Discover the Best Jewelry Soldering Classes in Los Angeles
Jewelry soldering is a skill used to create and repair jewelry. It involves melting a metal alloy called solder, and using it to stick two pieces of metal together. A soldering iron or torch is used to heat the solder, and a substance called flux is used to help the solder stick. The process requires specialized equipment and a steady hand. An expert solderer can make a smooth, seamless connection that is almost invisible.
Why You Should Learn Jewelry Soldering in Los Angeles
There are lots of good reasons to learn jewelry soldering. One is that you can fix your own jewelry. Not only does this help you make your favorite pieces last longer, but you’ll save money too because you won’t have to pay for professional repairs. In addition to making repairs, you can also use jewelry soldering skills to modify pieces to fit your style or needs. If you get good enough at soldering, you might even be able to make money repairing or modifying other people’s jewelry.
Jewelry soldering can also be a great way to express your creativity. If you know how to solder, you’ll be able to create a wide variety of unique jewelry designs. For instance, you can combine different metals, or you can incorporate other decorative elements. Making your own custom jewelry can be a very satisfying and rewarding process.
In-Person Jewelry Soldering Classes in Los Angeles
If you live in the Los Angeles area, you’ll find a few different places to take an in-person jewelry soldering class, or to learn other types of jewelry-making skills. Tree of Life Wire Wrapping takes place at Allen Kenoyer Stained Glass, which is located about 30 minutes from downtown Los Angeles. Allen Kenoyer offers a variety of glass-related classes including mosaics, stained glass, fused glass, and jewelry. This class is $35, and runs for two and a half hours. Students learn to wire weave and will use copper or sterling silver wire and gemstones to create a tree of life or palm tree pendant. Close-toed shoes are required, and long pants are suggested. Students also need to wear safety glasses.
Santa Monica College also offers jewelry-making classes, including Jewelry Design, where students learn fundamental jewelry-making techniques. In this six-session class, they will learn how to saw, file, and solder metal, and will also learn about texturizing and finishing processes. Basic tools are provided, and materials are available for purchase. Santa Monica College is located about two miles from the beach, and offers many different classes designed to help people enhance their careers or explore their personal interests. This class costs $99. Students who want to sign up for an in-person class at Santa Monica College must have a valid U.S. phone number and a valid California address.
Otis College of Art and Design offers a class called Jewelry Design I, which is a hands-on workshop where students learn jewelry fabrication techniques. It is focused on metalworking skills, including soldering, cold connections, forming jump rings, piercing, surface enrichment, and basic stone setting. All levels are welcome. A list of materials is available online. There are six sessions in this course, and tuition is $685. The Otis College of Art and Design was established in 1918. It is located near the beach and the airport, and about 15 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles. The school offers a variety of classes in art and design.
Virtual Jewelry Soldering Classes
If you can’t find a jewelry soldering class near you, you can look for a virtual jewelry soldering class. Virtual classes usually require you to supply your own materials, which can be a disadvantage if you don’t own any soldering equipment, however, this format also has some advantages. When you learn virtually, you can attend class from the comfort of your own home. You might also find that there are more class options, since you won’t be limited to classes that you can commute to.
Hammered Earring is a virtual class offered by EatMetal, Inc. It costs $50, and is two and a half hours long. This class meets over Zoom, and starts with a live demonstration of how to make earrings. Participants learn about materials and techniques, how to make a jump ring, how to solder, how to forge, how to make findings for the earrings, and finishing. There is also an open forum for questions and answers. EatMetal was created by artist and jewelry maker Elizabeth Ann. She creates one-of-a-kind jewelry, and also offers a number of different classes. Her gallery and studio is located in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Wire Art Jewelry Making is another virtual class option for students interested in learning to make jewelry. It runs through East Los Angeles College, which was founded in 1945, and is located just east of downtown Los Angeles. This community college serves more than 30,000 students, with both in-person and virtual classes. In Wire Art Jewelry Making, students learn a variety of linking techniques for earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. The instructor covers making jump rings, charms, spacers, and clasps, and attaching beads with solderless wire. There are an average of 20 students in the class, and it costs $35. Students should request a list of required materials at the time of registration.
Los Angeles City College also offers virtual jewelry-making classes. This community college is close to downtown Los Angeles. It provides classes–both in-person and virtual–for more than 18,000 students, and is one of the oldest community colleges in the Los Angeles area, in operation for more than 90 years. Jewelry Making: Wire Wrapping Colorful Jewels is a virtual class where students work with solderless wire. They will learn a variety of wire wrapping techniques that can be used to make figures for pendants, bracelets, and pendants. Students need round nose pliers, chain nose pliers, a flush-wire cutter, flat-nose pliers, and a black Sharpie marker. Bail making pliers and nylon-jaw pliers are optional. This class costs $35.
Private Group Jewelry Soldering Classes in Los Angeles
If you’re looking for a group activity that’s unique, consider booking a private group jewelry soldering class through CourseHorse. CourseHorse offers a variety of different craft classes, and makes the booking process easy. There are no booking fees, and you don’t have to register. In addition, you’ll get a confirmation of your booking within 24 hours. Policies vary by vendor, however, in most cases, as long as you meet the minimum group size, you can also make changes up to 72 hours before the event.
For groups that want to do something jewelry-related, there is another private group class called Polymer Clay Jewelry, which takes place in a virtual format, and costs $85 per person. It can be taken by up to 500 people at once. In this class, a professional artist and instructor gives participants a lesson in basic jewelry-making techniques, and then they get to make their own custom jewelry or keychains out of polymer clay. Designs can be as simple, or complicated, as students choose to make them. All materials are provided ahead of time, including 42 bars of oven-bake clay, five sculpting tools, and accessories for making earrings and keychains.
Another popular group option is the Virtual Engraving Workshop. In this 60-minute class, participants learn engraving, and make four different projects. Prior to the event, participants receive all the materials that they need, including an engraving tool, items to engrave, safety gear, and sample designs. The tool can also be used to engrave other wood, plastic, glass, leather, or metal items. This class costs $90 per person, and up to 200 people can take it at once.
Many providers for CourseHorse group events can bring the event to your home or office, or provide an external venue. If your event is virtual, participants can meet through Zoom, Google Meets, Microsoft Teams, or WebEx. Contact CourseHorse for more details about jewelry soldering and other private group events.