A hydraulic press is a metal frame that holds a hydraulic jack. The force of the jack allows the user to apply extreme pressure, pushing metal through a die. This creates a pillowed form with little stress to the metal. This is a very exciting way of moving the metal without using hammers and stakes, marring the surface of the metal, or spending a lot of time. It is an essential technique for production artists to be able to make 3-dimensional forms in little time and with few tools. This technique is great for all ages and skill levels of Metalsmiths and jewelers. It is not a technique that requires a lot of strength or endurance and it does not have the stress on your joints and muscles that other forming techniques have.
In this workshop you will learn how to make a die, how to use the hydraulic press, and how to incorporate this technique saving time, money and achieving an exciting product. They will learn to use their die to the fullest by altering the pressed form before and after it is soldered. They will learn to utilize the same die for different results and create their own die to take home.
You will also have the exciting opportunity to create a vase on the press in Pewter. Pewter is a unique metal in that it has a lower melting temperature than other metals and is also much more malleable. You will learn to shape, solder, and fuse the pewter while creating this contemporary piece.
BIO: Lisa Slovis Mandel is a nationally recognized
metalsmith, jeweler, and teacher. She has exhibited in galleries, museums, and at shows across the country, received a SNAG Educational Endowment Grant, and several Niche Awards. She presently resides in San Diego, California with her husband David and their boys, Jacob and Gideon. Lisa teaches Metalsmithing and Design at a local Community College along with teaching workshops at various locations. She received her BFA at the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1995 and her MFA at San Diego State University in 1998.
"My work includes both jewelry and metal objects that allow me to thematically combine two important areas of my life, athletics and art. By incorporating movement and function in these pieces, the participant is enticed to interact with them on a more intimate and tactile level. The viewer can have fun with the pieces by touching, playing, and manipulating the arrangement of parts. The utilitarian function in my pieces draws the viewer in and not only allows them, but often forces them to interact with it. Developed around characteristics of toys and ritual or ceremonial objects, these pieces can be used, manipulated and played with."
SKILL LEVEL:All Levels
WORKSHOP FEES: $200 ADC Members/$225 Non-Members
Materials and Tools:
The following supplies will be provided for a materials fee of $50:
- A piece of Pewter Approximately 8” x 12”
- Lead free bismuth solder
- Pewter flux
- Pewter wire if needed
- Pewter for casting
- Plus many more tools, and things will be available for you to use that you do not have at home!
Suggested Tools:
- Favorite shears
- Saw frame
- saw blades
- Drill bits,
- Snap on discs (sanding discs- adalox magnum), mandrel for them
- Coarse files that can be designated for pewter Harbor Freight has great ones for $1.99.
- Sharpie markers
- 1 or 2 rags
- Any found objects that you think may mold well.
- Any stones that you may want to cast in pewter
- Any ready made die that you may want to create a piece with using pewter. I recommend a piece that is about 5” tall, but smaller pieces would work also.