Join us for this innovative two-day workshop where you’ll explore a new metal fusing technique—Painting Powdered Metals on Steel. This technique has recently been developed by the instructor to achieve painterly effects when fusing powdered metals to steel.
 
We’ll take a deep dive into this new approach and explore how to use powdered metals as paint to create colorful hues and shades on steel surfaces. We will experiment with a spectrum of colors, textures, and patterns, pushing the boundaries of traditional metalsmithing. Whether you are a jeweler, bladesmith or blacksmith, these techniques will enhance your metalwork and bring your creative visions to life. Be among the first to master this exciting new technique!
 
MATERIALS KIT (required) $95 is in addition to your tuition and is payable directly to instructor during class. Kit includes: Mild steel sheet 20g 12” x 12”; Powdered metals—10 grams each of copper, silver, white bronze, rose bronze, smart bronze and white brass flakes (substitutions may be made depending on availability ); small stainless steel lab spoons for mixing powdered metal “paints”; Wool daubers to apply patinas; 6 small plastic containers with lids for mixing powdered metal paints ; Small paint brushes (to apply “paint”); Saw blades, 3/0 and 4/0 
 
What You’ll Learn
Sourcing: All about powdered metals…where to buy them, the metals, alloys and formulas (pure powders, flakes, metal clay, etc.) that are available in powder form and how to grind your own powders.
Effects: Understanding how the various powdered metals react when fused to steel.
Mixing: How to mix powdered metals “paint” to create your own individual palette of colors and textures.
Painting techniques: Painting powdered metals onto steel and fusing them to the surface. Heat and flow control. Troubleshooting.
Advanced fusion techniques: How to mix various powdered metals to create alloys both in the “paint” or during the fusion process.
Designing: Exploration of design possibilities. Let’s take it further.
 
Day One: 
Basics of steel. Introduce/review the basics of working with steel
Fusing metals to steel. Introduce/review fusing gold and other metals to steel
Sourcing powdered metals. Powdered metals – where to buy and the different formulations
Creating powdered gold. Grinding powdered gold (why and how)
Understanding the differences. How the various powdered metals react when fused
Creating the "paint." Basic mixing, painting and fusing technique.
 
Day Two:
Set-up of the etching station. Discussion of the tools and supplies that are needed. Alternative approaches.
Mixing the etching chemicals. Proper measurements and mixing. Maintaining the potency of the chemicals and disposing of spent chemicals.
Demonstration of the etching process. Preparing the piece to be etched and monitoring the process.
Discussion of radical etching techniques. Under and over etching. Layering resists. Eroding the metal.
Student work time. Radical etching at work.
Patinas. Discussion and demonstrations of different patinas.
Sealers. Discussion and demonstration of different sealers.
 
MATERIALS & TOOLS
Students are responsible for bringing the following:
Hand tools that you like to use (e.g., jeweler's saw frame, saw blades, hand files, assorted pliers, abrasive flex shaft wheels, scribe, dividers, etc.)
 
OPTIONAL: If you want to work with powdered gold during the workshop (and who doesn’t?), you will need to bring one of the following options:
14 ga Round Gold Wire: at least one inch of 14g round gold wire (any karat). You will use this to grind gold powder for fusing
UltraFine Gold Powder—available in 1gram packets from Jewelry Arts Inc. Note that it is expensive, but exquisitely beautiful when used for this technique.
Placer Gold Flakes—available from Gold Fever Prospecting. (Gold flakes are larger than the 24k gold powder and are a lower karat (18-20k).
Instructor will have a limited supply of these items for sale during the workshop.
 
 
MASTER SERIES CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICIES
Once you have enrolled and paid tuition, there are no refunds or credits for Master Series Workshops if you are unable to attend.
By enrolling in a Master Series workshop, you affirm your acceptance of our no refunds policy and represent to us that you possess the appropriate skills to comply with the prerequisites. 
Check your calendar carefully and choose wisely before enrolling. 
In the event that DJS must cancel the workshop, a refund or credit will be issued.
 
16 contact hours