Keum Boo Like You Never Knew…on Steel!
Online
$125, discounted for multiple classes
May 18-19, 2024
Day 1 Workshop 10 am-12 pm Pacific Time
Day 2 Open Studio 3 pm Pacific Time
Keum Boo is the ancient Korean decorative technique of bonding gold foil to metal to create beautiful high-contrast mixed metals jewelry. In the United States, Keum Boo has been almost exclusively used on silver, but the technique works brilliantly on steel. In fact, steel has some big advantages, including the fact that it does not require depletion gilding as with silver. Fine gold or silver foil and any foils of gold/silver alloys can also be used, offering cost-effective alternatives to 24k gold. The contrast of the precious metal foil against the deep black of patinated steel results in high-impact dramatic jewelry.
You will learn to:
- Prepare steel for Keum Boo
- Roll your own foil for bonding
- Handle and cut original designs in the delicate foil, including tools and techniques to help refine your patterns
- Bond silver and gold foil to steel using a torch and a tabletop kiln
- Choose and use the right tools (burnishers and brushes) to bond the foil firmly
- Repair breaks or tears in the foil
- Apply a heat patina to create a range of different colors including inky black
- Seal your jewelry using a high-grade wax
Skill Level
Students should be comfortable using a torch and should possess basic metal working skills, such as sawing, filing and forming. Students should be knowledgeable about safe practices in a jewelry studio.
Kit
$75 including shipping USPS flat rate small box
For U.S. students, kits will be shipped approximately at least one week before the class start. For non-U.S. students the timing and shipping cost will be based on location.
- One mild steel sheet—20-gauge, 5” x 8”
- 24k gold foil 2” x 2” sheet—highest quality foil
- Japanese silver foil 4” square sheet
- Sample of metal wax sealer
- Handouts (Patterns for two class projects, course presentation handouts, and source sheets for purchasing materials and supplies)
Student-Provided Supplies
Note that the sources shown are merely examples. Many different vendors can be sourced for these products.
In addition to the general list for tools and supplies needed for working with steel (see “Basic Tools and Supplies” PDF below), you will need to provide the following supplies, materials and tools for this class:
- Any type of torch will work for the Keum Boo process and the heat patina. From most jewelry supply vendors
- Burnishers—any style (at least two). From Rio Grande or other jewelry supply vendors
- Sharp hand shears (such as Joyce Chen). From Amazon
- Tracing paper. From Amazon or Michaels
- Pencil and eraser
- Soft scrub brush. Such as an old toothbrush or nail brush
- Soft silicone wheel. Such as a Shofu Wheel (fine, flat edge) from Rio Grande
- OPTIONAL: Beehive Ultralite Kiln from Allcraft (Note: Allcraft provides a special package for my students that includes the kiln, burnisher, silver foil and a discount on gold foil. Call Tevel at 800-645-7124 for more information.)
Basic Tools & Supplies
For supplies, materials and tools that you will need to provide for all classes, please refer to the basic list for tools and supplies needed for working with steel in the pdf below. As with the list of class-specific supplies (above), many of these are items that you may have on hand. Note that the sources shown are merely examples. Many different vendors can be sourced for these products.
Basic Tools and Supplies for Working with Steel »All classes are $125 each. If you sign up for two classes, each class is $110, and for three or more classes, $100. The cost of a kit, if any, will be additional. Discounts for multiple classes will be applied at checkout.
