From Sheet to Form: Silversmithing Techniques with Oscar Saurin

You will learn:

• Raising Techniques: Master the process of raising metal from a flat sheet into a three-dimensional form using controlled hammering.
• Hammering and Planishing: Learn how to use hammers and stakes to refine and smooth your metalwork, improving surface quality and structural integrity.
• Assembly and Soldering: Gain confidence in soldering by refining your technique and incorporating stick feeding. Learn to control heat effectively, troubleshoot challenges as they arise, and develop the skills to tackle complex soldering tasks with precision and ease.
• Fly Press Forming: Gain experience using the fly press for controlled shaping and forming
• Finishing Skills: Develop your understanding of surface finishing techniques, including filing, emery work, and polishing.
• Elevate your practice: Gain more than just theoretical knowledge by developing practical skills in silversmithing. By the end of the course, you will have made significant progress raising a bowl, refining your techniques and setting a new standard for your craftsmanship.

Delivered in-person in the Silversmithing Workshop over three sessions, this course will:

• Help you build your fundamental silversmithing skills including forming, using multiple methods (hammering, raising, blocking, planishing and pressing).
• Upgrade your assembly expertise with fitting or pinning in place components ready for soldering.
• Broaden your soldering skills, using different grade of solders, their benefits and drawbacks when working on a larger scale. 
• Elevate your finishing capability, including filing techniques, using emery paper/pumice, polishing motor and various decorative finishes such as butler, matting and polished finishes.

• 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.

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

• Half-round hand file with handle.
• Set of Needle Files.
• Small ‘well-defined’ Steel Ruler and a sharp scriber.
• Piercing frame and blades (2/0 or 3/0).
• Solder probe or tweezers.
• Small paint brush for borax application.
• Tin Snips.
• Pair of Dividers.
• Large compass with pen attachment.
• Protective clothing or clothing you do not mind getting dirty e.g. apron, and closed-toe shoes.

Optional:

• Notebook and pen.
• Spectacles or head visor (if required).
• Protective clothing or clothing you do not mind getting dirty e.g. apron, and closed toe shoes.

What will I be provided with?

• Metal sheets and wire in size and quantity required.
• All equipment necessary to make the bowl.
• Solder as required including soldering station equipment.
• Use of fly press and forming tools

Please note: In the interest of keeping the course price low, the materials provided do not include silver, you will be working with copper metal. If you wish to work in silver, you can purchase your own sheet and wire. Contact professional.training@goldsmithscentre.org for specifications. Silver sheets and wire can be purchased from Cooksongold located in Hatton Garden, a stone’s throw from the Goldsmiths’ Centre.

We are committed to making our training programmes and events as inclusive and accessible as possible. If you have any access requirements, please inform us as early as possible so we can make the necessary arrangements. While we will do our best to accommodate your needs, advance notice is essential to ensure we can provide appropriate support.
To discuss your requirements when booking tickets for our Goldsmiths’ Centre training programmes, please contact us at boxoffice@goldsmiths-centre.org

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 through modern philanthropic giving by members of the Goldsmiths’ Company.