I find that it’s hard to classify a person as a beginner or intermediate student.  You might be intermediate in some areas and beginners in others.   This class is for someone that has some confidence using a torch and has basic metalsmithing skills.  

Take what you are ready for and let the rest go.  You don’t need to master all things presented.  It’s perfectly okay to take a class and be able to implement 30-40% of it and then as you practice that, you can try the remaining 60% of the material.  

My best advice is to attend live classes and be engaged.  Take excellent notes.  Within 48 hours revisit the class or your notes.  Things that do not make sense need a revisit.  You’ll then have the video to watch it again.  Attend the Office Hours to ask questions, post your questions on the private facebook group and try to make a little progress every day during that month.  

It is live and recorded.  Live sessions will be through Zoom.  Recordings will be posted within 24 hours (or as soon as we can get them up)  to the Online Learning Platform.  Catch up when you can and post your questions on the FB Private Group.  You have 6 months to get all your questions answered and 60 days to watch the videos as many times as you’d like.

Within 24 hours the classes will be uploaded to the Online Learning Platform.  You will be able to view the classes there 24/7 for 60 days or until Oct 6th.  They are not downloadable.

July 23rd 12-3 pm Pacific Time (4pm PT, 5pm MT, 6pm CT, 7pm ET, midnight London)

July 26th 4-7 Pacific Time (12pmPT, 1pm MT, 2pm CT, 3pmET, 7pm London)

July 30th 12-3 pm Pacific Time

August 2nd 4-7 pm Pacific Time

August 6th 4-6 pm Pacific Time

**You do not need to be present for any or all of the LIVE classes.  The classes will be posted to the online learning center for you to watch anytime that is convenient for you.  You’ll have plenty of time between classes to catch up and you can ask any questions on the group which I will promptly answer.

There will be additional impromptu LIVE videos and recorded videos broadcast and posted on our Facebook Group.

You’ll get real time live classes with the best possible broadcasting equipment including 6 high resolution, 4k, cutting edge cameras and the best mic on the market.  You’ll have different views to watch because seeing my hands is as important as seeing the up close surface fusing or a solder join flowing.  Often in class you can never see the details from 6-10 feet away.  So in many ways an online class is better.  Plus you are at your own bench or in the comfort of your own home.  You’ll have all your tools and be able to replicate it better because muscle memory in your studio at your bench is superior.  Watch and rewatch.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions and as you review your notes, if there is a question between sessions, I’ll be on call to answer them!

The perfect torch would be the EZ Orca Propane and Ambient Air ($141 at Otto Frei + $7 propane tank).  It’s my go to torch from reticulation and fusing.  If I’m not using my German BlowPipe Torch for granulating or fusing, I’m using the EZ Orca.  I’ve got a video on Instagram that shows how easy it is to use.  It’s portable and runs off small 1lb camping tanks that pose little to no danger in your studio.

A good alternative torch for this class would be the Smith Acetylene Ambient Air Torch.  Not the Little Smith.  This is a different torch.  Although acetylene is dirty, it can be used to accomplish these techniques.

A hot torch like the Little Smith or Swiss is not going to work for granulating, reticulating or fusing.  You need a reducing flame (billowy flame) for these techniques.

For Soldering:

It’s best if you have a oxy/propane torch like the Swiss or Little Smith.  

However if you are proficient at the butane torch this would be fine for soldering.  Also the acetylene is a good overall torch for this.  

Basically whatever torch you use now for soldering will work fine.  Many people solder with the EZ Orca also.  It’s a great all around torch to use for this class!  Plus you can use these small propane tanks in your apartment, just like the butane.

After you sign up, you’ll receive a comprehensive tool and supply list.

These are tools that I personally use.  You might have something similar and that’s fine.  You do not need to buy all the things, however I have been in so many classes where one of the tools the instructor used often was not on the list.  I felt that my ability to do the task was hindered because I didn’t have it.  So all my fave tools for the task will be on the list and if you want to wait to see if you want to buy it, that’s fine.

Please remember that I used to own a jewelry tool and supply company for 10 years and was a senior instructor for Rio Grande.  So I feel like I have tried nearly every tool possible.  I probably bought it too.  I don’t recommend tools unless I know they are the best.  Sometimes it an inexpensive tool and sometimes it’s costly.  If it saves me time and makes the job enjoyable, it’s a good tool.  I know that down the road I can sell them because good tools increase in value.

I usually don’t sell kits at classes because they are frankly time consuming to procure and assemble.  There is not enough mark up to warrant doing them from a business standpoint.  However I make an exception when I know that it would be so time consuming and costly for you to get the supplies from many different places and pay the shipping from so many places.  So the kits will include materials and consumables that you might need.  Tools are only included if I think it would benefit you.

Buying the materials for the kits is an expensive outlay of money tied up in a product that fluctuates in price.  I do my best to time the purchase at the best time.  I also get better deals when I am ordering 250 ounces versus you ordering 3 ounces.

So no you do not have to buy a kit, but I’ve included you in the numbers that I procured in hopes you would need one.  I will let you know what’s in the kit so if you want to procure your own things you can however I can’t do partial kits unless it’s offered at the end of class. 

I am the newest USA distributor for argentium granules.  Otto Frei and Rio Grande have both discontinued carrying them.  I don’t recommend fine silver granules (or sterling) and we’ll go over that in class.  The kits will have granulation glue, granules, a turntable, brush, copper salts and more.