[Jewelry making - Article 00739] - Re: [Orchid] Education Direct?

[The Doctor]

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>         Ok what do you all think of this program? worth it or not? 

    My opinion: Not. You can buy enough books and equipment to teach
    yourself everything they will for a lot less than $900. They list
    supplied equipment, but I doubt the rotary tool they supply is a
    brand name, such as Pfingst or Foredom. You can likely get the same
    one they'll send you for $69, complete with handpiece and foot
    pedal. It's probably similar to the PTA model I use. 

    They also send you "soldering equipment." You can buy a Hoke torch
    for around $50. A Meco Midget or Smith Little Torch goes for in the
    neighborhood of $150. And I doubt they'll send you gas/oxy tanks and
    regulators through the mail. But they don't exactly say they'll be
    providing you with a torch at all. Add gas/oxy tanks at around $300
    or so. Less, if you go the air/acetylene route. One tank, one hose,
    one handle, several tips. 

    Actually, I just looked at their program outline and instruction
    modules. They'll have you working with brass sheet and a propane
    torch, graduating to sterling silver near the end of the course. You
    can get a propane torch for a few bucks almost anywhere. In fact,
    you can probably get a Hoke torch for around the same price. After
    the intro to soldering, the course covers cuttlefish bone casting.
    That should be loads of fun with a propane torch. Hey, one project
    even includes some simulated garnets. Another utilizes actual CZs.
    In another, you can make "craft" earrings. 

    Thinking about it, I'd say you could get a real torch, tank & hose,
    rotary tool with bits and abrasives, files, pliers, saw, blades,
    tweezers, pickle, solder pick, bench pin, solder block flux(es),
    tongs, some very good books and instructional videos for a good deal
    less than $900. 

    They also offer toll-free technical support. That's a plus, but I
    think you can get all the help you need right here on Orchid. 

    Check out the Ganoksin archives for instructional books in The
    Selected Jeweler's Bibliography. 

http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books/us/list/f/Jewelry_making_beginer.htm

    My favorites are the books by Jinks McGrath and Tim McCreight. 

    An even better option may be an instructional video. Rio Grande has
    some that are great. One in particular (well, three, actually) is
    The Complete Repair Jeweler. This three-tape (or DVD) set is done by
    Ed Friedman and Marian Macy. The first tape covers take-ins, and
    whether or not you should even bother with a repair in the first
    place, testing metals, and more. The second covers rings, mostly.
    Sizing, tightening settings, reshanking, etc. Removing and handling
    stones, prong retipping, and more. Tape three shows you a lot about
    chains, worn mechanical parts, such as clasps, etc. Hinge repairs,
    catches, earring conversions, and more. 

    The above video set doesn't simply talk about repairs and soldering,
    Ed and Marian actually perform the repairs as they talk about them.
    They discuss pitfalls in repairs, annealing before working,
    replacing patinas, etc. Ed does a hand-florentine on a simple ring
    after repairing it. Price? $69.95 for the set. Okay, so it won't
    make you a repair and soldering god, but neither will the Education
    Direct place. With them, you'll learn more basics, but you can
    easily get those from any book on jewelry making or silversmithing. 

    Maybe it's because I'm a self-taught fabricator, but I believe you
    can learn the skills on your own from books and yes, even video. At
    your own pace. With better tools. And for less than $900. 

Just my $900.02
James in SoFl

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