Alloys with Yeena Yoon

The objective of this course is to learn to alloy gold, recycle your own precious metals and gain control over the process of creating sheet and wire.

Under the expert tuition of Yeena Yoon, who will teach through a series of demonstrations and one-to-one instruction, you will explore the fundamentals of alloy in coloured carat gold, with a focus on the ternary alloy system. Participants will gain an understanding of the alloying process, including how to control colour variations and refine techniques for working with gold sheet and wire.

Designed for experienced makers working with 18-carat gold or recycled silver, the course delves into metallurgy, atomic structures, and material properties. Through hands-on learning, participants will learn to prevent overworking, minimize defects, and reduce material loss.

Key processes include weighing pure metal elements—such as gold, silver, and copper—melting them into a single ingot, and shaping them into workable gold sheet.

On completing the course you will have:

* an understanding of the general logic and alloy behaviour of ternary alloy system in coloured karat gold alloys

* techniques for recycling existing scrap and matching existing alloys

* knowledge of how to calculate different ratio to achieve various alloys

* and how to weigh out each metal and alloy from scratch

* skills to allow you to shape the metal and when to anneal in order to avoid overworking.

Rough outline of the course:

The first day will commence at 10am and finish at 5pm. Tuesdays & Wednesdays the hours will be 9am to 5pm.

Day 1: Two days will be spent working with 18-carat yellow gold alloys. This will boost your confidence in creating different stock forms with the same alloy. You will learn alloying theories, general health & safety, how to glaze your crucible, 18 carat gold alloying and sheet making.

Day 2: On the second day we will learn how to repurpose the old form of material by using the previously made alloy to make wire.  We will recycle 18-carat yellow gold to create wire and sheet, and will draw down as thin a wire as possible, learning how to go as fine as 0.3mm.

Day 3: You will follow the recipe to alloy 18 carat red gold, developing an understanding of the difference in metallurgy of 18 carat yellow gold vs 18 carat red gold. We will stretch the red gold and you will experience the different behavioural properties of working with a harder metal

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Accommodation 

The course fee includes accommodation, which is provided in houses belonging to the National Trust and leased exclusively to Bishopsland.  They were renovated and furnished in 2024 and offer a picturesque, comfortable base to attend the course and explore this lovely corner of Oxfordshire.

House 1: Walking distance from the workshops and village cafe.  3 bed, 1 bathroom with a large dining room, lounge & garden

House 2: 10 minute drive from the workshops.  3 bed, 1 bathroom with large lounge and garden. Walking distance to the village pub and National Trust café.

Accommodation is offered from Sunday afternoon to Wednesday evening inclusive.  If you wish to extend your stay, perhaps bringing your family to join you, additional nights can be booked per room for £50 or for the house exclusively for £150 per night. Latest checkout will be on Saturdays by 11am.  Please contact Claire if you wish to extend your stay.

Bedding, towels and food are all excluded (ie must be brought with you)

Cost 

Each course costs £650 per person which includes teaching & accommodation and excludes travel, food, bedding and tools/materials.

There will be a cost for materials that will be confirmed to you as part of the course joining instructions.

Payment terms

Deposit of £200 payable on booking. Remaining balance of £450 payable by 1 July 2025. No refunds will be given.

Potential bursaries

It may be possible for you, as an individual, to apply to Qest, Benevolent Fund, South Square Trust, Goldsmiths Centre etc for a bursary.  If you need any information from Bishopsland to support your application, please contact Claire.