Professional Finishing Techniques by Holly Gage
Thursday, January 23 - February 6
1:00 - 2:00 pm Eastern
3-weeks 1-hour sessions live, and interactive online group on
Go to Meeting
All levels of ability
For a beautiful piece of jewelry to truly shine, the metal, the gems, and the design play front stage, while the finish plays the support role. Although no less important, a poorly executed finish can diminish the quality and perceived value of the piece. Is it rustic, or is it a poorly finished piece? There is a difference, and your viewer knows it, so don’t make the mistake of allowing the finish to be an afterthought. The finish also supports the statement the piece is trying to make. Is the piece sharp and edgy, or is it soft and romantic? A well conceive piece has a finish that helps to define the tone, and allows its magnificence to shine in the spotlight versus its flaws.
Learn about:
Prefinishing Metal Clay greenware techniques
Different rotary tools available
Polishing basics
Different rotary tool heads for different surface finshes
Getting in nooks and crannies
Studio safety
Professional Jewelry Finishing Techniques by Holly Gage
Materials List:
- Rotary Tool, Googles, Dusk mask, 3/32 collet, 1” rotary brass or steel brush, 1” rotary brass or steel crimped wire brush, Fiber brush, 3/32 Screw mandrels for radial bristles, 3M disk radial bristle polishing (blue, pink, peach, green) Eve® Rubber Polishing Wheel for Silver Cylinder and Knife Edge Coarse (White), Eve® Rubber Polishing Wheel for Silver Cylinder and Knife Edge Medium (Black), Eve® Rubber Polishing Wheel for Silver Cylinder and Knife Edge Fine (Blue), Eve® Rubber Polishing Wheel for Silver Cylinder and Knife Edge Super Fine (Pink), Polishing pins and 3/32 mandrel, Bench Pin, Ring Clamp or vise , Polishing compound, and cotton string.
(Note: Advantage® brand silicone rubber wheels mentioned in the tutorial have been discontinued and replaced with Eve® brand)- Prior to class, approximately a week before class, I will send you a PDF file of the lesson. (Please keep this for your eyes only due to copyright)
- Students will receive a link to a Go to Meeting (no account needed) and should arrive 15 mins. prior to the start of the first class. (I'm in PA eastern standard time)
- During class I'll talk about design and demo major steps
- You can ask any applicable questions you need during class.
- If you need to try something while I'm there to watch, no problem.
- If you miss a class, bring any creative development homework to the next session.
- Please take progress picture(s) of your piece. I will have a Private board for you to upload the pictures, so we can all view it, this way I can reference it, or point to it during our session to describe what needs to be done next. Please send this creative development homework it at least 30 mins. before class if not sooner -- stopping to upload pictures disrupts class time.
- Holly Gage cannot be held responsible for technical difficulties arising bad internet connections. You should have a camera on your computer to participate. Other people on your personal network may also impede the session, so it is recommended that only one person in your household should use the network at a time. Headphones are recommended.
- If technical difficulties prevent an individual from communicating during the group session or impedes an entire session, I will communicate with that person after the session to rectify the problem. If technical difficulties disrupt the entire session, make up time shall be added to the end of the sessions.