Silversmithing -

Pendant & Ring Making 

Jerry Day is our guest instructor for Silversmithing. 

The silversmithing class teaches you about basic silversmithing skills and you will leave with a beautiful pendant that you have made. 

More advanced silversmithing students will learn about ring making.  You will leave with a ring made by you!.  Class sizes are limited to 8.   There is a minimum of 3 or the class will be cancelled.  Cost is $70 per student, so register and prepay early.  These classes fill quickly.  Jerry is an excellent instructor, a veteran teacher, a rock hound AND very popular.

Silversmiths saw or cut specific shapes from sterling and fine silver sheet metal and bar stock, and then use hammers to form the metal over anvils and stakes. Silver is hammered cold (at room temperature). As the metal is hammered, bent, and worked, it 'work-hardens'. Annealing is the heat-treatment used to make the metal soft again. If metal is work-hardened, and not annealed occasionally, the metal will crack and weaken the work.  During most of their history, silversmiths used charcoal or coke fired forges, and lung-powered blow-pipes for soldering and annealing. Modern silversmiths commonly use gas burning torches as heat sources. A newer method is laser beam welding.

Silversmiths may also work in copper and brass, although this is usually confined to practice pieces due to the cost of the metals

Silver has almost doubled in price recently - causing us to raise our prices.

A Classic Heirloom

When you pass on something special to one of your heirs, it is called an "heirloom".  When that item is very special - and valuable, it is called a classic heirloom.  We sell everything needed for you to create that piece of wearable art that you can be proud to pass on to the next generation.  This is why we call our bead & jewelry shop "Heirloom Classics".