Potter USA Classroom

Flush Stone Setting Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm Instructors: Kaitlyn Agelastos Master the sleek elegance of flush stone setting. In this focused workshop, you'll learn how to imbed faceted stones seamlessly into metal so they sit perfectly level with the surface. We'll cover proper drilling, bearing creating, stone placement, and burnishing techniques for a refined, modern finish. A must-have skill for adding understated brillance to your jewelry work. This class is for intermediate level jewelers. Students must be familiar with jewelry tools, how to use a flex shaft, and have good sawing skills. Students will be learning how to flush set a stone. Each student will have practice time and will leave with the knowledge to flush set stones at home. The classroom is located at 1949 E. Eastland, Tucson, Arizona, 85719. See class cancellation policy below.

Shadowbox Texture Earrings Time: 9:00am - 1:00 pm Instructors: Lynette Andreasen In this class students will learn to make textured sterling silver earrings in a shadowbox style. We will begin by roller printing a texture onto sterling silver sheet. Students will then learn to fabricate a shadowbox frame from round or square wire, solder it to the textured sheet, and then form their pieces in the hydraulic press. Students can expect to complete a finished pair of earrings. Materials are included. *This class is not recommended for beginners, basic jewelry making skills including sawing and soldering are strongly recommended. The classroom is located at 1949 E. Eastland, Tucson, Arizona, 85719. See class cancellation policy below.

Pancake Die Earrings Time: 9:00am - 1:00 pm Instructors: Lynette Andreasen This 3-hour intensive class is all about how to use pancake dies in a hydraulic press to make fabulous earrings. Pancake dies are an inexpensive and easy to use blanking tool. They can be used to quickly and efficiently cut multiples of the same design from non-ferrous sheet metal. In this class we will explore how to use pancake dies to make unique earrings combining slotted construction, forming, and scoring and bending with textured metal. Students will learn general usage, as well as safety, how to cut their own pancake dies, how to work-harden metal, how to remove tabs and burs, and various creative ways to use pancake die cutouts. *We recommend taking Intro to the Hydraulic Press before taking this class, or at minimum having a basic knowledge of beginner level jewelry making skills The classroom is located at 1949 E. Eastland, Tucson, Arizona, 85719. See class cancellation policy below.

Hydraulic Press Bracelets: 3 Hour Class Time: 9:00am - 4:00 pm Instructors: Lynette Andreasen In this course, you'll learn to make both anticlastic and synclastic bracelet forms using the hydraulic press. Students will learn to make both cuffs and bangles, how to size bracelets for a good fit, how to solder bangle bracelets, and how to do complex forming with our large variety of bracelet forming tools.

In this one-of-a-kind, full-day workshop, couples will have the opportunity to craft their very own wedding bands, start to finish, with the private instruction of one of our expert jewelers. Whether you want rings to celebrate a marriage, an anniversary, or another type of commitment, couples will have the unique opportunity to browse our extensive antique jewelry die collection and choose designs that fit their own personal style. Together, we’ll melt down your metal of choice, pour an ingot, die-strike your ring designs using an antique screw press from the mid 1800's, saw, form, solder, and finish your wedding rings in a private, fun, and focused session in our studio. This is an incredible experience to enjoy together, making something personal and lasting that you will cherish for a lifetime. Before your workshop, we’ll have a consultation meeting to discuss your material preferences (gold alloys, silver, etc.), let you browse our die collection, and choose your designs (we have the largest collection of antique jewelry dies in the world). Couples will be be responsible for the materials cost of their rings once size, design and alloy are chosen. Pricing depends on current market metal prices at the time of the workshop. We can discuss the options with you at your initial consultation. Our expert craftspeople will walk you through each and every step of the fabrication process, providing expert instruction, making sure you are successful with the technical processes involved in crafting your rings, all while having a fun, memorable, and romantic experience with your partner. Once you have purchased your workshop, give us a call to schedule your initial consultation. We can't wait to be part of your wedding experience! The classroom is located at 1949 E. Eastland, Tucson, Arizona, 85719.

