12 Hour Classes
INSTRUCTOR: Pete Acquisto, Fellow
COURSE: Silversmithing and Machine Work
PROJECT: English Porringer, Circa 1648 (This class is FULL)
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The simple shapes of the handle and the bowl of this nice porringer make it an excellent project for the beginner. This tiny dish, only 5" in diameter, can be used for a child’s dish, candy dish, nuts, whatever the student wants it to hold. Students will use the lathe and the flexshaft machine to turn the bowl of the porringer. An attachment will be used to easily make the curve of the outside of the bowl. A drill bit and burs will be used to shape the inside of the bowl. Patterns will be provided for the handles. Students will use a jeweler’s saw to cut the handle to shape. They will learn how to use the flexshaft machine to refine the shape of the handle. Hand files will also be used to refine the handle. Basic soldering will be taught by practicing with scrap silver before soldering the handles to the bowl. The last step will be to polish the porringer using the flexshaft with polishing wheels and then the buffing machine for the final polish. Students will be amazed at what they can do.
TIME:
12 hours. This class will be fun and informative. Students will have time to finish the piece in the time allotted. There will also be plenty of silver available for those who finish early and want to make something else, maybe a spoon, or just practice skills.
POWER TOOLS:
flexshaft, lathe, buffing machine
SKILL LEVEL:
Beginner to intermediate. This class is designed for the person with no experience and who wants to learn to operate the equipment necessary in silversmithing. However, more intermediate students who have had silversmith or machine experience will find this class to be a perfect opportunity to learn new ways of working with silver while refining and perfecting existing skills.
MATERIALS FEE:
$80 to be collected at school