Description

Rings & Bracelet Silversmithing Class -11/24-25/2025 In North Bend, Oregon

This intermediate Ring and Bracelet Silversmithing jewelry-making class is available to any student who has attended our Beginning Silversmithing Class. We may also accept students who have previous silversmithing experience. That experience must include creating several bezel set pendants using hard solder. Students who have attended Beginning Silversmithing by Don Norris, Joe Silvera, or Chad Parker are welcome. If you haven’t taken a class with any of us but you have experience, please call me so we can discuss your skill level before you sign up. My number is 916 548-7361.

In this Intermediate Silversmithing Bracelets class you will create a:

Interchangeable Bracelet with a step bezel-mounted cabochon.

a cabochon mount that does not require a backing or padding.

It does require the Cabochon to be uniform in shape.

It also has a mount that is sized to the bracelet it is to be used with.

Bring your own or pick from our dozens of cabochons for this special project.

Universal link mount

This mount enables a designer to create specifically theme-based bracelets without having to create a specifically sculpted piece for every bracelet he or she creates.

Thousands of unique charms are readily available from many companies to use with this link.  Bracelet-making skills you will learn in this class:

the forming of a bracelet using a tapered bracelet mandrel

internal step bezel soldering quick bezel creation using step bezel proper technique for using a burnishing tool.

create identifying marks on your metal projects.

work-harden a bracelet.

determine the total bracelet length from a wrist size measurement.

create a universal mount.

using a ring holder to assist in polishing.

Materials used in the class are:

a cabochon or fused glass

sterling wire.

please bring a soldering-ready cabochon mount if you wish to finish more than one focal point.

please bring a cabochon or expect to purchase one for an interchangeable “Focal   Point” on your bracelet maximum width of 1 1/2 inches.

Dual Band Ring with classic V-shaped attaching point
The challenge of the dual-band ring is a clean solder joint where the ring shank meets the cabochon base.

A clean solder joint means less to no polishing in a hard-to-reach area.

In this class,

you will learn how to use a jeweler’s saw, ring bending pliers, ring mandrel, ring gauge, ring clamp, ring tumble polisher, and more.

You will be expected to have some soldering ability.
Because some of my student’s soldering abilities are a little rusty, I will give a one-hour demo on safety and fundamentals.  Within two hours you will be creating your ring. We expect that you can make at least one ring in class, we may be able to make two based on the student’s skill levels.

Ring-making skills you will learn in this class:

how to form a ring shank using ring-bending pliers

use of a jeweler saw & how to pick a blade size.

proper technique for using a burnishing tool.

work hardening a ring.

using a ring clamp and ring mandrel to assist in polishing.

a technique to get proper alignment of the ring band to the top.

a method for quickly polishing the inside of a ring band

method for no solder clean-up where the ring band touches the top.

how to place embellishments in front of mounted cabochons to develop rapid product fabrication skills to create a hammered surface on silver use of a tumble polisher with steel shot.
Materials that are used and available in the class are:

bezel wire or bezel cup with cabochon.

cast sterling embellishments (optional

pattern wire (optional

twisted wire (optional)

solder and expendables (included in materials costs)

cabochons

dual half-round sterling wire (included in materials costs)
You will also receive. 

a link to the documentation website of my beginning silversmithing class that includes a slideshow of the soldering process.

“I will teach you the basics of creating stunning silver jewelry and get you started on the road to becoming a profitable Silversmith.”

David Smith

Cost: $399.00 plus a materials fee of $60 to $120 collected on the class day depending on Silver Spot price and Pendant design selected

This class is 12 hours over 2 consecutive days Class size is limited to 5 students.

Rings & Bracelet Silversmithing Class -11/24-25/2025 In North Bend, Oregon

(Can’t make it to North Bend, Oregon? Check out our video series at  Silversmithing Classes Online – Silversmithingclass.com

People are saying.

This was the greatest class and instructor EVER!
I went into this class thinking it would be very tedious, something fun to try, probably make something cool, but not anything I would try again. My main objective was to learn about soldering without having to invest money in tools/materials I might never use again.
Dave is a great teacher. The class was nonstop education. It was a lot of info on selling, techniques, tips, etc. Never did I feel rushed or bogged down. Dave took a great amount of time individually helping each of us. Answering even unrelated questions. He showed us ways to make silver smiting fast (big fan) and profitable.
I completed 2 projects and felt confident enough to help a couple of other students a bit. I am in awe of my projects, and although they are not my usual aesthetic, I love them, and will now set up a space to do more pieces, combining the techniques I learned with some enameling techniques.
I can’t rave about Dave enough. He is so organized, calm, patient, and funny. He is safety conscious and critiques your work by teaching you what you could do better. He makes you feel confident in what you are doing.
If you get the chance, take his class. I can’t wait for the advanced ones.

