Classes

Plan for a Creative 2024: January-March Classes Open 10/3110.27.2023

This Tuesday, October 31, over 150 January-March classes open for early member registration. 2024 marks The Crucible’s 25th Anniversary and there’s no better way to ring in a milestone birthday than with a creative celebration. Join us for a class in the start of the new year—take a class solo, sign up with a friend, or gift a class to a creative loved one for the holidays.

Explore our adult Weeklong classes running this January. Spend a week exploring classes like Fundamentals of Machine Shop, Bladesmithing, Charm Bracelet: Copper & Silver Metal Clay, and Woodworking I. Popular favorites like Jewelry and Metals I, Woodturning I, Wheel Throwing I, and Beginning Marbles return alongside a number of youth offerings for students ages 12-18.

Get a head start on planning your January-March class picks of early member registration this Tuesday. If you haven’t secured your Crucible membership, now is the time. Be the first to access every class drop, plus 10% off tuition, invites to special events, and more. Public registration will open Tuesday, November 7.

View All Upcoming ClassesRecent Posts* Recent * Celebrate Women’s History Month With These Bay Area EventsMarch 5th, 2024 * April-June Classes Open For Members On February 6—Get Your Guide!February 4th, 2024 * Black History Month In The Bay Area: Your 2024 Events CalendarJanuary 31st, 2024 See more posts→

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Notify Me FormHighlight: Adult Weeklong ClassesStart the new year off right with a week of making this January.

Adult Art BikeIn this class, you can build an art bike or customize your existing bike. Get a taste of bike customization and modification without diving into the full bike frame construction process.

BookbindingIn this course, we will focus on the foundation of bookbinding techniques, history, and materials. You will construct book blocks, practice stitching techniques, and design covers that express your creative voice.

Bladesmithingn this specialized course, we will cover blade design, control of steel grain structure, hardening and tempering methods, steel finishes, and handle construction. Emphasis is on learning the fundamental skills needed to forge a good knife.

TIG Welding IUsing cold-rolled steel, this course starts with a series of small exercises and progresses into a challenging technical project, giving students a foundation in basic metallurgy, preparation, joints, technique, and safety.

Woodworking IClass assignments introduce the core concepts and techniques required for most woodworking projects, including milling boards to straighten them, choosing and creating appropriate joints to connect them, and the careful handwork to finish everything well. Students leave with a strong foundation for more advanced wood classes and a small end table.

Ceramics IThis introductory class covers traditional hand-building and surface treatment techniques while pushing the boundaries with unconventional methods. You will leave with a solid foundation in working with clay and the ability to apply your new skill set to other 3-D work and materials.

NEW! Charm Bracelet: Copper & Silver Metal ClayStudents will design and make six charms to be displayed on a linked bracelet. A new technique will be taught with each charm, including forming, texturizing, stone setting, filigree syringe work, curved surface construction, and setting a glass component. The bracelet will be secured with a bar and toggle clasp fabricated with metal clay.

Fred Ball Experimental Enameling TechniquesFred Uhl Ball (1945-1985) was an enamelist who lived and taught in Sacramento. His work was viewed as highly unorthodox at the time, but created a firm basis for current contemporary enameling. Specific techniques include working with fire scale, creating collages, using liquid enamel and other materials associated with the porcelain enamel industry, over- and under-firing, and much more.

Jewelry and Metals IWe will focus on sawing, filing, sanding, soldering, texturing, annealing, stamping, polishing, and design. Students will learn the properties of metals like copper, brass, and silver and make a sterling silver ring.

Fundamentals of Machine ShopLearn the fundamentals of Machine Shop theory and practice! Over this 15-hour course, you will be provided with a detailed handout packet and make a small project using basic machine tools.BROWSE WEEKLONG CLASSESJoin us for a 3-Hour TasterTry out one of our departments without making a full class commitment.

ARC WeldingNEW! Blacksmithing: Bottle OpenerBlacksmithing: Twisted HookCeramic MugCeramic PlanterEnamelingFoundryGlass LadlingGlass FlameworkingGlass FusingNEW! Cuttle Fish CastingJewelryLeatherMachine ShopMIG WeldingNEW! TIG WeldingSEE ALL 3-HOUR TASTERSTake your making to the next levelContinuing level classes are your opportunity to grow your skills in the department of your choosing

Blacksmithing IIBladesmithingWheel Throwing IIStone SettingGobletsContinuing EnamelingAdventures in Soft Glass: Fabulous FishGlass Flameworking IIForge Your Own Blacksmithing ToolsWoodworking IIGlass Beads IITIG Welding IITraditional DovetailsGlass Sea ShellsHot Glass Sculpting IAdventures in Soft Glass: Finding Your Inner MonsterMetal Furniture FabricationEnameling Open Studio HoursJewelry and Metals IIGlass Fusing and Slumping IIAdvanced Marble Making TechniquesCeramics IIGlass DragonsHorsehair and Sugar RakuGlass Blowing II: Cup ClassSAVE YOUR SEATSpend time working on personal projectsStudio labs are an exclusive perk for Crucible members. January-March Labs include:

Blacksmithing
Ceramics
Enameling
Foundry
Glass Blowing
Glass Flameworking

Glass Fusing & Slumping
Jewelry
Leather Working
Machine Shop
MIG & TIG Welding
Neon
Woodworking

TAKE A LABRare & popular classes just landedThese classes are sure to fill fast!

