Hi,
My name is Ehud and I am trying to get started in jewellery and
silversmithing as a hobby. I am a Special Educator working with 9
multiply and profoundly handicapped students (8 in wheelchairs, 4
need tube feeding, and two are classified as Deafblind). I love my
work and am proud of what I do but I am also looking for a hobby.
Right now I am in limbo as we are buying a place in about 1 1/2
years. For the moment we live in a fairly small apartment. There is
not much room for anything.
In September, I will be taking some more courses in jewellery at the
Community College in Vancouver BC though I have done a couple of
courses already. My wife is proud of the ring and “cuff” bracelet I
made for her. The bracelet is made of reticulated silver with an
inset tourmaline cabochon. I reticulated the silver and made the
stone setting. Of course I set the stone. All of this was done with
the help of a great teacher, a local jeweller name Liz Abbot.
I am now trying to explore silversmithing and bought the book by
Finegold based on a recommendation on this list. I am delayed in
getting started by not having a place to work at this time.
Now, because I live in a small apartment, I don’t have room for a
bench and gas tanks. While at the hardware store today I saw a MAPP
gas kit (1 lb. MAPP tank, 1 lb. O2 tank, striker, gages and nozzle).
This was set at $ 75.00 CDN and tanks are $ 10.00 CDN. Is this
sufficient for basic bench work and annealing silver and copper for
smithing? Are there problems with this system?
Thanks for all of the interesting I have read so far.
If you guys have any suggestions for how to proceed in my
circumstances, please let me know.
Ehud
PS: I am also taking an art blacksmithing class this summer at the
Kootenay School of the Arts. This is a guy thing with a buddy which
is why I am not taking any jewellery classes though they are offered.