Introduction to Chain Making

Special Information

Essential materials you will need to bring to the first class:

• Reading glasses for close up work, if required

Materials and equipment provided for students as part of the course and included in course fee:

• Jewellers saws
• Hammers and files
• Pliers and hand tools
• Rolling mills
• Soldering equipment and materials
• Drills
• Forming tools – e.g. doming blocks, mandrels and steaks

Materials and equipment available for purchase during the course: 

• Copper and brass – sheet metal, wire and tube
• Sterling silver – sheet metal, wire and tube

Essential materials and equipment students will need to provide themselves:

• Research for personal projects

Additional recommended materials and equipment students can provide:

• Apron to protect clothing
• Please do not wear open-toed shoes to avoid injuries to toes

Content of Course

The course teaching is delivered over an intensive period of three consecutive day sessions, each with six hours class contact time. Over the class sessions the course will cover:

Day 1: 

• Samples of chains and images of chains will be looked at to provide an overview of historical and contemporary chain making.
• Basic jump ring demonstration and practice
• Development of samples of different types of chain and differences in gauge of wire to create an understanding of the possibilities.

Days 2 & 3:

• Continuation of samples and production of 1 or 2 chains made to the students’ own design using sterling silver wire.

Teaching method(s)

Students will be taught using a combination of demonstrations and one to one tuition.   

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• consider a range of historical and contemporary chains used in jewellery;
• develop a range of samples of different types of chain to gain an understanding of how they have been produced;
• select one or two of samples to develop into a finished chain by the end of the course

Sources

Core Readings

There are no books required for this course.

Class Handouts

Handouts will be provided covering all of the basic chains covered in the demonstrations.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.