Chain Making with Lucie Gledhill

Delivered in person at the Goldsmiths’ Centre, this course will help you with:

• Informed material choices: Learning to choose the correct gauge of wire and estimate its quantity empowers you to provide accurate client quotes and minimises wastage. This strategic approach not only enhances cost-effectiveness, but also positions you as a meticulous and reliable jewellery maker.
• Optimised material purchases: Estimating and costing the quantity of metal required for a job is a crucial skill. By mastering this, you can save money when purchasing materials, maximising your profitability while ensuring you have precisely what you need.
• Efficiency in jump ring production: The course imparts efficient techniques to produce jump rings, a foundational component of chains. This proficiency streamlines your production process, allowing you to create more intricate and appealing designs.
• Effective soldering practice: Mastering effective soldering techniques is pivotal. The course not only teaches you how to solder links but also guides you in enhancing your soldering practice overall, resulting in stronger, seamless connections.
• Versatile chain formation: We help you to develop a profound understanding of forming and shaping chains using various tools and equipment. This versatility equips you to create chains of different styles and thicknesses, catering to a broad spectrum of client preferences.
• Time saving finishing practices: Understanding best practices for finishing and polishing chains efficiently is a time-saver. This knowledge ensures that your chains are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also professionally finished.
• Hands-on learning: The course offers step-by-step demonstrations and hands-on practice, supplemented by both individual and group support. This immersive approach ensures you not only grasp theoretical concepts but also build practical skills and confidence.

• Top tips on measuring, forming and soldering.
• Individual and group support guiding you through this practice.
• Step by step demonstration followed by making your own links, soldering and forming a length of chain to build up understanding and confidence.
• Effectively assemble and solder multiple links using traditional techniques.
• Leave the course with a fully formed curb chain ring (time permitting) or enough curb chain and the knowledge to form this into a finger ring in your own studio.

Please bring your own basic tool kit including but not limited to:

• Piercing saw frame and Blades (2/0 or 3/0).
• Rawhide mallet.
• Hand vice.
• Small paint brush for borax application.
• Solder probe or tweezers.
• Tin snips.
• AA tweezers.
• Half Round hand file with handle.
• Set of needle files.
• Set of pliers including parallel, flat, snipe and round nose.
• Protective clothing or clothing you do not mind getting dirty e.g. apron and closed toe shoes.

Optional:

• Spectacles or head visor (if required) to work on small details.
• Notebook and pen.

What will I be provided with?

• All precious metal (silver) needed to make your links.
• Silver hard solder as required.
• Soldering station including, soldering matt, borax dish and cosne.
• Steel rods to make your links.
• Workshop equipment such as vices, draw bench etc.
• Emery paper.

• Intermediate: Practical experience and understanding of listed skills required.

Participants at the intermediate level should have prior experience in a workshop environment and the ability to work independently on fundamental tasks. They should be comfortable with processes such as piercing, filing, and soldering, and possess a working knowledge of workshop tools and techniques. This level focuses on refining basic skills, introducing more complex tasks, and developing the ability to troubleshoot and work with greater precision and autonomy.

We believe that talent should not be held back. Here at the Goldsmiths’ Centre, we are open, accessible and inclusive to all. Our Access Grants help anyone to build thriving creative careers, supporting jewellers, silversmiths and allied industry practitioners to access our training courses for free.

If you need help to cover fees for our business and technical skills short courses, please apply for one of our Access Grants. To find out more and read our application criteria, click here

The Access Grants are delivered by the Goldsmiths' Centre and funded by the Goldsmiths’ Company Charity.