Mrs. Carson
Beginning Assignments

Jewelry and Metalsmithing

Central Valley High School

Mrs. Carson

Beginning Assignments

Basic Rings

#1.  Fabricate one band ring of a specific size using half round, pattern, or square wire.

·        Always cut the metal one size larger than required on the ring gauge for filing waste and shrinkage.

·         Stamp your initials on the inside or stamp sterling if using silver.

·        Solder the ends together with easy solder.

·        Polish with Tripoli and Rouge.

#2. Fabricate a band ring of a specific size with any combination of twisted wires.

·        Twisted wire rings of the same metal require 3 times the finished length.  Twisted wire rings of different metals require 2 times the finished length for each wire.

·        Forge to slightly flatten the wires and anneal.

·        Bend and solder with easy solder and polish.

#3.  Fabricate a band ring out of 20 gauge sheet metal.

·        This ring cannot be wider than ½ inch.

·        Stamp 3 or more initials in the inside of the ring.

·        Use the rolling mill and sandpaper to create a pattern on the metal.

·        Solder with easy solder and polish.

#4 Beginning Assignment Overlay Soldering  Pendant

Fabricate a piece of jewelry which has an original design cut out of sheet metal and soldered on top of another piece of sheet metal.

·        Cut the pattern out of the thicker 20 gauge.

·        Solder to the second sheet with medium solder.

·        Solder additional elements with easy solder.

·        Inlay with Durenamel, or antique with liver of sulfur. 

·        Inlay with crushed stone and Durenamel for up to 5 extra credit points.

·        The project must have a jump ring or bail.

Complete this project for a total of 30 points.

#5   Beginning Assignment Crown Ring

Fabricate a ring made of two structural parts: the crown or decorative top of the ring and the shank, the part that goes around your finger.

• Make the shank out of sheet, half or double half round wire and medium solder.
• Make the crown out of a combination of sheet, wire and medium solder.
• Solder the shank to the crown with easy solder.

No  cut stones are to be used as this is an advanced technique requiring greater skill than you have developed at this point.

#6 Beginning Assignment Band Ring

Fabricate a ring which is the same thickness all around the ring and has a repeated pattern around the ring. This should be something other than a simple half-round or twisted wire ring.

• The design must repeat around the ring.
• The ring must be the same width around and not more than ½ inch.

Complete this project for a total of 30 points.

#7  Beginning Assignment Key Fob  or Money Clip

Create a key fob.

• You must design this piece with a hole for a jump ring or design a bail to be soldered in place.
• This piece must be able to be hung for credit.
• Durenamel inlay is optional

Complete this project for a total of 30 points.

#8 Beginning Assignment   Choice Technique

 If time permits students may create additional pieces of jewelry at their own expense but these pieces will not be graded. You must however submit a worksheet with required metals and costs for auditing purposes.

Remember that each assignment receives a worksheet grade, design grade and craftsmanship grade. Each is based on 10 points. 10 is an A, 9 is a B, 8 is a C and 7 is a D, 6 and below is an F. Zero means that the piece was not submitted for grading.