Class review by Miranda Ackerley:

This is the perfect class for anyone wanting to learn how to be a successful silversmith, whether for yourself or your business. I’ve taken a silversmithing class before but was unable to continue making silversmithing pieces because of how expensive the supplies were. Therefore, I was most impressed by how affordable the tools and supplies used in this silversmithing class were. Unlike other silversmithing classes, Dave taught me how to use supplies that are less expensive and don�t require their room to keep from burning my house down. After the class, I was able to purchase the supplies and set up an area on my kitchen table to work without spending a small fortune. I think Dave can make any unsure beginner feel like an expert, and I left with the confidence to make beautiful pendants on my own.

Class Review By Alexis Brown
Just a note to thank you again for the great Intro to Silversmithing class. I learned so much in the 2 short days… and you gave me such a renewed appreciation for Southwestern jewelry.  I have a large collection of Native American jewelry that I have collected for many years… just looking at those pieces now, and realizing what is involved to create these pieces… well, I’m in awe!

Karen V
Dave Smith�s Beginning Silversmithing class was AWESOME! Two days of nonstop education. Dave is very organized, patient, and entertaining. He took time to help each person individually while keeping the rest of the class working too. He is safety conscious and critiques your work by teaching you what you could do better while instilling confidence in what you are doing. I am quite impressed with my project pieces and can’t wait for the advanced class. I have been making and selling beaded jewelry for about 4 years and while I love the creative aspect, I haven’t found my nitchï. Until now! Thanks, Dave,

Laury H
Hi Dave, I just wanted to thank you again for the Silversmithing class you taught at Beadoholique in Spring, Texas. I had a great time and FINALLY learned to solder without being scared of it. I am quite happy with my piece and enjoyed your way of teaching. I too teach jewelry classes and I’m a fine silver snob!! There’s nothing like it although I am told gold is wonderful to work with but too rich for my ‘not very deep’ pockets! Thanks again and I hope to be in another one of your classes somewhere in time.

 Kathy C.
I have been wanting to attend a silversmithing class to learn about the techniques because I didn’t want to learn on my own, and I am so glad I waited! I was blown away by the quality of instruction and how many techniques we were able to learn in just two days. Everything we needed was provided for the class, and I was so impressed with the preparation that was taken to get ready for students. Dave was great with giving 1 on 1 attention to each student (even in a large class), was extremely patient with those who were slower learners, and made difficult techniques seem simple by giving professional hints and tips. Plus he even pushed through and continued the course when he was sick. Dave gave us lots of options to get everything we needed to start on our own, including tools, materials, and instructional DVDs/’online content at very competitive prices as well. I was so impressed with my work and enjoyed it so much that I decided to purchase a kit and online instruction so I could review our techniques and learn new ones. The online content is fabulous; it gives you a view that would just be like your own on the bench, and even shows how to prevent or fix mistakes! Dave gave me the confidence to start making pieces the very next day on my own, and I’m very excited to have learned this skill. I couldn’t have been happier with the class and the instructor. If you decide to take this course I guarantee you will not be disappointed!

Melissa M.

Hi Dave, I was in your class at Argenta Bead Company this past September. After your class, I took another beginner silversmith class because a pendant, ring, and possibly a bracelet were to be taught and I wanted more practice and knew I’d probably get to learn different techniques with silversmithing. So far the class has only worked on a ring. I am very thankful I found your class because this class is more of a craft class. I got to experience an acetylene torch, saw, warm pickle, and paste flux (I prefer your method for flux & pickle) but it has been very frustrating and illogical with some procedures. Many students have had to re-solder pieces because the instructor did not do a good job of showing how to manipulate the solder with heat. Because you made us watch twice how solder follows heat I was able to save my solder when it balled up on the inside of my ring connection. Very proud moment for me because I was in a state of panic. There is much more I can point out but it would be a book. If I hadn’t found your class and taken just this other one I would have given up on making jewelry, and I want this to be a business. So thank you for sharing your skills and experience. I hope to take another class from you someday.

Rick C.

This was so much more than a soldering class. I went home and created jewelry for my wife and kids. They love it!

Tiffany H.

OMG! I am so looking forward to the advanced silversmithing class. I am the only student at my school who is making their own sterling body art.

Amber T.

I tried learning in online silversmithing classes but there just wasn’t enough detail about how to solder a bezel or how to handle the problems I was having. Dave covered all that in class. My comfort level is enough now that I plan to start selling as soon as I get enough pieces created. 
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