Derek Tan: Teaching the tools of the metalsmithing trade

Free Malaysia Today

For over a decade, this metalsmith has been imparting his knowledge of the trade to hundreds of workshop participants.  Story by: Noel Wong Shot by: Fauzi Yunus Presented by: Dinesh  Kumar Maganathan Edited by: Selven Razz   Read More: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2023/10/28/learn-to-craft-your-own-wedding-ring-from-derek-tan/   Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com Follow FMT on Facebook: http://bit.ly/2Rn6xEV Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM Follow FMT on Twitter: http://bit.ly/2OCwH8a  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2OKJbc6 Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3cpbWKK Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/2VUfOrv Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/3B1e8lN Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/39dBDbe ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Download FMT News App: Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46 App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP  #FMTLifestyle #DerekTan #Silversmith #Metalsmithing

Transcript

00:00 Pretty glimmering jewellery is a sight to behold, but most people who wear this do not have the skills to make it themselves.

00:07 After all, metalsmithing looks complicated, right?

00:11 Not so, says local metalsmith Derek Tan.

00:15 Not only does he make his own jewellery, he also teaches others how to do the same.

00:24 Founder of a metalsmithing workshop in Kuala Lumpur, Tan teaches the ins and outs of metalsmithing.

00:30 His knowledge comes from having worked at an established local jeweller years ago.

00:42 As time goes by, I've got more and more requests from people who are interested to learn.

00:48 So back then, there's no places like a studio like this which teaches people to make, right?

00:55 While he was originally a jeweller, he picked up metalsmithing along the way.

01:00 It's kind of like a natural progression.

01:03 Is the life of an artisan like himself financially sustainable?

01:08 Oh yes, he says, provided you are willing to put in the work.

01:12 Tan regularly works with sterling silver, but he occasionally dabbles in gold as well.

01:18 These are mainly for those who are coming to make wedding rings.

01:24 While metalsmithing may initially appear intimidating, Tan says it is quite easy to grasp the basics.

01:32 Once you've got the hang of it, moving on to more complex projects is a breeze.

01:38 And once you've got the basics down pat, you can set up your own metalsmithing studio at home.

01:45 Usually, you need about 15 to 18 hours of experience.

01:51 In fact, metalsmithing is so accessible that people of all ages can pick it up fairly quickly.

01:58 My students are from all walks of life.

02:01 So we have people who are as young as 12, 14, up to 70 years old, I would say.

02:09 So it's really a mixed crowd.

02:11 When metalsmithing, do remember to adhere to basic safety measures.

02:26 These include wearing appropriate clothing and keeping long hair tight and out of the way.

02:32 What's the most helpful?

02:35 What's the most helpful tip Tan can give first-time learners?

02:39 Just take it easy.

02:41 Go slow.

02:42 And when you're working on something, just focus.

02:47 Just be patient, basically.

02:51 Dinesh Kumar Maganathan and Noel Wong, FMT Lifestyle.

02:55 Dinesh Kumar Maganathan and Noel Wong, FMT Lifestyle.

02:59 style.

02:59 (upbeat music)

Transcript

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