Master Class: Gold on a Budget: Lapidary Edition - Alex Boyd

Master Class: Gold on a Budget: Lapidary Edition - Alex Boyd

Class | Available

MC
9/21/2025-9/26/2025
View Schedule
$750.00
$21.00

Master Class: Gold on a Budget: Lapidary Edition - Alex Boyd

Class | Available

MASTER CLASS: GOLD ON A BUDGET: Lapidary Edition                   SEPTEMBER 21, 2025
INSTRUCTOR: ALEX BOYD

 

This class will focus on the techniques I use in my own work to maximize the appearance of gold while minimizing the cost.  Many of these techniques are pure metalsmithing but some rely on cutting cabochons or altering existing cabochons to make setting require less metal.  I’ll teach you how to solder and fuse thin veneers of gold over sterling silver, which unlike Keum Boo, can be annealed, soldered and manipulated without losing the color of the gold.  I’ll cover fabrication techniques that keep the contrast between silver and gold crisp and clean.  Along the way I’ll show all sorts of tips and tricks that I’ve learned and developed over the years.  

 

I will provide a variety of kits for the class with different stone options. Stones are specifically cut to require minimal bezel heights for secure setting and only the necessary amount of gold and silver is included, avoiding the costs of minimum order requirements that can make working in gold prohibitively expensive. For in-person classes I will have kit options available for students to choose at the beginning of class.


Kit includes:

Cabochon

Sterling silver strip 1.3mm x 6mm x 8cm

18k .8mm round wire 9cm long

22k .3mm x 1.5mm long enough to make bezel for cabochon

22k .3mm x 1.5mm 2cm larger than bezel strip

Sterling silver sheet 1.2mm thick, large enough to provide 4mm clearance around stone

Sterling silver sheet .5mm thick, large enough to solder bezel to

Hard silver solder

18k yellow hard solder

Titanium strip .8mm x 1.5mm x 18cm

 

CLASS FEE: Approximately $250 (different kits to choose from)

ESTIMATED MATERIALS COST: $0+

PREREQUISITE: This class will be good for intermediate to advanced students.  They should be proficient in soldering, sawing, filing, and basic stone setting. 

MASTER SERIES REFUND POLICIES

  • Once you have enrolled and paid tuition, there are no refunds or credits issued for Master Class Workshops if you are unable to attend.
  • By enrolling in a Master Class workshop, you affirm your acceptance of our no refunds policy and represent to us that you possess the appropriate skills to comply with the prerequisites.  
  • In the event that William Holland School must cancel the workshop, a refund or credit will be issued.  
  • Master Classes are not eligible for Instructor Free Class, scholarships or Instructor family member pricing.

**MINIMUM OF 6 STUDENTS REQUIRED FOR THIS CLASS

 

  • Tools:


    These are all the tools I’ll use to demonstrate but many of them are not absolutely

    necessary as there are other tools that can do the same or similar job. If you have any

    questions just email me at alex@alexboydstudio.com.

     

    *indicates small disposable tools I bring with me to share when I teach in person

    Permanent markers large and fine tipped

    Jeweler’s ruler

    Scribe

    Dividers

    Jeweler’s saw

    2/0 blades*

    0 or 2 cut flat file

    4 or 5 cut flat file

    2 cut square needle file

    4 or 5 cut barrette needle file flat needle file works too

    Half Round pliers

    Flat pliers

    Flush cutters

    Parallel pliers

    Round nose pliers

    Chain nose pliers

    Sandpaper 180, 320 and 600 grit

    Sticks to make sanding sticks

    Sandpaper rolls 120 and 600 grit*

     

    400 grit 3M Bristle disc* this is my favorite finishing tool, but there a lots of others

    Eve medium pumice wheel*

    Superglue

    .8mm drill bit any size that will allow a 2/0 saw blade through is fine

    .8 and 1.3mm ball burs* Used to open too tight bezel. May not be necessary.

    Point burnisher Used to open too tight bezel. May not be necessary.

    Ring mandrel

    Nylon mallet

    Nylon bench block used top flatten metal without marring. Similar results can be

    achieved with a piece of scrap wood.

    Ring clamp

    Third hand

    Steel bird’s nest


    Planishing press no need to go out and buy one of these as a hammer and bench block

    can do the job too, but if you already have one you’ll get to use it.

    Small planishing hammer


    Now let’s talk about fire! There are a lot of ways to solder and almost all of them can

    achieve great results. I like to pick solder using a titanium solder pick. I like Prips flux

    applied with a needle tipped bottle. I prefer a oxy-propane or oxy-acetylene torch.

    That’s what you’ll see me use to make this project. That said, brushing paste flux on

    the piece with a paintbrush then applying solder chips with tweezers can make a piece

    that looks exactly the same. An acetylene/air torch is hot enough to do every technique

    I’ll demo. Butane won’t have enough heat though. I like Silquar solder board if I’ve got

    a torch that uses oxygen, but find it too much of a heat sink for acetylene/air. In that

    case I’ll use hard Solderite board. Below is a list of what I work with, but you do you.


    Torch

    Solder board

    Titanium solder pick

    Flux

    Pickle

Boyd, Alex
Alex Boyd

When Alex Boyd was a young boy he stole an enchanted ring from a powerful bruja.  That night his slumber was disturbed by a tapping at his window. When he slid the window open a huge raven rushed in, flew around the room and perched on his bookshelf. "I know what you have taken from me,” the raven cawed.  "I don't know what you’re talking about," Alex lied, hiding his bejeweled finger behind his back.  "No matter.  It is your problem now.  The wearer of that ring is indentured to create more talismans of power, either for 1000 years or until he makes something so sublime, so perfect, so beautiful that the spell is broken, and he is freed." "1000 years it is," Alex said as he thrust the raven out the window and slammed it shut behind her.  He has been making jewelry ever since.