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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 3, 2014 17:50:26 GMT -5
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Post by pghram on Jan 3, 2014 17:53:43 GMT -5
Why not hang one of your beautiful wire wraps from it? Nice job.
Rich
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,715 
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 3, 2014 17:54:07 GMT -5
Great job....
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Post by 1dave on Jan 4, 2014 9:44:31 GMT -5
One step and you are already leading 90% of the planet in know how!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,583
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Post by jamesp on Jan 4, 2014 9:50:21 GMT -5
The more you tinker the better you get. Every project you take on is an advancement Tela.
I went an odd path of staying away from conventional training. And the end product got me in the front door in Atlanta boutiques.
And i could not have ever so self absorbed-ha ha. It felt dang good. Not getting rich but having a good time.
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Post by talkingstones on Jan 5, 2014 16:29:43 GMT -5
Great job, Tela and a great start! I'm not used to tumbling my stuff after I work it. What exactly are you doing with that? I used a dremmel to shine my stuff up but the vibe sounds like a much better idea to me!!!
Cathy
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 5, 2014 16:56:14 GMT -5
Great job, Tela and a great start! I'm not used to tumbling my stuff after I work it. What exactly are you doing with that? I used a dremmel to shine my stuff up but the vibe sounds like a much better idea to me!!! Cathy I didn't do anything with this except for tumble polishing. I don't have the patience to do it all by hand. I have since given it a patina and tumble polished again. AND..... after painstakingly rubbing it down with steelwool and while polishing with a cloth, the one join the I accidentally skipped came apart and I had to resolder it in AFTER the chain was finished. But, I DID it! I was so proud! I'll post pics later. For tumble polishing you need jeweler's mixed stainless steel shot and a squirt of Dawn in a rotary tumbler. I have heard that the vibrating tumbler is too agressive, but I haven't tried it. It doesn't take long, but is a great time saver for the final polish. It also work hardens and beburrs. I did some cute rings yesterday and today I am finishing a heart pendant for my grand daughter. I'm trying to add a new skill to each new project. I'll post some pics of them all later. |
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gemfeller
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Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,037
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 5, 2014 17:06:59 GMT -5
I have heard that the vibrating tumbler is too agressive, but I haven't tried it. It doesn't take long, but is a great time saver for the final polish. It also work hardens and beburrs. Congratulations on repairing the chain. I've tumble-finished literally pounds of S. silver mountings in my Mini-Sonic and it does a great job. I can't recall doing chains though. I've never used a rotary for that purpose but I imagine the techniques, times, etc. are different. |
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,583
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Post by jamesp on Jan 5, 2014 19:00:20 GMT -5
I think a lot of people use a tiny barrel on a slow rotary with stainless steel shot. i have seen them in jeweler's trade magazines. And some are really tiny.
Do not know the recipe though.
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Post by Pat on Jan 5, 2014 20:00:49 GMT -5
Tela, nice work!
I tumble polish my chains in a small vibrating tumbler with a drop of Dawn, some water and mixed steel shot. Does a great job.
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gemfeller
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Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,037
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 5, 2014 20:10:07 GMT -5
The best, most up to date metal-finishing machine is the magnetic tumbler. It uses magnetism to move tiny stainless steel media into the smallest crevices and channels in filigree and places impossible to reach by hand methods. They're small, quiet and have revolutionized the art of jewelry polishing. All the commercial production shops I work with use them.
I just happen to have a brand new one for sale. I bought it some time back thinking I'd be making some intricate pieces but for several reasons I've had to scale back my metalsmithing work. The machine has been sitting idle and I'll sell it at a good discount below current retail. It's a small unit (footprint about 6 x 7 inches and 10 inches tall), suitable for polishing 3-4 rings or an equal volume of other items at a time. The manufacturer's specs say it's very fast: about 30 minutes' polish time for gold and silver and 45 for platinum. If there's any interest I'll put full specs and prices up on the Buy/Sell section.
