Traditional Crafts
Beginning Tinsmithing
Course Overview
Using tools and techniques of 19 th century tinsmiths, students will learn how to layout projects using patterns, cut tinplate, and assemble tinplate pieces into items they can take home, such as a tin cup or tankard, a tin sconce, tin ornaments and tinsel, cookie cutters, or a lantern. Students will make multiple items, each one enabling them to build skills and techniques, leading to the next project and level of complexity over the course of the three days. They will learn shop safety, use of basic tinsmith’s tools, how to successfully operate hand-crank tinsmith’s machines, soldering, and other aspects of basic tinsmithing, including traditional construction technique while applying them to specific creative tasks. The workshop will give participants a first-hand understanding of tinsmithing as a recognized heritage craft. Students will receive individual guidance from the instructor as they work on their projects.