Metalsmithing with Lynette Andreasen/Can't Pin Me Down: Pinned Earrings

  • $100 or 4 monthly payments of $25

Can't Pin Me Down: Pinned Earrings

  • Course
  • 48 Lessons

**A Smith "Little Torch" is necessary for this class.** In this class, you will learn to create beautiful earrings made from pinned chain elements. Sheet metal chain elements will be cut either by hand with a jewelers saw, or with pancake dies in the hydraulic press. Students will learn “pinning” – balling up a wire on either side of the chain elements as well as pinning beads made from glass, stone, shell etc.

Course Overview

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What You Get

  • High-quality video instruction that walks you through every step of the process
  • Meticulous and detailed technical handouts with instructions and helpful information as well as dozens of hand-drawn illustrations
  • The opportunity to connect with both me, and other students as you work through the class (and after) to ask questions, share ideas, and create relationships with other jewelry makers
  • Resources including supplier recommendations, shopping lists, patterns, and project samples and instructions
  • Long-term access to the course.  As long as I have my classes online, you'll have access.  I guarantee a minimum of 1 year, but access will likely be indefinite.

What You Learn

  • How to texture metal with a rolling mill and pattern plates
  • How to use a jewelers saw to cut metal
  • How to use pancake dies in a hydraulic press to quickly and efficiently cut exact multiples to increase speed and profits
  • How to use the Smith Little Torch to melt and ball up a wire on either side of metal or other elements.  This technique is often referred to as "pinning"
  • How to "pin" beads made from glass, shell, stone, etc. to your metal jewelry pieces without burning, melting, or destroying them (yay!)
  • How to make gorgeous earrings or chain using these techniques
  • How to fabricate your own ear wires for earrings (2 different styles)

What You Make

  • Textured sheet metal
  • Headpins for adding beads to your jewelry designs
  • Gorgeous "pinned" chain style earrings with lots of movement and swing
  • Your own ear wires for earrings (2 different styles)

Contents

Introduction

This section gives a brief introduction to what we will be learning in this course, as well as a printable pdf with instructions to follow along with as you make your own earrings.  
Video: Pinned Earrings Introduction
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Syllabus
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Pinned Earrings Instructions

Sawing Shapes from a Template

In this section, we will cover how to saw shapes from a template, as well as various methods for texturing your metal.  There are also some handy printable charts and printable shape templates for you to use to create your own earrings!

It is important to note that if you plan to texture your metal, you should do that BEFORE you saw out your designs!  If you texture after cutting out your shapes, you will risk distorting your designs.  
Helpful Hints for Sucessful Sawing
Saw Blade Specification Chart
Sheet Metal Specifications and Equivalents Chart
Shapes Template
Annealing
Roller Printing
Video: Roller Printing
Preview
Pattern Plate Instructions (PotterUSA)
Hammers
Hammer Types
Video: Sawing Shapes From a Template

Using Pancake Dies

In this section you'll learn to use pancake dies to quickly and efficiently cut multiples from sheet metal, saving precious time at the bench!  I get all my pancake dies from PotterUSA. https://potterusa.com/
Video: Cutting Metal with Pancake Dies
Pancake Die Instructions (PotterUSA)

Filing and Sanding Shapes

In this section, you'll learn about the valuable skills of filing and sanding to refine and finish your jewelry pieces.  There are several printable handouts that are great references for information on files, sandpaper, and various flex shaft tools. 
Video: Filing and Sanding for Pinned Earrings
Finishing Work Filing
Finishing Work Sanding
Flex Shaft Tools and Tricks

Drilling Holes

In this section, we will cover drilling holes in your earring components as well as important information about how to determine what size hole to drill.  
Video: Drilling Holes for Pinned Earrings
Drill Bit Sizes Chart

Making Pins

In this section, you'll learn how to ball up wire with a torch to create the pins for your pinned earrings.  
Protective Eyewear
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Video: Making Pins

Pinning Shapes and Beads

In this section you'll learn all about using the little torch to "pin" your shapes together with heat, as well as how to "pin" beads made from even the most fragile materials. 
Little Torch Basics
Smith Little Torch User Manual
Video: Pinning Shapes
Caution
Video: Pinning Beads

Making Ear Wires

In this section you will learn to make 2 different styles of earring wires for your pinned earrings. 
Video: Making Earwires
Video: Making Wrapped Ear Wires

Finishing

This section includes some basic information on various methods of "finishing" your metal as well as some simple patinas.  
Patinas
Finishes

Pinned Earring Samples

This section includes photos of various samples made using the pinning technique.  
Pinned Earring Sample
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Pinned Earring Sample
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Pinned Earring Sample 1
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Pinned Earring Sample 1
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Pinned Earring Sample 2
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Pinned Earring Sample 2
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Pinned Earring Sample 3
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Pinned Earring Sample 4
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Pinned Earring Sample 5
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Pinned Earring Sample 6
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Pinned Earring Sample 7
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Pinned Earring Sample 8
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Pinned Earring Sample 9
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Pinned Earring Sample 9
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Conclusion

This section is a final wrap-up for the course.   

Thank you so much for being here, for letting me be part of your jewelry-making experience.  I appreciate you and hope to see you again soon!
Video: Conclusion

Hi, I'm Lynette.

I began jewelry making as an awkward 8th grader in a silversmithing class at my junior high school.  We soldered,  enameled, melted metal, and caught the tables on fire.  It was the best part of my adolescence.  In college, I earned both a Bachelors and a Masters of Fine Arts in Metals and Jewelry.  I've been teaching jewelry and metalsmithing classes since 2007.  I've been lucky enough to teach at some of the best jewelry schools and community centers around, including Mesa Art Center in Mesa, AZ, Baltimore Jewelry Center in Baltimore, MD, Peters Valley School of Craft in Layton, NJ, Pocosin Arts in Columbia, NC, Fuse Makerspace in Albuquerque, NM, The Ranch Center for Arts and Crafts in Snohomish, WA, and Virginia Commonwealth University in Doha, Qatar, as well as other schools that there isn't space to name! I love teaching people how to work with their hands and fall in love with the processes and techniques involved in jewelry making.  I love that you can spend a lifetime learning this craft and only scratch the surface of what there is to know.  I'd love to share my passion with you. 

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