The flexible shaft machine is the metalsmith’s most versatile—and often most underutilized—tool. Whether you’re investing in your very first flex shaft, looking to properly maintain the motor and handpieces you already own, or simply overwhelmed by the dizzying variety of burs, bits, and mandrels available, this OG deep-dive workshop is for you.

Led by professional metalsmith and tool expert Kristin Mitsu Shiga, this class will cover everything you need to know to get the most out of your flex shaft. You’ll learn about motor types, handpiece options, and speed controls recommended for jewelry-making and other small-scale metalwork. Kristin will also share tips on setting up your workstation, choosing the right hanger system, and organizing your burs and bits so they’re always within reach.

The highlight of this definitive workshop is Kristin’s comprehensive demonstration of nearly every type of bur, bit, and mandrel available today for drilling, cutting, grinding, sanding, and polishing—organized from coarsest to finest. You’ll see how each tool performs, when to use it, and how to extend its life with proper lubrication and running speed. Tips for drilling and shaping glass, stones and wood will also be discussed.

Through live demonstrations, a visual slideshow and take-home handouts, you’ll walk away with:

• A clear understanding of the flex shaft’s components and how they work together
  

• Confidence in maintaining and troubleshooting your machine
  

• Knowledge of which tools are best suited to your specific processes
  

• Practical strategies for storage, organization, and efficiency at the bench

Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned maker ready to level up your production, this workshop will leave you empowered to use your flex shaft to its fullest potential—the true workhorse of the jeweler’s bench.

With gold prices soaring and sustainability more important than ever, there’s never been a better time to learn how to reclaim and reuse precious metal. In this immersive 2-day workshop, students will learn how to turn old, forgotten jewelry into usable gold for future projects—saving money, reducing waste, and gaining invaluable metalsmithing skills along the way.

We’ll start by testing mystery metal to determine whether it’s plated or solid, and what karat gold you’re working with using simple acid tests. Then, you'll learn how to safely remove stones, melt the metal, and pour your own ingot. From there, we’ll walk through the process of milling that ingot into usable sheet and wire using a rolling mill and drawplate. We’ll also cover how to raise or lower the karat of gold to suit your design needs. Diamond testing will also be discussed.

This workshop is perfect for anyone looking to stretch their material budget and reduce their environmental footprint. With an estimated 85% of the world’s gold already in circulation—often sitting in drawers and forgotten boxes—recycling gold is both a smart and sustainable solution for modern jewelers. Come ready to transform the old into something new and truly valuable.

Jingle all the way onto the musical side of metalsmithing with this festive micro-forming workshop! Starting with flat copper, brass, and/or silver sheet, we’ll explore surface design, fittings and form to craft one-of-a-kind bells that ring with personality. Standard patterns in a variety of sizes will be provided to get you started, along with ideas for customizing the positive and negative shapes to reflect your own creative vision. Whether you're decking the halls, gifting with flair, or adding a jingle to your keyring, these sculptural bells are sure to charm - no sleigh required!

Unlock the potential of precision in this online workshop focused on creating tiny threaded connections—perfect for jewelry and small-scale sculpture. Instructor Kristin Mitsu Shiga demystifies the world of taps and dies, the essential tools used to cut matching male and female threads, allowing you to create miniature nuts, bolts, and other functional cold connections entirely by hand.

You’ll learn how to choose the right sizes, understand the often-confusing thread standards, explore the best materials for durable cold connections, and even discover how to fabricate custom tubing in any size or metal. Alongside the technical skills, we’ll explore both practical and creative applications of threading—whether you're building moveable joints, mechanical clasps, or incorporating changeable elements into your designs. Solutions for both removable and permanent threaded connections will be discussed.

This class is ideal for metalsmiths ready to add precision engineering to their creative toolbox. No soldering required—just smart techniques, good design, and a few tiny threads that hold it all together.