Chain Mail Book Review

Lately we’ve been bringing in several new books to fill our shelves, so you at home can fill yours. Here is one of the new titles I think is quite worth checking out.

Chain Mail Jewelry, by Terry Taylor and Dylon Whyte, another favorite from Lark Books! The first chain making book I’ve seen to go so in depth with different materials, titanium, rubber, sterling and copper just to name a few. After reviewing materials and tools needed they dive right into each project with both clear concise written directions as well as visual diagrams and beautiful glossy photos. I find that, with chain making in particular, a good visual diagram is worth a thousand words, and Taylor and Whyte provide. With 29 different projects, from beginner to advanced you are taken through both heavier, masculine jewelry as well as fun and fanciful more delicate projects, even adding beads in to your mail. From Whyte’s spiraling chain to Rachel Dow’s coif cage amulet, this book is a must have for anyone interested in the fine art of chain mail craft.

ryan@pouncingrain.com

New Dapping and Forming Block

Checkout our large, rosewood dapping and forming block. As one customer put it “Wow, that’s so pretty you could just stick it on a table in your living room for display!” I have to agree with her, this tool is just that beautiful. With two, 5” across, round depressions, one shallow and one deep, and four multi-size swaging channels, you will find so many uses!

Members Halloween Social

Who is invited: Members, Former Members and Instructed Studio Members
When: Friday October 30th 6:00-9:00
Where: Pouncing Rain

Here is a reminder about the “Members Social” on October 30 (This Friday from 6:00-9:00). There will be Tricks and Treats and costumes for those who want to dress up. A big surprise announcement and great fun. Bring your favorite Trick or Treat to share and something for show and tell.

What I can tell you about the surprise is: if you come to the “social” you get a priority place for the “Surprise” if you come in costume you will get " something more! ”.
I won’t tell you what the surprise is but I will say is:
· we are really excited
· there will be a long list of people who will want to “participate”

See you all here on Friday!

kathleen@pouncingrain.com

Additional Hours For Open Studio

We have added an evening "Open Studio" this Friday, October 23rd, from 5:00 to 8:30. Come by and work on those projects. The Holidays are sneaking up on us all. We also have added a Saturday "Open Studio" November 7th 10:00am to 3:00pm.

Tip From Our "How-To-Solder" Class

This is a "Tip" from our recent "How-to-Solder" Class.

This is a recipe for a Pickling solution that will help remove that pink layer from your soldered or annealed brass. There are many variations of this recipe. Remember to wear safety glasses when working with acid and wash from your skin if it does touch it.

MILD
2 parts Hydrogen Peroxide (3%).
1 part water.
2 parts fresh/clean Sparex solution.

STRONG
1/2 cup Hydrogen Peroxide (3%).
1 Tablespoon fresh/clean Sparex solution.

PROCEDURE:

STEP #1: Pre-pickle the piece in standard Sparex and rinse well. These pickles work best when warm but not hot. All the black oxides should be removed in this step.
STEP #2: Place the Hydrogen Peroxide pickle container in a second bowl of hot water to keep it warm. If possible suspend the piece in the warm pickle or stir it gently with a feather or plastic rod . After a moment bubbles should appear on the piece. Agitate or brush with a feather to clear the bubbles. Remove the piece from the bath every couple of minutes to check the progress. It may take 5-10 minutes. Rinse well.
STEP #3: Use a stiff toothbrush or brass brush to remove residue and rinse.
STEP #4: Pickle again in standard Sparex to remove any remaining grime.
STEP #5: Repeat steps #2, #3 and #4 if necessary.

Kathleen

Soldering Class. What fun!

The soldering class with Judi Gauthier Saturday was a great hit. We had a full house of folks who wanted to either learn to solder or brush up on their soldering skills. One of the soldering hints Judi shared in class how to help remove the pinkish coating from brass with a Hydrogen Peroxide pickle. I will share several variations of that recipe in the next posting. If you missed this class we will be having it again real soon.
Kathleen

October Gift

Judi Gauthier donated these orange crystal pendants to Pouncing Rain today, so we are giving them to you. Come by and pickup your free gift. We have a bunch, but when they are gone... they are gone.

Instructor Changes

Pouncing Rain Jewelry and Metal Working Center is sad to announce that effective immediately, Nanz Aalund is no longer teaching for us. We have been very fortunate in having had such an experienced instructor for the past year. Please join me in wishing Nanz the best of luck in the future.

With that said all of the classes and workshops on the calendar have been taken over by other talented and experienced instructors. Our founder, Judith Gauthier, will be teaching many of the in-house classes, as well as Ryan Albachten, Noelle Holland and myself. Anyone who has scheduled a class with Nanz Aalund and does not want to take the class with another instructor will be given a full refund. kathleen@pouncingrain.com

New Fretz Chasing Hammers!

We are very excited to introduce the new Fretz chasing hammer. This is the long awaited addition to the Fretz Hammer lineup. This hammer has a highly polished cast stainless steel head with a slightly domed 1-1/8" (29mm) diameter hammer face with the ball peen end measuring 12mm. The head on the Fretz chasing hammer is hardened to 50c on the Rockwell scale. This is the ONLY hammer in the Fretz collection that is meant to be used against a tool or directly against steel. Like all Fretz hammers, the handle of the chasing hammer is made of Paduck, a type of Rosewood that makes one beautiful handle. Pouncing Rain has these hammers in stock and they sell for $56.00.
www.pouncingrain.com

An The Winner of the Poll is...

Fold Forming! Coming in 2nd place is Forging. So we have asked Bill Dawson to teach both. He will teach Fold Forming in a one day class Saturday, November 21, 2009 and Forging in a one day class Sunday, November 22, 2009! Take one or both of them. You can signup online at www.pouncingrain.com or call the shop at 360-715-3005.

Members Discount For October

Members can have 10% Off any Book in Stock.