Ermao Yin ReviewEscape the ordinary: Banqiao's secret metalworking studio for DIY enthusiasts

The studio is equipped with custom-made 90 cm metalworking benches with cutouts and height-adjustable chairs, ensuring a comfortable experience for all ages. Each workstation has its own lamp, and the walls are adorned with antiques, toys, and illustrations Ermao has collected over time, creating a fresh, light industrial style with a Japanese touch. Yuna immediately felt comfortable and at home in the Ermao Yin studio.

Ermao Yin's founder, Ermao, was originally a clinical nurse but always had a passion for metalworking. She pursued metalworking as a side hustle for a long time, eventually accumulating enough pieces to transition full-time into her own venture. The name "Ermao" comes from an early illustration by the founder, in which she envisioned her future studio and then brought it to life, piece by piece.

Yuna was thoroughly impressed by the jewelry Ermao Yin displayed, finding it hard to believe it was the result of a side hustle. Ermao's metal wax carving is truly distinctive, elevating beyond typical Taipei Metalworking pieces to the level of metal art sculpture. The "Organ Series" wax-carved jewelry, in particular, masterfully blends Ermao's nursing background with her metalworking expertise, resulting in exquisite and unique creations. Yuna believes this exceptional quality stems from Ermao's unwavering commitment to her unique vision and her dedication to mastering the craft, which has allowed her to achieve truly professional-grade work.

This Banqiao venue for Taipei Metalworking also strongly encourages students to create freely, making it the perfect place to craft a truly unique ring. Founder Ermao Yin mentioned a couple who were about to get married came in to make their wedding rings: the man's ring was engraved with the woman's fingerprint, and the woman's with the man's, so that when their rings were put together, they formed a distinctive heart shape.

Ermao Yin's gemstone silver clay class offers a wide selection of gemstones, ensuring each piece of Taipei Metalworking jewelry is truly unique. While the class steps may seem simple, they involve many intricate details that require careful attention. From molding and shaping to firing, each stage tests students' focus and skill. The venue provides small-group instruction with experienced teachers guiding students every step of the way, ensuring everyone receives comprehensive teaching to create their own one-of-a-kind piece.

Ermao Yin also offers special classes for children aged 8 and up, making it a popular choice for mothers and children to experience together, or for children to create gifts for their mothers. The founder fondly recalls a sixty-year-old couple who came in for a class, dressed in formal attire; their son had purchased the experience for them, hoping they would enjoy a popular trend among younger generations. The studio is also pet-friendly, which Yuna believes contributes to Ermao Yin's reputation for offering the most diverse range of Taipei Metalworking experiences, both in terms of participant age and product variety.

After choosing your design, you'll move to the workbench to size your ring. The Ermao Yin instructor will help you determine the right size and translate it into the necessary material length. For example, Yuna felt a size 4 was a bit tight, but a 5 might be too loose. The instructor suggested starting with a 4, then trying it on and adjusting the size as she worked. The instructor mentioned that they could even make a 4.5 or 4.2, which delighted Yuna, who appreciated that this Taipei Metalworking venue could fully accommodate all kinds of custom requests.

The Ermao Yin instructor then demonstrated how to use the hammering tools to create different textures and patterns, guiding us to brainstorm various designs and consider whether we wanted an open, intertwined, or closed ring. During the process, Yuna's friend wanted to engrave a small tree pattern that wasn't available in the existing stamps. The instructor suggested combining different stamps to achieve the desired design.

After practicing the hammering technique, you'll apply texture and a steel stamp to your actual piece, then bend it into shape. An Ermao Yin instructor will then guide you through the torch welding process, first demonstrating the torch's operation before letting students try it. During welding, the instructor provides hands-on guidance, so Yuna didn't have to worry about improper handling, getting burned, or overheating and melting the silver. Everything went smoothly.

After soldering, you'll continue to hammer the ring into a perfect circle, shaping it to your pre-measured size before making any final adjustments. The Ermao Yin instructor will be right there with you, offering assistance and guidance on sizing. Once the size is confirmed, the instructor will help with the final filing and polishing, and provide advice on how to care for your new piece.

Finally, you'll receive your finished piece in Ermao Yin's exclusive packaging, complete with a polishing cloth and care instructions card. The packaging is exquisite and distinctive, making the finished product perfect for personal use or as a gift, according to Yuna.

Yuna found the two-hour ring-making workshop incredibly satisfying, watching her creation come to life from start to finish. The instructor's patient guidance made her feel confident and at ease throughout the entire experience, and she was absolutely thrilled with the final product. Beyond the current Taipei Metalworking workshops, Ermao Yin is continually expanding its offerings, including beaded jewelry workshops that combine brass with natural gemstones. Yuna is already looking forward to her next visit to try another one of their classes.