Description
Brooch Making – Pin and Clasp Mechanisms
Level: Competent Beginner / Intermediate
Join us for a specialist brooch-making workshop focused on fabricating professional-quality pin and clasp mechanisms. In this next-step jewellery course, you’ll refine your existing metalworking skills while learning how to construct secure, well-engineered brooch fittings from scratch.
Designed for competent beginners and intermediate makers, the class focuses on the technical challenges of brooch construction — particularly the precision required to create durable, well-balanced pins and clasps. Under expert guidance, you will develop an understanding of the engineering behind brooch fittings and create your own variations that combine thoughtful design with reliable mechanical function.
Along the way, you will revisit key bench skills including hard soldering, precise fitting, metal tempering and finishing techniques, ensuring that your brooch fittings are both discreet and robust enough for long-term wear.
Techniques covered
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Design considerations for brooch fittings: weight, balance and wearability
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Understanding commercial brooch fittings — which to use and which to avoid
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Fabricating custom brooch pins and clasps
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Precision soldering for fine mechanical components
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Metal tempering and tension control for brooch pins
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Fine finishing and alignment of brooch mechanisms
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Troubleshooting common issues with pin alignment and clasp tension
What to bring:
- We’ll provide everything you will need for your Brooch Workshop – this is a skill-building workshop without a final outcome.
- A sketch/notebook plus a pen/pencil for notes could come in handy for this workshop.
- Please bring along glasses and/or a visor if you need them.
- Wear appropriate clothing for a studio environment, including closed-toe shoes. Why not order a CSSJ apron to make you feel right at home in your workshop?
- Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided. Please bring your own lidded cup for use in the studio. While we do not have a dedicated lunch area, you are welcome to eat at your desk, and we can also recommend nearby places to eat if you prefer.
