ONLINE SILVERSMITHING CLASSES FAQ

DO I NEED ANY SILVERSMITHING EXPERIENCE?

No! The Online Beginner Silversmithing Course is designed for true beginners. No previous silversmithing or jewelry-making experience is required.

DO I NEED TO BUY MY OWN TOOLS?

Yes. Because you'll be learning from your own home rather than inside the fully equipped Slate Smithery studio, you are required to purchase your own tools, equipment and course materials.

Don't worry — you won't have to figure out what to buy on your own! After enrolling, you'll receive curated shopping lists, direct purchasing links, a Rio Grande shopping list and my school code for eligible school pricing.

Your tools and equipment are yours to keep and will become the foundation of your own home silversmithing setup.

HOW MUCH DO TOOLS AND MATERIALS COST?

At current pricing, students should expect to spend approximately $760 for the tools, equipment and materials required for class.

This includes your beginner bench setup as well as silver, solder, stones and torch fuel for your course projects.

Silver is priced by weight and fluctuates with the market, and retailer pricing may change, so your actual cost may be slightly higher or lower at the time you order.

HOW MUCH DOES THE COURSE COST?

Tuition for the 4-Week Live Online Beginner Silversmithing Course is $650.

With approximately $760 in required tools, equipment and materials, your total estimated investment is approximately $1,410.

DO I NEED A JEWELER'S BENCH OR PROFESSIONAL STUDIO?

No! You do not need a professional jewelry studio or expensive jeweler's bench to begin.

You'll need a sturdy table or desk and a safe, dedicated workspace. You'll receive information about preparing your workspace after enrollment.

WHEN ARE CLASSES?

Group classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00–8:00 PM Eastern for four weeks.

That's 8 live Zoom classes and 24 hours of live instruction.

Each group is limited to a maximum of 6 students so everyone has the opportunity to ask questions and receive individual guidance.

WHAT IF TUESDAYS + THURSDAYS DON'T WORK FOR ME?

Private Online Beginner Silversmithing is also available at a higher tuition rate.

Private class schedules are coordinated based on my available teaching days and times. Purchasing private instruction does not guarantee any specific day or time.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PRIVATE ONLINE CLASSES

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I ENROLL?

After enrolling, you'll receive your Welcome to Slate Smithery information with everything you need to prepare for class, including:

✦ Required tool & equipment shopping lists
✦ Required silver & material list
✦ Direct purchasing links
✦ Rio Grande purchasing information + school code
✦ Slate Smithery educational PDFs
✦ Class dates and Zoom information
✦ Workspace preparation information
✦ My contact information for questions

You'll have everything you need to get your home bench ready before we begin.

WHY DOES ENROLLMENT CLOSE 14 DAYS BEFORE CLASS?

You'll need time to order and receive your required tools and materials and prepare your home workspace before class begins.

Enrollment closes 14 days before the first class to give everyone plenty of time to get ready.

Please order your required items promptly after receiving your enrollment information.

WHAT DEVICE DO I NEED FOR CLASS?

A computer or tablet with a camera and microphone is strongly recommended.

While Zoom can technically be used from a phone, silversmithing involves small details and demonstrations, so a larger screen will provide a much better class experience.

WHAT IF I MISS A CLASS?

Because this is a live, hands-on course that builds on skills learned in each previous class, attendance at all 8 classes is strongly encouraged.

Please review the class dates carefully before enrolling and make sure you can commit to the full 4-week schedule.

I understand that life happens! If you do need to miss a class, a private make-up session may be scheduled on another day for an additional fee and is subject to my availability.

Missed class time is not refundable or credited toward future classes.

Please plan to attend all scheduled classes whenever possible to avoid the need for additional make-up instruction.

WHAT IS YOUR REFUND POLICY?

Because Slate Smithery Online classes are intentionally kept small and your enrollment reserves one of only 6 available seats, all course tuition is non-refundable.

If you're unable to attend the session you originally enrolled in, your tuition may be transferred one time to a future available group session, provided you contact me before your course begins.

Transfers are subject to availability and must be used for a future session of the same course.

Once your course has begun, tuition cannot be refunded, transferred or credited toward a future session.

Please review your class dates carefully before enrolling.

DO I GET TO KEEP MY TOOLS AFTER THE COURSE?

Absolutely!

One of the biggest differences between learning online and taking a class inside the Slate Smithery studio is that you're building your own silversmithing bench.

The tools and equipment you purchase belong to you. When the course ends, you'll have your own beginner setup and the foundational skills to continue creating independently.

I HAVE QUESTIONS BEFORE I ENROLL. CAN I CONTACT YOU?

Of course! If you've read through the course information and still have questions about whether the Online Beginner Silversmithing Course is right for you, please feel free to reach out before enrolling at danielleslate@gmail.com or text to 727-479-9084