Hollow Saucer Bead

Explore the art form of soldering hollow forms as you create a fabulous silver bead!  We will utilize a disk punch and dapping tools to create the cup forms out of 24ga sheet silver and then solder them together with a washer of 20ga to add to the appeal.  The hollow bead would be beautiful strung with large scale beads, or as pictured here, you could make a second bead and use them for a great pair of earrings.  (Note:  Only one bead will be made in this class, but you could make a second bead in an open session class). This is not a beginner soldering project… however, we will use a variety of customized aids to achieve the joins with success.

• (1) 1″ x 2″ piece of 24ga silver sheet
• (1) 1″ x 1″ piece of 20ga silver sheet

For heat sinks:

• 1″ square of copper 20ga sheet
• 1″ x 2″ piece of copper 20ga sheet

Tools:

• Flush cutter
• Ruler
• File(s) – preferably a #4 cut half-round
• Sharpie marker (ultra fine tip)
• Embossing hammer (or other texturing hammer)
• Steel block and silencing pad
• 3M sanding sponges/ slurry coated polishing cloths
• Small flat piece of 180 or 220 grit emery paper
• Forming hammer

• Magnifying glasses– most people don’t think they need them until they are faced with seeing the detail of jewelry close-up.
• Covered water or other refreshing beverage
• Snacks are always welcome as well. 🙂

The following tools will be supplied in class for your use:

• 1.5mm hole punch
• pin vise fitted with a 2.5mm round bur
• Pepe disk cutter
• pencil/skewer for positioning the metal in the cutter
• silicone lubricant
• Doming set
• Basic soldering set-up
• Small honeycomb soldering board
• Annealing pan with pumice
• medium silver solder
• scissors/ rubber cement
• utility hammer
• custom copper heat sinks (will demonstrate in class)
• binding wire (2″)
• baking soda bath/ spoon
• Moore’s sanding disks/ flex shaft