So you wanna be a goldsmith

by kevinpotter on January 11, 2009

I was at one of the shops that I do work for a few  years ago and this guy comes in and asks the owner if he takes apprentices. Of course he says no, and the guy leaves. I finish up what I am doin’ and yell to the guy out in the parking lot, “Hey you wanna be a goldsmith?”  He walks over and says, “Yeah, I have been all over and nobody is willing to teach anyone.” I tell him I can’t pay him but if he really wants to learn, just come over. I give the guy my number and figure that will be all I hear from him. I have had other people beg me to teach them but when it got down to it they never followed through. This guy called and showed up the next day.

I am not much of a teacher so I tell him to come up with a project and make it and I will show him how, but not to expect me to hover over him. The guy is motivated, he actually has some ideas. This is a first, most people want me to tell them what to do. I have an extra bench so I just let him go to town  and if he has a question I answer it. Holy crap, this dude worked all day with me, and he shows up the next day. He came everyday for almost a year and worked and studied at home too.  Alot of you who have done this for a long time can tell if someone has the skills to be a goldsmith just by how they handle the tools. This guy used them like I did, he didn’t even bust saw blades, that was totally amazing.  He was crankin’ out stuff everyday and was getting real good. I guess when you spend 10 hours a day everyday workin’ at something you get pretty good. He didn’t talk much and didn’t ask to change the radio station, he just showed up and worked on his stuff. I gave him some of my extra tools to take home with him after a couple months. I couldn’t pay him but I bought him lunch occasionally, kinda a Will Work for Food program.

I started giving him waxes to start for me and castings to finish. Since I don’t do any repair he only learned how to make jewelery, not a bad thing as far as I am concerned, repairs can age a fella. All good things come to an end. No this didn’t end badly, he decided to move to be with his girlfriend who was away at college. So I set him up with a flex shaft and a torch and all the basic stuff you might need to get a job and told him how to do it – just show up and say “Do you need a goldsmith?”and pull out some of the stuff you made and show them, that has always worked for me. Well a couple of weeks later he calls and tells me he got a job making jewelery.  I felt like a proud pappa. It has been a couple of years and I still hear from him, he is still smithing and I am sure he is getting really good.

I used to get so pissed when other jewelers wouldn’t show me how to do somethin’. They would keep secrets and not let me watch.  I finally asked this one, “How long have you been a jeweler? 30 years? No shit, that’s a long time. Dang I must be pretty darn good for you to be worried about me taking your job. I have only been doin this for about a year.” I told him that if it took him thirty years to get as good as he was, did he really think I would be as good as him in a few hours or months for that matter? He thought about it and from that point on he showed me how to do anything I asked.  I will gladly show anyone how to be a goldsmith but very few will ever go on to do it for a living.

kevinpotter

kevinpotter

kevinpotter

Latest posts by kevinpotter (see all)

{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

Ken March 4, 2010 at 2:08 pm

I loved your story Kevin and thought that was very generous and patient of you. I was a goldsmith/designer – I loved it and miss it from time to time – for over 25 years in the UK , now retired.
It’s also great advice for your other readers to follow both before and after the realisation of their objectives.
Bless and be blessed. Ken

amal disparte February 10, 2010 at 7:18 am

Hi Kevin.
I found this site trying to find someone who will take me on as an apprentice. I have been making necklaces for about 5 years now (stringing gems and beads) but I want to be able to create all the designs dancing in my head.
I’ve just moved to the UK (Guildford) from Denmark (but i’m an American) and I don’t even know where to start asking for help.
Do you live near Guildford, Surrey by any chance 🙂
Any advice or help from you or your readers would be greatly appreciated.
Amal Disparte

Lloyd Harris January 19, 2010 at 1:34 pm

That was quite generous of you i wish there were people like you in edmonton i’ve been trying for a year to find someone who’ll apprentice me or even get me started

Veva Bailey January 11, 2009 at 11:01 pm

I want to, Thank you, Kevin, for helping someone like I have been helped.
It takes a special person to share our knowledge with other people.

Tina January 11, 2009 at 10:23 pm

Again an very enjoyable blog to read !

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post:

WordPress Admin