-nose pliers #111911
*Iron wire birds nest (see free tutorial at www.alexboydstudio.com)
*Flush cutters #111520
*Bezel roller #113063
*Dividers #116010
*3rd hand tweezers #502067
*Flex-shaft or micromotor #117539
*Saw frame #110041
*Bench block #112570
*Light flat-faced hammer #112461
*Solder block #502063
*Parallel jaw pliers (Optional but very useful) #111321
*Flat/round-nose pliers #111190
*Titanium solder pick #503019
*Prips flux (not available through Rio) Otto Frei #154.503
*Hypodermic bottle #504005
Notes about fluxes and soldering: I use Prips in a hypodermic bottle to flux my work and a titanium solder pick to pick solder. There are many effective fluxes, application methods and ways to place solder on the piece. This is what works for me and what will be demonstrated but feel free to use the methods you are comfortable with.
Maximum Number of Students: 8 in the BoMA studio, 7 online
Students must be 18 and over. Students will be required to sign a waiver
Cancellation Policy
Waitlist
If the class is full, send an email to info@bouldermetalsmiths.com with the title “Please Add Me to the Waitlist” with the name of the class and your name.
Remote Instruction
This is an online, live, interactive class. Alex Boyd will connect to the BoMA studio live on our large screen TV via Zoom. The first part of the class will be used for introductions, sharing some of Alex's work and history and demonstrations. All of the demonstrations have been filmed in advance to have the best possible camera angles and explanations. After that, students will have time to work on the techniques on their own and if they have questions, they can call, text or video chat with Alex. Alex will address questions which have universal appeal. Students will have more time for independent work and Alex will continue to be available for questions until the end of class.
Students will have access to the videos from the class for 2 weeks after the class. Alex will also answer emailed questions for two weeks after the class.
Prerequisite
Intermediate or advanced metalsmithing skills are required for this class.
About the Instructor
When Alex Boyd was a young boy he stole an enchanted ring from a powerful bruja. That night his slumber was disturbed by a tapping at his window. When he slid the window open a huge raven rushed in, flew around the room and perched on his bookshelf. "I know what you have taken from me," the raven cawed. "I don't know what your talking about," Alex lied, hiding his bejeweled finger behind his back. "No matter. It is your problem now. The wearer of that ring is indentured to create more talismans of power, either for 1000 years or until he makes something so sublime, so perfect, so beautiful that the spell is broken and he is freed." "1000 years it is," Alex said as he thrust the raven out the window and slammed it shut behind her. He has been making jewelry ever since.
Materials Kit* $35 payable to instructor
(materials kit will be available for purchase in the BoMA studio for those students working in the studio on the day of the class and be shipped to students working from their home studio)
3.4mm (8 gauge) sterling silver sheet 2cm x 1cm .8mm (20 gauge) sterling silver sheet 2cm x 2cm 2mm (14 gauge) sterling silver 4mm x 3cm
.5 mm (24 gauge) fine silver bezel wire 1mm x 6cm Hard silver solder
Pear CZ 5mm x 7mm Trillion CZ 5mm
8 gauge round brass wire
*Materials kit purchase is required for all BoMA workshops. The kit insures all students have the same tools and materials require to learn the technique and allows the instructor and the students to focus on the technique rather than the materials.
Tools & Equipment Students will Need to Provide
(both students working in the BoMA Studio and those working in their home studio)
Rio Grande item # unless otherwise specified:
Scribe #118459
#2 cut needle file set #114764
#4 or #5 cut needle file set #114766
(Notes about needle files: I can’t recommend a good set of needle files in both these cuts more highly. They are one of the keys to the quality of craftsmanship I can achieve, but they are also a substantial investment. If you aren’t ready to make that leap this project can be completed with a lesser degree of refinement with the following files: #2 square, #2 round, #2 half-round.)
180, 320 and 600 grit sanding sticks (I make my own with 3M wet/dry papers) #337595
1mm drill bit #342582
1mm ball bur #341280
.6mm ball bur #341176
0 cut flat file #114924
2 cut round file #114713
Needle file handle #114849
Permanent marker
3” medium grit 3m bristle disc wheel #332333 (This is my go to. If you prefer a high polish on your work go with a cotton buff and polishing compound)
2/0 blades #110306GR
Sticky wax/charcoal pick-up (I’ll teach you how to make this. Beeswax works too)
Tools & Equipment Available in BoMA Studio
(students who will work from their home studio will need to supply all of these)
*Torch (at least acetylene/air preferable fuel/oxy) #500700 This is my favorite torch Pickle #5010233*Chain-nose pliers #111911
*Iron wire birds nest (see free tutorial at www.alexboydstudio.com)
*Flush cutters #111520
*Bezel roller #113063
*Dividers #116010
*3rd hand tweezers #502067
*Flex-shaft or micromotor #117539
*Saw frame #110041
*Bench block #112570
*Light flat-faced hammer #112461
*Solder block #502063
*Parallel jaw pliers (Optional but very useful) #111321
*Flat/round-nose pliers #111190
*Titanium solder pick #503019
*Prips flux (not available through Rio) Otto Frei #154.503
*Hypodermic bottle #504005
Notes about fluxes and soldering: I use Prips in a hypodermic bottle to flux my work and a titanium solder pick to pick solder. There are many effective fluxes, application methods and ways to place solder on the piece. This is what works for me and what will be demonstrated but feel free to use the methods you are comfortable with.
Maximum Number of Students: 8 in the BoMA studio, 7 online
Students must be 18 and over. Students will be required to sign a waiver
Cancellation Policy
- You may cancel up to 30 days prior to the start of the class and receive a full refund, less $25 processing. To cancel, send an email to info@bouldermetalsmiths.com.
- Cancellations less than 30 days prior to the start date will not be refunded.
- In the event we have to cancel a class, you will be notified prior to the start date and will be issued a full refund.
- Registration is not transferrable. You may not sell your seat to another student.
- If a class has multiple sessions, and you miss one, there is no make up opportunity and the instructor will not catch you up at the next class session. You may not join the next scheduled class, as there’s a maximum number of students for every class and it’s not fair to the other students.
- If you are late to a class, the instructor will not catch you up. There’s a structured curriculum for every class and its not fair to other students to skip part of the curriculum to catch up a student who’s late.
- Snow. Colorado has frequent snowstorms in the winter and does a good job maintaining their roads in the snow. Snowy weather is a regular occurrence in our area and most people are accustomed to traveling under such conditions. Classes will be cancelled only in the case of inclement weather conditions that would make class attendance unsafe.
- By clicking on the “I’m going” button and by paying the registration fee, you are agreeing to this cancellation policy.
- No Exceptions.
Waitlist
If the class is full, send an email to info@bouldermetalsmiths.com with the title “Please Add Me to the Waitlist” with the name of the class and your name.
