Working with Gold Hayley Kruger

Course Aims

Given the current cost of both gold and many may be considering recycling their silver and gold scrap and unworn jewellery. On this course we will introduce you to the basics of melting down and processing metal into wire and sheet.  This can be by recycling scraps of silver and gold, or using casting grain if you do not have any scrap.

Day 1 – Melting and recycling scrap gold, silver, old gold jewellery or casting grain. We will focus on 9ct yellow gold and sterling silver, and process this into wire and sheet. 18ct can by processed too, but when it comes to making a piece of jewellery on day 2, you will need to provide your own 18ct solder as Hayley will not have any to sell on the day.

We will not be working with white gold, but we can discuss this in the class.

Day 2 – Making a piece of jewellery with the metal bullion that you have processed.  Depending on how much wire or sheet is yielded from your haul, you can start to make a design of your choice.  This can be a silver, gold or mixed metal design.

Experience level required:

• Intermediate.  You should be used to working with and soldering silver.

Hayley Kruger is a jeweller, maker and tutor having worked and taught extensively in the areas of stone setting, jewellery making and design.  She works as a fine jeweller from her studio at the New Brewery Arts centre in Cirencester.  Mostly working on bespoke commissions in gold, platinum and silver.

Equipment

Bring your own essential tool kit, as per previous classes.  Including:

• Hand torch (filled with gas)
• Safety glasses
• Files
• Flux and silver solder
• Set of pliers including D shape pliers
• Solder block
• Tweezers and brush for soldering Ceramic 2” crucible

Materials:

Attendees will work with either 9ct yellow gold or sterling silver.

If you do not have 9ct yellow gold or sterling silver scrap, or old jewellery to re-purpose, then you can purchase 3 to 4 grams of either sterling silver or 9ct yellow gold casting grain.

You will be required to purchase your own metal ahead of time, as Hayley will not be holding stock to purchase due to the high and fluctuating cost of both metals. 
Hayley will have a small amount of hard 9ct gold solder to purchase, but you are encouraged to buy your own.  This can be bought in wire form or half panels (1gram) from Cookson gold and Betts Metals Please Note: With regards to gold, we will be focusing on 9ct yellow gold, but if you are unsure what carat you have in your collection, we can sort through this on the day.

Students will need to bring their metal to process whether silver or gold.  No metal will be sold on the day. Hayley will have a small amount of 9ct hard yellow gold solder to sell, but attendees are encouraged to purchase their own supply. They will also need to bring their own ceramic crucible.

• A ceramic 51mm/2” crucible that we will learn to “season” on day 1. £4.33
  https://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery-Tools/Crucible-Scorifier-51mm2-Square-prcode-999-AKP
• If you will be working with gold you will need 9ct gold hard solder- 5cm of hard 0.5mm solder wire) – £9.00
  https://www.cooksongold.com/Solders/9ct-Yellow-Gold-Solder-Wire-Hard—0.50mm,-Assay-Quality-.375,-100—Recycled-Gold-prcode-HED-050&add=n
• Gold or silver scrap or old jewellery to process
  If you do not have this, then you can purchase   3 to 4 grams or sterling silver or 9ct yellow gold casting grain.
  3.5 grams of silver grain = approx      £12.00
  3.5 grams of 9ct gold grain = approx £221.00
• Silver: https://www.cooksongold.com/Grain-and-Casting-Pieces/Sterling-Silver-Grain,-100——–Recycled-Silver-prcode-ASA-000
• Gold grain: https://www.cooksongold.com/Grain-and-Casting-Pieces/9ct-Casting-Yellow-Grain,-100—–Recycled-Gold-prcode-AAB-000&add=n
  #Please note that the prices quoted above may change

How course will be taught:

Step by step. There will be two techniques taught over two days.
Handouts are NOT provided and attendees are encouraged to take their own notes.