Metalsmithing Unit

Objectives:

  • I can design a jewelry piece with a balance of positive and negative space
  • I understand that all positive space should touch
  • I can pierce metal using a drill
  • I can saw metal using a jewelers saw
  • I can file and sand to finish my jewelry piece

In Class Practice

Understanding Positive and Negative Space

Positive Space is the subject that you are drawing.

Negative space is the empty space around and in between the subject.


What is positive and negative space? Look through the presentation below:

Positive Space

Assignment: Japanese Notan Design 20 points

"Notan" is used by the Japanese to express "light and dark" as a element of design.

Here in the U.S. we use other words like positive and negative space or contrast.


Your assignment is to create your own Notan design to experiment with using positive and negative space to create a design.

Your design should have a balance of positive and negative space.

Design should be made out of shapes and not lines.



Video Directions:

Examples:

Summative Assessment: Metal Jewelry Piece

Requirements:

1. Design and create a jewelry piece out of a piece of copper.

2. You can make a pendant, earrings, key chain, or other, but metal piece should have a function.

3. Metal needs to be pierced in at least three locations.

4. Find a balance between positive and negative space.

5. Jewelry pieced should be finished with no jagged edges or scratches


Examples:

What is a Pierced Point?

You need to have at least 3 in your design!


Pierced pendant presy

Process

Step 1: Sketches 10 points

1. You need to get a 2in x 2in square of metal and trace it into your sketchbook 5 times.

2. Create 5 sketches of jewelry designs.

3. Color in black the areas that you want to cut out.

4. Make sure that all white areas (metal) connect in some way.

5. Make sure you have a balance of positive and negative space in your design.

Video Directions:

MetalsSketchingDemo.wmv

Step 2: Safety Quiz

Review the following safety presentation and take safety quiz. You need 100% on the safety quiz to begin working on metal.

Metalsmithing Safety

Step 3: Sawing and Piercing Metal

  • Transfer sketch onto copper using rubber cement
  • Drill holes in at least three pierced areas
  • Use jeweler's saw to cut out negative space from metal

Video: Setting up work bench and sawing

SettingUpWorkBench/SawingMetal.MOV

Video Directions: Drilling

Drilling.MOV

Step 4: Finishing

Grading

Soldered Ring Band

Assignment:

Create a ring band that is soldered and formed to fit your finger.

Step 1- Sketches:

Complete 5 different ring design sketches.

Figure out the measurement of your ring band using the size chart and the following equation:

Ring size Circumference (mm) + 3.14= X

Take X and move the decimal point to the LEFT= Ring band size (cm)

Use ruler to measure this length for each ring band sketch.

Ring Size Chart

Demonstration Video

RingBandSketch.wmv

Step 2- Preparing your ring band

1. Transfer your design onto metal

2. Saw out your ring band.

3. File the edges and sand out scratches.

Step 3- Annealing the ring band

Use the torch to heat the metal to a glowing orange color.

Place the metal into the pickle to remove the oxidization.

Step 4- Forming the ring band

1. Now that the metal is soft, bend the band so that the ends touch.

2. File the ends so they fit together with no space or gaps.

3. Clean the seam of the band by filing and washing it with soap to remove dirt or oil.

Step 5- Soldering

1. Make sure the ring is clean. Dirt prevents solder from flowing.

2. Paint a layer of flux on the ring. Flux prevents oxides from forming and allows the solder to flow.

3. cut a small piece of hard solder a tack it to the inside of the ring band right along the seam.

4. Clip the ring into the third arm and solder the seam.

5. Pickle to remove oxidization.

PreparingforSolder.MOV

Step 6- Finishing

1. Form the ring using the mandrel and rawhide mallet.

2. File, sand, buff, and polish your ring.

Grading