Dies Three Ways with Jayne Redman
Thursday, June 18, 2026; 9:30AM - 4:30PM PT (Pacific Time)
Friday, June 19, 2026; 9:30AM - 4:30PM PT (Pacific Time)
Saturday, June 20, 2026; 9:30AM - 4:30PM PT (Pacific Time)
Sunday, June 21, 2026; 9:30AM - 4:30PM PT (Pacific Time)
This is not your everyday die-forming workshop! Put an inventive and non-conventional spin on three (or more!) ways of die-forming to reproduce your designs quickly and accurately. Join Jayne Redman for this intensive exploration of various styles of dies, how to make them, use them efficiently, and how to combine them for distinctive and beautiful results!
Silhouette dies allow you to make rounded relief forms in metal. Press from both sides of the die to make mirror images for beads or hollow forms. Use thermal reactive plastic for quick contour inserts.
Non-conforming dies carved from cast acrylic add contour and detail to your forms. Combine a silhouette die and a non-conforming die into a hybrid die for both contour and larger relief areas. Make conforming intensifiers with thermal plastic.
Design and create blanking dies to instantly cut out the exact shapes you form or to incorporate your shape within a larger outline.
A hydraulic press or access to a hydraulic press is needed for this class.
Techniques taught:
- How to use a hydraulic press
- How to design and make a silhouette die
- How to design and make a non-conforming die
- Creating contour with thermal plastic
- Layout for a blanking die that will be used with silhouette and non-conforming dies
- How to correctly use a saw frame and choosing saw blades for sawing tool steel
- How to saw a blanking die out of tool steel using a rotational bench pin
- How to blank out a relief form with a blanking die
- Tips and tricks using flex shaft accessories
Read what students have to say about our online classes on the testimonials page.
Recordings of this class are available for 30 days from the final class session.
A kit for materials needed for this class is $125 including shipping. The kit contains tools and materials needed to complete the projects. After registration, you will receive an email from Jayne on how to complete purchase of your kit. The kit contains a piece of tool steel 4” x 2” x 1/32” to use for your practice blanking die. Larger pieces of tool steel will be available to purchase separately and will ship with your kit.
A handout will be included with the Kit. On the last page of the handout is a list of tools and materials Jayne uses in her work. She will be demonstrating or mentioning many of them.
Tools for this Class
This is a list of tools you’ll need to practice the techniques shown in class. A list of tools with recommended suppliers for the best prices will be sent to you after registration. Please use that list and the links provided in the PDF to check the recommended tools and make sure that you have the correct ones. Please If you have questions about the tool list, please contact us.
- Bonny Doon Hydraulic Press or other brand such as a Potter Press
- Flexible shaft Or Dremel
- Center punch Or 1.5mm ball bur
- Dividers
- Bur life
- Drill bits: #58 or #60
- 5" or 6" deep saw frame
- Flat or half round hand file, #0 or #1 cut, or belt sander from a hardware store
- Snap-on sanding discs and mandrel
- Ball burs such as Lynx Round Bur Sets, 2.7mm to 8mm and Lynx Round Bur set .05mm to 2.5mm
- Round diamond bur set
- Copper and/or brass, 24 gauge or thinner to use with blanking dies 1/32” thick – 20 gauge or thinner to use with blanking dies 3/64” thick
- Joyce Chen Shears or Pro Shears
- For working with thermal plastic: Stainless steel pot, stainless steel spoon, glass or metal bowls for ice water. (Don’t try to use a plastic bowl. The thermal plastic will stick to it.) Hot plate or other heat source for keeping water close to boiling temperature in the stainless steel pot.
- Cooking spray like Pam
- Rubber cement or Scotch Permanent Glue Stick and double stick tape
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Exacto knife
- Paper, including tracing paper and white printer/copier paper.
- Drawing materials including rulers, Sharpie markers, pencils and erasers, compasses, and plastic circle and oval templates
- Apron
- Dust mask
- Safety Glasses and eye magnification if needed
Also needed (contact Jayne to add these into your kit or to rent for the class)
- Jayne Redman Rotational Bench Pin: Dovetail Base with Aluminum Surface or Jayne Redman Rotational WorkRing
- Dovetail Mounting Plate
- Magnetic Protractor
A computer, phone or tablet to use the free Zoom app for class. An additional device (capable of accessing the Zoom link) and holder to position it over your work space allowing the instructor to see your work.
Photos: Jewel Beetle by Genevieve Flynn, all others Jayne Redman
Prerequisites:
Previous experience with sawing, filing and using a flex shaft. Basic jewelry skills like sawing, drilling, soldering.
Instructor:
If a class is online, or is a combination online and in-person session, all students receive a link to a recording of the class demonstrations. In-person only workshops are not recorded. For staff instructor classes, students have access to the recordings for one year. For guest instructors, access is 30 days.
If a kit is included with the class, online students will have them mailed to them. Kits for in-person students are delivered at the beginning of the first class. More information about the kit is included with the supplies list which is emailed after registration.
International students may be charged an additional amount for shipping, because of the increased cost to ship abroad. Also, shipments to other countries may incur a tariff payable by the student. International students are welcome to contact us re: these costs and options for their materials. Please be sure that the address with your payment is the correct one for shipping.
If there is an in person section for this class, in person students each have a bench and a complete set of tools to use, including torches, flex shaft, and more.
If this class is offered online, it uses the Zoom app/website. Through Zoom, you’ll be able to see demos and follow instructions, ask questions and interact with your instructor. Zoom is easy to use and free for students to use for class, and works on most devices, like phones (iPhone, Android, etc), tablets (iPads, etc), and computers (Mac or PC).
Your instructor is also available during free Zoom office hours for questions and help.
For classes that include work time, online students work at home or in their studio. All of our recommended tools and the kit materials are chosen to be home studio friendly. Links to preferred vendors are provided in the supplies list sent after registration. Some classes, like our short demo only classes, don't require tools or materials to attend.
And now the fine print. Payment in full for class fees is due at the time of registration to reserve your place. Our online registration system accepts credit cards and other methods. Checks and cash are accepted only if you register at school. If you mail a check, your registration is not processed until it clears and the class may fill during the wait.
If the workshop is canceled by our school for any reason, all class fees will be refunded, or you can transfer to another class, or you can keep a credit on account with us for future classes or purchases,
Students can cancel, receive a credit or refund, or transfer to another class up to 21 days before a workshop, whether it is online or in person. No cancellations are accepted after the 21-day deadline, however, we will do what we can to try and sell your place to a qualified student. If we can sell your place, you can receive a refund less a $50 cancellation fee, keep a credit on account with us, or apply your fees towards a transfer to another class.
If you can’t make it to class, you may send a participant who has the necessary prerequisites in your place. Please call or email us immediately with any changes in the student participant information. If a class includes an online section, your class will be recorded and you can watch later to make up a class you miss.
Students must be at least 15 years old to attend a class, and students under 18 must have a legal guardian sign our liability waiver form. We have had younger students attend classes, on a case by case basis. If you’re interested in enrolling your child, please call or email us.
If you sign up for a class and fail to have the required prerequisites as listed in the class description, you are still subject to the 21-day cancellation policy, listed above.
Lodging and meals are not included for in person classes.
If you don't come to class, there are no refunds, credits or transfers.