Come use a bench in our classroom space. Participants will work independently; no instruction will be given, staff on-site will not be available for consultation regarding individual projects. Participants will be responsible for bringing their own small bench/hand tools (saw, pliers, etc.) and materials. Potter USA will provide a jewelers bench, bench pin, bench light, and flex-shaft. A list of our larger equipment available for use can be found in the full description below.

Online, fully asynchronous course (self-paced). Instructor: Annie Pennington Learn how to inlay crushed stone and other materials into stamped or fabricated forms made with impression dies and metal blanks. FOLLOW LINK BELOW TO REGISTER.

These classes focus on enameling techniques with artist Sheryl Haupt. The classroom is located at 1949 E. Eastland, Tucson, Arizona, 85719.

This 3-hour intensive class is all about how to use the Bezel Die Tools with a focus on making seamless, heavy-wall bezel settings. Students will learn how to use the tools to create a beautiful, thick bezel, how to set a stone and complete a finished pieces of jewelry. *We recommend having a basic knowledge of beginner level jewelry making skills before taking this course. The classroom is located at 1949 E. Eastland, Tucson, Arizona, 85719.

This 3-hour intensive class is all about how to use pattern plates in a rolling mill. Pattern plates are designed to imprint a pattern onto non-ferrous metal and are an excellent way to quickly and easily add texture and detail to your jewelry pieces. Students in this class will learn to use pattern plates with both thick and thin sheet metal, what gauges and metal types work best, and how to get the most detail when rolling. We will also cover how roll small pieces of metal without destroying the tool as well as how to care and maintain steel tools like pattern plates. See class cancellation policy below. *We recommend taking Intro to the Hydraulic Press before taking this class, or at minimum having a basic knowlege of beginner level jewelry making skills What you’ll learn: Introduction to basic safety and usage of pattern plates in a rolling mill. What metal types and gauges work best. How to roll to get the most detail out of the plate. How to use small pieces of metal without destroying your plate. Other texturing methods/examples. Care/maintenance... and MUCH more! The classroom is located at 1949 E. Eastland, Tucson, Arizona, 85719.

This 3-hour intensive class is an introduction to using silhouette dies to form metal sheet. When combined with urethane pucks and sheet, silhouette dies gently pillow metal to form it into a puffed form in the shape of the die. Use silhouette dies to add volume and depth to earrings, pendants, rings, and more! All tools and materials included. See class Cancellation policy below. What you’ll learn: Introduction to silhouette dies, contained urethane, and dish formers. What metal gauges work best. Using silhouette dies with and without contained urethane. Tips for preventing split metal when forming. Texturing metal before forming. … and MUCH more! The classroom is located at 1949 E. Eastland, Tucson, Arizona, 85719.

This 6-hour intensive class is an introduction to using the hydraulic press for jewelry making. Learn how to use and become comfortable with all the different dies and accessories that can be used to make jewelry in the hydraulic press, including pancake dies, silhouette dies, FSS dies, and impression dies. Safety and proper usage of all tools will be included. Students will be able to learn with both a manual and electric hydraulic press, as well as use both our Rincon and Tortolita models. **ALL tools and materials included. The hydraulic press is an incredible asset for jewelers who want to produce custom, one of a kind, or production jewelry in the small studio setting. A hydraulic press can be used to blank out multiples, form multiples, and create die-struck jewelry with incredible speed compared to traditional hand methods, saving on both time and physical labor. Learn to put this work-horse tool to use in your studio practice! What you’ll learn: Introduction to basic safety and usage of the hydraulic press. What metal types and gauges work best with different types of dies. The basics of how to use pancake dies, silhouette dies, FSS dies, and impression dies for blanking, forming and embossing. How to get repeatable results for multiples. How to save on time and labor with tools and accessories in a hydraulic press. Using urethane with dies. … and MUCH more! The classroom is located at 1949 E. Eastland, Tucson, Arizona, 85719.