It Ain't Just a Drill: Getting the Most from Your Flex Shaft with Andy Cooperman

This is a two-day class on Saturday and Sunday November 10 & 11.

So, you're a jeweler or metalsmith about to be stranded on a desert island. You can bring only one tool. What tool do you bring?

If you were Andy Cooperman you’d most likely bring your Flexible Shaft machine. (Oh yeah, the island has electricity). The flex shaft may be the most versatile tool at the bench. And yet for many makers it’s also the most underutilized and least understood.

Here’s your chance to gain a deeper understanding of this marvelous tool and expand your vocabulary of flexible shaft techniques and applications. This two-day workshop will cover the basic machine itself--from the motor, down the shaft to the speed control and handpiece-- and will discuss the use of burrs, bits, grinding, shaping, finishing and polishing aids: the stuff they didn’t teach you in school.

It Ain’t Just A Drill is a mix of demonstration and real-time experience, so expect to get your hands dirty exploring some of the techniques and tools addressed --and some eye-opening innovative tricks as well.

The instructor will supply some bits, burs, wheels and widgets for each participant to go home with. Kit cost $30.

➔Please note: While students will try many of the tools and techniques discussed, this is not a project class.

Cost: $395 BoMA members
$445 for non-members
Non-member cost difference will be collected in class

Prerequisites
All levels.

Students should bring
• Perhaps most important for this class is for students to bring any attachments or “extensions” (my term) that they have that they are in some way mystified or confounded by or are unsure of how to use. These might be:
-bits -burs -grinders
-sanders, polishers, wheels, etc.
-hand pieces, foot pedals, etc.
• Couple of drill bits--1mm or .8mm #58 or 67--sz. not critical.
• Mandrels: 3/32” shank is best:
-SCREW Mandrels 2 or 3 nothing fancy, something like RIO #333.108
-SPLIT Mandrel-tapered or straight like RIO #333.130 or #333.132
• TAPERED punch a like centerpunch (round x section)
• 1/2” coil of UNCUT jumprings, 18-22ga any metal.
• Magnifiers
• Lubricant for drills, etc. like Bur-life/Bur-lube/bee’s wax
• Round- nose pliers (non-serated)
• Curved or straight burnisher
• 18 or 20 gauge brass wire 6” or so…
• Sharpie pen : fine or medium
• Flat or ½ round file
• Small flat blade (standard) screw driver.
• Usual stuff like saw, blades and files.
• Any item, project or sample that they are having trouble with that they feel the flex shaft might help with.
• Safety glasses.
• Dust mask.
• Some copper or brass scrap, maybe 18 or 20 ga.
• Also, please prepare a simple “T” seam from copper or brass sheet, any thickness that you have from 22-18ga. The base could be say 1” x 3” and the perpendicular element could be a strip of maybe ½” X the length of the bottom. Please don’t clean it up! Pickle is fine. And do NOT worry about how good the seam is…
• Bring what you can, please don’t freak out if you are missing anything

Materials Kit (Supplied by Instructor)*$30
• The instructor will supply some bits, burs, wheels and widgets for each participant to go home with.
*Materials kit purchase is required for all our workshops.

Cancellation Policy
You may cancel up to 45 days prior to the start of the class and receive a full refund, less $25 processing.
Cancellations less than 45 days prior to the start date will not be refunded,
In the event we have to cancel a class, you will be notified prior to the start date and will be issued a full refund.
Registration is not transferrable. You may not sell your seat to another student.

Maximum Number of Students
Ten. Students must be over 18 years old and will be required to sign a waiver. Students must tie back long hair and wear closed-toe shoes.