Making Silver or Pewter Wire or Strips from Scrap Metal

Learn how to melt scrap and form it into wire or strips at half the cost of commercial wire or strip stock. Learn how to make Silver or Pewter wire or strips from scrap metal at MakeIt Labs! Join us for a hands-on workshop where you'll discover the art of transforming metal scraps into beautiful jewelry stock. No prior experience needed - just bring your creativity and enthusiasm! Don't miss this opportunity to explore a new craft. It is easy and fun, and it will teach you how to save as much as 50% by making your own wire and strips for jewelry! Students will work in teams of two to make the individual processes easier. Stressing safety, you will learn how to prepare a crucible for melting metal and then use a mini-torch to melt your scrap and pour it into an ingot mold. Annealing the metal to make it more pliable is next, also using a mini-torch, is next. One team member will crank the olling mill while the other feeds and pulls the metal out at each stage. if wire is being made, the last stage will be pulling the wire through a die plate until the desired size is achieved. The entire process is relatively easy once it is demonstrated. Pewter is included in the class fee. Sterling silver is available for purchase at the current scrap cost, if desired.