Beginning MarblesCreate nature’s most perfect form—the sphere—in glass! After a basic introduction to melting and shaping borosilicate glass, you will complete several marble designs, including the clear gravity marble, the outside twist, the ribbon, or the eyeball. Techniques include hold and cold seals, color pulling, and color application.

Brush-on Molds with Support CaseIn this class, you can make the kind of mold used by model makers, foundries, sculptors, and other professionals. You will learn how plaster and silicone work together in making molds for casting a variety of materials including wax, plastic, and gypsum products. Class will begin with information that will help you in making or selecting an object to mold that is compatible with the process and size limitations.

Elegant Stacking RingsLearn basic soldering and metalworking techniques to make a set of stackable rings from sterling silver, copper, brass, and gold fill. You will leave with several stylish rings for yourself or to give as gifts.

Enamel HeartsSpend the morning making an original heart-shaped pendant for your valentine, pet, or yourself—just in time for Valentine’s Day! Sweetly sentimental or post-apocalyptic, the end result is up to you. Cut your own individual heart shape in fine gauge copper, add texture and dimension, then apply powdered vitreous enamels and fire in the kiln to add color and vibrancy.

Fire Hula Hoop IBuild coordination and confidence as you construct your own practice PVC hula hoop and learn basic tricks with and without fire. You will learn beginner on-body and off-body moves, including turns, figure 8’s, tosses, isolations, fountains, atoms; and waist, hand, knee, and neck hooping. On the final night, you will work with open flame!

Glass Flowers and MushroomsLearn the basics of hot glass sculpting, including techniques in gathering molten glass out of the furnace, marvering, color application, and glass shaping. In this three-hour workshop, you will sculpt two different types of both flowers and mushrooms from hot glass.

Mechanical SculptureThis course introduces simple and complex mechanisms including gears, cams, pulleys, and linkages. You will learn how to create, convert, and control movement, along with combining these elements to get the complex motion you desire. Hands-on lab time using foam board, plastic, and wood deepen your understanding of these concepts, which you can apply to other materials.

Neon ILight up your life with neon! In this class you will learn the skills needed to complete a project in neon and an illuminated project. In addition to hands-on instruction in tools and techniques, this class includes discussion of design and aesthetic considerations.

Turning and MillingLearn to fabricate metal parts using the lathe and vertical milling machine. Instruction includes machine design and operation, materials, blueprint reading, tooling and precision measurement. The mill and lathe are the cornerstones of any machine shop and can produce pieces with great precision, repeatability, and accuracy. The goal of this class is to explore the capabilities and scope of these versatile machines through a series of machined projects in aluminum, brass, and steel.

Wheel Throwing ILearn how to throw clay on a potter’s wheel! Students will learn the fundamentals of throwing, including wedging clay, centering, opening, pulling, and shaping a cylinder, bowl, and cup. Learn how to use hand tools to trim and add texture to your pieces, in addition to glaze applications and finishing techniques.

Wind ChimesStudents will weld a metal rectangular wind chime box, plasma cut their unique design on the sides, and hang steel chain, hooks, and cut metal pieces to create a unique and eye-catching wind chime. Then all you need is wind for a gorgeous visual and tonal work of art.

Woodturning IUse a lathe to turn a rough piece of wood into a beautifully shaped spindle-turned mallet and face-plate mounted bowl. You will learn the basics of the turning process and cover tool usage, sharpening, wood selection, preparation, and finishing.

SIGN UP NOW!Youth classes your kids will loveOfferings for students ages 12-18 running this February.

Youth Bike MechanicsAges 12-18

Youth Blacksmithing IAges 12-18

Youth EnamelingAges 12-18

Youth Glass Flameworking IAges 12-18

Youth Jewelry and Metals IAges 12-18

Youth MIG WeldingAges 12-18

Youth Glass Blowing IAges 14-18

Youth Machine ShopAges 14-18

Youth TIG Welding IAges 14-18

SHOP YOUTH CLASSESDon’t forget, members get perks!Access early class registration, 10% off tuition, discounts on merch, invitations to exclusive events, and more.

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