Rick
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 5, 2014 20:18:24 GMT -5
The best, most up to date metal-finishing machine is the magnetic tumbler. It uses magnetism to move tiny stainless steel media into the smallest crevices and channels in filigree and places impossible to reach by hand methods. They're small, quiet and have revolutionized the art of jewelry polishing. All the commercial production shops I work with use them. I just happen to have a brand new one for sale. I bought it some time back thinking I'd be making some intricate pieces but for several reasons I've had to scale back my metalsmithing work. The machine has been sitting idle and I'll sell it at a good discount below current retail. It's a small unit (footprint about 6 x 7 inches and 10 inches tall), suitable for polishing 3-4 rings or an equal volume of other items at a time. The manufacturer's specs say it's very fast: about 30 minutes' polish time for gold and silver and 45 for platinum. If there's any interest I'll put full specs and prices up on the Buy/Sell section. Rick Would it be safe for stones as well? |
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gemfeller
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Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,037
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 5, 2014 20:27:47 GMT -5
Tela, I really don't know for certain. I suppose it would depend on the stone but I personally wouldn't use it for stone-set items without careful testing on unimportant items. First chance I get I'll ask a good friend who uses one daily but he's notoriously casual about replying to emails. He's very busy.
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Jan 6, 2014 10:03:24 GMT -5
That's a pretty cool chain! I don't know if I would have the patience to do something like that but I suppose at some point I will make some kind of chain.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 6, 2014 10:22:21 GMT -5
That's a pretty cool chain! I don't know if I would have the patience to do something like that but I suppose at some point I will make some kind of chain. Donnie, I didn't want to do it. I forced myself to start and then I couldn't stop. Besides, I really needed the practice. In all honesty, I didn't think I would finish it. Then when it came to breaking it and antiquing it, I also had to force myself to do it. But, I got it done. |
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Post by connrock on Jan 7, 2014 8:15:44 GMT -5
You did a great job for a first attempt at it and you'll only get better at it!
I envy you and others who make chains,,,or other repetitive pieces.I made a 38" hammered sterling silver necklace and a set of matching earrings for my wife and it took EVERYTHING I had to finish them!I don't even like making earrings cuz there's 2 of them! LOL
I've tumbled sterling silver and copper pieces in my Lot-O-Tumbler vibe and have had good results.I use a jewelers mix of stainless steel shot but I don't use Dawn or any other liquids.
Something I found out the hard way is that after tumbling any given metal,,the shot has to be cleaned with a bath of baking soda before going to another metal,,,silver to copper,etc,etc.
I did a copper pendant and it had some awful black residue alllllll over it that was difficult to get out of the little nooks and crannies in the piece.
The stainless steel shot is pretty expensive too and I only have 2 lbs of it but it's been working OK for me.
Looking forward to seeing more of your chains!
connrock
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Post by Pat on Jan 7, 2014 10:17:30 GMT -5
I've tumbled sterling silver and copper pieces in my Lot-O-Tumbler vibe and have had good results.I use a jewelers mix of stainless steel shot but I don't use Dawn or any other liquids. connrock , do you mean that you tumble the chain dry? No water even? Thanks for the hint about cleaning the shot with baking soda when switching metals. I suspect that includes cleaning the container, too. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 7, 2014 16:59:45 GMT -5
connrock I wonder if that is unique to the vibra tumble? I never have any problems - ever- with my lortone 3a. I tumble silver, copper and even patinaed metals together. The dawn helps to hold gunk in suspension and helps keep it off the metal. It also serves as a lubricant to the stainless steel. Maybe you should try a tiny bit.
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Post by connrock on Jan 8, 2014 10:05:13 GMT -5
Pat,,,
I've been doing it completely dry in my Lot-O with about 2 lbs of stainless steel shot but,,,
Tela,,,I'll try the Dawn the next time I do it and see what happens.
connrock
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 8, 2014 10:43:53 GMT -5
Pat,,, I've been doing it completely dry in my Lot-O with about 2 lbs of stainless steel shot but,,, Tela,,,I'll try the Dawn the next time I do it and see what happens. connrock I didn't realize that you do it dry. Can you use some water? |
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