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Kiln Mokume Gane

Beginning Mokume Gane using your Digital Controlled Kiln

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TBA

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Participants will learn a western influenced method to make Mokume Gane by using a digitally controlled electric kiln to fire a copper and silver billet. Participants will start by making their own billet, pattern it into sheet metal, and fabricate a seamless mokume gane ring. There are several technical demonstrations, so beginning metals & jewelry skills are needed to be successful in this workshop. 

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Day 1 of the workshop covers cleaning metal and firing the billet. With this method, correct temperature and amount of firing time are critical, so using an eclectic kiln with a digital controller is required. 

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Day 2 focuses on making patterned sheet metal, but first the billet is cleaned up and forged. Its handy to have a belt sander or angle grinder to remove uneven edges and after forging the billet by half, a rolling mill is used to get a uniform thickness.

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Day 3 finishes with a ring project.  A washer is cut from the mokume gane sheet and turned into a seamless band ring using a nylon hammer and ring mandrel. The ring will be finished with a sterling silver liner with flared edges. 

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Kit Materials shipped to participants a week before the workshop begins

• 22 gauge sterling silver (9 sheets 1” x 1.25”)

• 20 gauge copper (9 sheets 1” x 1.25”)

• 24 gauge sterling silver (3” x .5”)

• 2 steel torque plates (⅜” x 2.25” x 2.25”) 

• 4 nuts and bolts (high grade steel 5/16” x 18 x 1.75”)

• Rubbermaid container with lid (9” x 6” x 2”)

• Cleaning jig 

• 2 scotch-brite pads mounted on woodblocks

• 2oz pumice powder

• 1oz simple green degreaser

• 2 lint free paper towels

• 1oz citric acid

• 320 grit sandpaper

• 12oz activated carbon pellets

• Stainless steel foil (10” x 16” x .002”)

• Drill bits (1/8”, 5/32”, 3/16”)

• 1” unitized wheel on ⅛” mandrel

• Plywood block with 4, ¾” wood screws

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These items should be supplied by participants, most are necessary but some are optional

Equipment and tools

• Paragon electric kiln with Sentry digital controller or similar kiln

• Heat proof gloves

• 20-ton hydraulic press 

• Rolling mill (with at least 2.5” flat rollers)

• Soldering torch (Smith acetylene type preferred)

• Anvil or flat forging surface 

• Forging hammer (24oz - 40oz)

• Forging tongs, channel lock pliers, or vise grips

• 4” or 6” bench vise

• Flex-shaft

• bench top drill press (optional)

• Dapping block/punches

• Disc cutters w/ centering dies (optional)

• 6” vise-grip c-clamp locking pliers with swivel pads 

• Ring mandrel

• Nylon soft hammer, small

• Dead blow hammer (optional)

• Jeweler’s saw

• Saw blades (3/0, 1/ )

• Mill bastard file

• Half-round file

• Jewelry tweezers

• Solder pick

• Circle template 

• Ultra-fine point sharpie marker

• Ruler or calipers with standard and metric measurements

• Safety glasses

• Ear protection

• Particulate mask

• Apron (optional)

Expendables​

• 1 gallon distilled water

• White out or yellow ochre

• 1” masking tape

• 2 medium plastic or glass containers (12oz)

• 1 small plastic or glass container (8oz)

• Latex or nitrile gloves (optional)

• Bur-life

• Medium silver solder

• Paste flux

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Questions about any of these items? email Eric at mokumeganeworkshops@gmail.com​