In year 7 I had to do a subject called ‘metal work’. I recall finding it difficult – I was not very strong in those days. Well, I tried my hand at doing silver clay jewellery and have not been enjoying it at all, and I want to make jewellery. So I booked myself into a two day workshop for metal working. This time I enjoyed it. It helps to have upper body strength and also I’ve done other construction stuff since and so really it’s about finding the hints and tips on how to go about dealing with metal.
The first thing we did was practice on some strips of metal to see how it could be worked by hammering.
Day one’s task was to make a small spoon. We cut a circle from either copper or brass (I selected brass), anneal it (heat it so it could be worked), pickle it (acid, cleans the piece after firing etc), use the dapping block to form the bowl (that was FUN), cut a handle, solder the handle, file and polish it.
All of these things meant you had to learn to use the tools correctly and in safe manner (saw, hammer, soldering torch, pliers, etc). We had ear, eye, and clothing protections. It was very intense.
After I had polished my spoon, the next task was to cut out a much larger bit of metal for a raised bowl, which is formed by hammering.
i got a bit bored and also cut out some much thinner copper into shapes i will use at some point.
The second day (a week later), I annealed and started hammering out my bowl and I quickly got sick of it. I managed to get it into a bowl shape but I didn’t bother planishing it to smooth it out.
A guy in the course gave me a bit of silver to play with. So I decided to make a robot, because I broke my silver clay robot (didn’t make it thick enough). I used the bowl I’d just made to collect the silver dust and the pieces of silver (I gave them back to the guy who was nice enough to give me the silver!)
I made a little copper guitar and bass clef from wire I pounded flat after bending. The tutor showed me how to solder the back of the pieces first then assemble them all together and do a final solder. I also put a hook on the back in scrap silver so i can wear this dude as a pendant, which I have done a few times now. I had a good time decorating him with punches (he has 8, X, W and I’s punched all over him…).
I really liked doing this – though about 5 hours of it was pretty intense. I plan on learning more of this and I want to make silver pendents and brooches in the future. I have started salivating over jewellery supply places now.
The cat at any rate was impressed with my bowl.
