Items to Bring with You

Class: Surface Embellishments

Instructor: John Cogswell

Items to bring with you:

DRAWING / DESIGNING / LAYOUT SUPPLIES -Notebook; sketchpad; pencils; etc. -Manila file folders (for pattern making, etc. Old, used ones are fine) -Wide-nibbed indelible marker -Fine-pointed indelible marker (e.g. laundry marker)

TOOLS & MATERIALS: Bring your own tool kit. Try to include the following: Saw frame and assorted saw blades (e.g. #2; #0; #2/0) Needle files Flat Hand file (cut #0 or #2) 6” Stainless Steel Ruler (inches/millimeters) Fine Pointed Scriber Spring dividers Pliers, assorted (flat, forming, etc.) Diagonal cutters Scissor-handled plate shears (shears designed for cutting thin sheet metal and solder) Center punch Assorted small drill bits Ring Clamp Triangular scraper Pencil compass Exacto knife, scalpel or sharp, fine-tipped scissors for cutting gold foil Curved burnisher (two, if you have an extra) Safety glasses or goggles

SOLDERING/HEATING SUPPLIES Solder: H, M, & E Stainless steel cross-lock soldering tweezers (insulated-grip) Fine-pointed tweezers (e.g. ‘AA’ style) Inexpensive, natural-bristle flux brush (plastic bristles melt!) Paste flux (e.g. ‘Handy’) Liquid hard solder flux (any proprietary brand; 'Batterns' is probably most common); small bottle Prip Flux (Homemade flux for special usage; you make it yourself. Recipe is at end of list. Bring about a pint in a tightly lidded, non-metallic container)

Charcoal block (new or resurfaced; approx. 3 1/2” X 5”). (Note: Allcraft Tool & Supply carries a very durable imported block [‘PaNa’] of superior quality -- I highly recommend it).

GENERAL SUPPLIES: Abrasive paper (assorted grits); best scored and wrapped around flat sanding sticks. #0 or #00 red sable brush #1 or #2 red sable brush 1 lb. spool of Black iron Binding Wire (18 ga or 20 ga) - from Allcraft

METAL: Remember that Touchstone is located in a somewhat remote area. What you bring with you is what you'll have to work with. I know that the price of silver is high, but do the best you can. Sterling Silver (.925) Sheet - (18 ga., 20 ga. and 24 ga.; bring what you can) Sterling Silver Wire - Whatever gauges and quantities you think you may need. Fine Silver (.999) Sheet - + 3” x 3” x 24 ga. Reticulation Silver (.820) Sheet - + 3” x 6” x 24 ga. (You can purchase this from Allcraft, or you can make your own alloy at the workshop, cast an ingot and roll it out. It's a great learning experience!) 14K (.583) Yellow Gold - (e.g. pieces of old broken ring shank; scraps of wire; sheet; etc.) the technique for which it will be used doesn’t require much. Dental gold will not work. Gold of lower karat works, but is not good for our intended application. Use of higher karats, which have higher melting points, entails risk of melting). Keum-Boo Foil (1" x 1" minimum; from Allcraft) or 24K (.999) Yellow gold - small piece of sheet approx. 1/2” X 1/2” X 24 ga. or one pennyweight (dwt) of 24K casting grain.

USEFUL OPTIONALS: (bring if you have): - Your own soft fire brick (flat, clean and smooth; from jewelry or ceramic supply) - A strip of 22 or 24 gauge copper approx. 2" wide x 12" long - Flexible shaft; key; assorted burrs and accessories - Brass hand brush (soft, uncrimped bristle) - Steel bench block - Optivisor - Shop apron - Small hand towel - Green nylon scouring pad (e.g. 3M, for scrubbing pots and pans) - Pair of Rubber Gloves (e.g. Playtex) - Pair of Cotton Gloves - Electric (single-burner) hotplate (for Keum-boo) - Metal pie plate (without holes in bottom) - Shallow, non-tipping container (e.g. flat-bottomed glass ashtray) - Small, lidded containers (e.g. baby food jars; etc.) - several; for granules, etc. - Masking tape

Suggested Suppliers

Allcraft Tool & Supply (Tools; Supplies; Silver; Reticulation Silver) 135 West 29th Street New York, NY 10001 (800) 645-7124

METALLIFEROUS (Tools; Copper; Brass; Nu-Gold; Nickel Silver; Reticulation Silver) 34 W 46 New York, NY 10036 (212) 944-0909

Hoover & Strong Refiners (Sterling Silver; Reticulation Silver; Gold) 10700 Trade Rd Richmond, VA 23236 (800) 759-9997 ______

‘Prip’ Flux (aka ‘Lahti Flux’)

This is a homemade flux, made from common, everyday ingredients. It has superior, long-term, high-temperature working properties. This recipe yields approximately 1 quart of flux; increase or decrease quantities proportionately to suit your needs.

3/4 cup powdered borax (laundry grade)

1/4 cup ‘TSP’ (tri-sodium phosphate); sold in hardware, paint and building supply stores (e.g. Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc.) as a cleaning agent - make sure it’s phosphate-bearing variety. Read label carefully!)

1/2 cup powdered boric acid; from drug store or grocery store [where it’s often sold as cockroach killer - read label

1 quart water

Mix all ingredients and water in a covered pot - stainless steel recommended. Bring to a boil and stir until all dry ingredients are dissolved. Allow to cool, then pour into tightly-capped glass containers for storage. Label! After pot is well washed, it is safe to use for cooking.

The flux may form crystals in the bottom of the storage jars. Disregard. This will not affect the working properties of the flux. To re-dissolve, loosen lid (or remove, if metal) and microwave to heat liquid. Stir to dissolve crystals. Re-cap. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Touchstone at: 724 329 1370