Engraving with Air Tools with Harry Forster-Stringer

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

• Developing Precision: Air tools allow for precise and intricate engraving, making them suitable for creating detailed designs and fine lines. The pressure of the compressed air can be adjusted for different engraving depths and styles, allowing for versatility in creating different textures and patterns. They also tend to produce less vibration compared to some other engraving methods, which can improve comfort and control during long engraving sessions.
• Transferable Skills: The precision, attention to detail, and artistic sensibility developed through engraving can be applied to other aspects of jewellery design. Learning air tool engraving will improve your overall craftsmanship, making your jewellery pieces more refined and sophisticated. You can create unique patterns, textures, and motifs on your jewellery, setting your pieces apart from mass-produced items.
• Repairs and Restoration: Engraving skills are valuable for jewellery repair and restoration work. Whether you're restoring a vintage piece or fixing a damaged item, engraving expertise can be essential.
• Additional Income: By offering engraving services, you can generate additional income for your jewellery business. Customers often pay extra for personalised engravings.

You will learn how to:

• setup microscopes for efficient work practice.
• setup the hand piece and control unit.
• transfer designs onto your work using different methods.
• sharpen and polish gravers to get the right geometry and perfect bright cut, especially on carbide.
• achieve different types of cut and what gravers to use.
• hold different pieces of work when engraving.
• enamel cut or letter cut (time permitting).
• get the best value for money equipment, plus lots of ways to save money.

Protective clothing or clothing you do not mind getting dirty e.g. apron, and closed toe shoes.

• One pair of dividers
• One scriber

You will be provided with:

• Gravers
• Practice plates
• GRS equipment

Intermediate: Practical experience and understanding of the skills listed below are 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.

Setting with Air Tools with Harry Foster-Stringer, this two-day course will further develop your skills to use air tools focusing on micro-setting techniques.