





Fusing Gold & Other Metals to Steel with Bette Barnett: November 9-11
Fusing gold and other non-ferrous metals to steel results in jewelry that appears modern and edgy but also feels ancient and rich. The combination of noble and base metals creates a contrast of precious and non-precious metal that is somewhat incongruous yet alluring. Gold has a particular affinity for steel and combining the two in mixed metal jewelry produces striking results.
In this three-day workshop, we will examine various ways to combine gold and other non-ferrous metals with steel. We’ll begin by alloying gold to the desired karat and color to achieve the intended creative effect when fused to steel.
In this workshop, you will learn:
- Basics of steel. Understand the characteristics of steel, how to buy steel, different forms of steel (sheet, wire and perforated sheet) and basics of working with steel (cleaning, cutting, sawing, filing, soldering, texturing, and forming).
- Alloying non-ferrous metals. Prepare a charcoal block for alloying, calculate the weight of different alloy components, gauge when a metal is completely alloyed and troubleshoot.
- Learn to create different gold alloys in various karats and colors, including red and rose gold, green gold and yellow gold. Alloying is a skill with broad applications across many metals.
- Fusing gold to steel. Fuse gold pallions to steel, layer different colors and karats of fused gold and control the flow of gold across steel.
- Fusing silver and copper to steel. Learn how different metals respond when fused to steel. Combine various fused metals on the same piece of jewelry.
- Patinas. Patinate steel jewelry. We will work with several types of patinas, including heat and chemical in a wide range of colors and effects.
- Sealers. Seal steel jewelry to protect it for years to come. We will work with different types of sealers, including oil, wax and lacquer.
The workshop will be packed full of information, hands-on skill building and fun. During the workshop, students will have time to create at least three mixed steel and non-ferrous metals jewelry pieces using class patterns or your own design.
Day 1:
- Basics of steel and preparation of blanks
- Alloying gold and silver-based metals for fusing
Day 2:
- Preparing metals for fusing
- Fusing gold and other non-ferrous metals to steel
Day 3:
- Fusing (continuation of prior day)
- Patinas (heat, black, brown, colors)
- Sealers (oil, wax, lacquer)
Skill Level
Suitable for students who have some experience with basic techniques, such as shearing, sawing, filing, hammering and soldering. Students should be comfortable using a jeweler torch at high temperatures.
Supplies and Tools: Student Kit is $60 paid to instructor during class and includes:
- 12” x 12” sheet 20g cold rolled low carbon steel sheet (additional will be available for purchase during class)
- ½ oz fine silver casting grains
- 1 oz copper chop
- Shofu wheel--soft rubber or silicon wheel for flexshaft
- Small cosmetic sample jars for alloyed metal pallions
- Shared consumables:
- Wool daubers for application of patinas and sealers
- NanoBlades (3/0 and 4/0)
- Oxpho Blue gun bluing
- Sculpt Nouveau Japanese Brown patina
- Sculpt Nouveau color patinas (either solvent dyes or dye-oxides)
- Ballistrol oil sealer
- Bowling Alley Wax
- Sculpt Nouveau lacquer sealer
Available for purchase during class with price based on market value:
- 20g cold rolled low carbon steel sheet, 12” x 12”
- 1-2 dwt gold casting grains.
- 14k gold wire, 14g. Available in 1” increments.
- Gold solder. Easy, wire.
Student Tool and Materials List
Students will need to provide the following tools and supplies for this class. Note that the sources shown are merely examples. Many different vendors can be sourced for these products.
- Jeweler scale. Available from jewelry supply sources and Amazon.
- Silver solder. Easy and medium. Wire or sheet.
- Optional. 1dwt gold casting grain available from Rio Grande or other jewelry supply sources. Instructor will have small quantities for sale during class, but if you know that you want to work with gold, it is better to purchase it before class and bring it with you.
Details:
- Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, November 9, 10, and 11, from 9:00-5:00 each day. You must be able to attend all days as no makeups will be given.
- 24 contact hours, held in the Silver Peak Studio classroom located at 100.5 E. Cleveland St. Lafayette, CO 80026.
- # students: 3 minimum, 6 maximum
The last day to cancel for a refund or credit ($25 transfer fee applies) is September 10, 2025. Because this is a Master Series workshop, there are no exceptions to this rule.
By registering for this workshop, you agree to our cancellation policy, dress code, and studio rules.
About the instructor, Bette Barnett
Bette is an authority on steel jewelry and actively explores new techniques in this area. She began her jewelry career in 2010 and started studying the steel/gold fusing process in 2013. Bette has continued to focus on steel as a productive metal for jewelry. She has developed or refined many innovative techniques for creating steel jewelry, including Keum Boo on steel, fusing alternative metals to steel, fusing powdered metals to steel, working with non-traditional forms such as perforated steel sheet and woven mesh and, most recently, painting with powdered metals.
Bette has published articles in Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist and MJSA Journal. Her book Creating Steel Jewelry, published by Artisan Ideas in September 2024, is a comprehensive how-to guide for all metalsmiths, including jewelers, bladesmiths and blacksmiths who want to venture into new areas.
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