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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 11, 2016 21:06:38 GMT -5
I am still very intimidated by this section of the forum due to the amount of professional looking pieces being posted. I figured I might as well post this one just to bring the bar down a little for the beginners with just a few tools. Thanks for looking Chuck
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2016 21:17:45 GMT -5
That looks professional to me.
If you are a beginner with a few tools, I think that's amazing. I have been trying to wire tie for months and can't get it, and you made an attractive set for a beautiful stone!
You rose the bar with that, IMHO.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 11, 2016 21:31:33 GMT -5
That looks professional to me. If you are a beginner with a few tools, I think that's amazing. I have been trying to wire tie for months and can't get it, and you made an attractive set for a beautiful stone! You rose the bar with that, IMHO. Thank you @jennielee - There are others on here that were making these awhile ago but I have not seen any posted lately. I think the total for all the tools to make these can be bought for about $40. A jewelers saw and blades, A set of needle files, Sanding pads used for fingernails and some 0000 steel wool. I designed a few different styles at work in a cad program. I am able to print them out and just glue my patterns to cheap sheet copper and cut them out by hand with the jewelers saw. Chuck
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es355lucille
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2016
Posts: 194
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Post by es355lucille on Jun 11, 2016 22:25:51 GMT -5
I am still very intimidated by this section of the forum due to the amount of professional looking pieces being posted. I figured I might as well post this one just to bring the bar down a little for the beginners with just a few tools. Thanks for looking Chuck Wow, that's really quite nice Chuck! You will need to be lowering that bar a whole lot more that that! All kidding aside I really like it.
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Post by orrum on Jun 12, 2016 6:02:26 GMT -5
I like it Chuck, the cab matches the metal in shape and color!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Jun 12, 2016 6:19:17 GMT -5
Bent 10,000 pieces of metal as a welder. Jewelry another whole ball game. Grabbing a rock with a piece of metal rarely comes easy.
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Post by radio on Jun 12, 2016 7:30:47 GMT -5
Very nice indeed! The copper compliments the stone nicely and the piece is well finished!
There are so many methods of setting stones that no one person can master them all, and one has to start somewhere. One method is very often a stepping stone for another, and another and another :-)
Strong work, and watching for the next piece!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 12, 2016 7:31:50 GMT -5
Bent 10,000 pieces of metal as a welder. Jewelry another whole ball game. Grabbing a rock with a piece of metal rarely comes easy. Thanks jamespChuck
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Jun 12, 2016 8:47:37 GMT -5
Very nice indeed! The copper compliments the stone nicely and the piece is well finished! There are so many methods of setting stones that no one person can master them all, and one has to start somewhere. One method is very often a stepping stone for another, and another and another :-) Strong work, and watching for the next piece! Some peak at certain skills. I admit to limits in this arena. And then there is the Arlens.....
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 12, 2016 8:59:17 GMT -5
Very nice indeed! The copper compliments the stone nicely and the piece is well finished! There are so many methods of setting stones that no one person can master them all, and one has to start somewhere. One method is very often a stepping stone for another, and another and another :-) Strong work, and watching for the next piece! Some peak at certain skills. I admit to limits in this arena. And then there is the Arlens..... Some budgets peak at certain tools too Some of these guys have more money in jewelry making tools then I have in all of my rock cutting and polishing equipment. Chuck
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Jun 12, 2016 9:42:14 GMT -5
So true Chuck.
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Post by radio on Jun 12, 2016 11:57:24 GMT -5
Some peak at certain skills. I admit to limits in this arena. And then there is the Arlens..... Some budgets peak at certain tools too Some of these guys have more money in jewelry making tools then I have in all of my rock cutting and polishing equipment. Chuck Other than the 8 inch cab king and a Foredom tool (which I rarely use)my tools for silver work are quite basic. Mostly files, saws, sandpaper and several self made tools. I'm not about high production and prefer the old school methods. There is just something about the old ways that make it more satisfying to me than having all the modern conveniences.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 12, 2016 12:29:06 GMT -5
Some budgets peak at certain tools too Some of these guys have more money in jewelry making tools then I have in all of my rock cutting and polishing equipment. Chuck Other than the 8 inch cab king and a Foredom tool (which I rarely use)my tools for silver work are quite basic. Mostly files, saws, sandpaper and several self made tools. I'm not about high production and prefer the old school methods. There is just something about the old ways that make it more satisfying to me than having all the modern conveniences. I really like looking through the RIO catalog to see the assortment of tools for metal work but the stuff is not cheap and unlike lapidary tools I never see used metalsmith tools. My next step that I really want to learn is just bezel setting cabs but that still involves at least the tools in the torch kit below. basic torch kit $475 www.riogrande.com/Product/Basic-Soldering-Kit-with-Little-Torch/500139basic metal forming tools $1200 www.riogrande.com/Product/Metalsmiths-Kit/112697Chuck
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Jun 12, 2016 12:49:25 GMT -5
That's great. I don't know why, but I envy your designing in CAD. There's nothing stopping me, I just don't! Its a lovely piece; simple in that the bail isn't soldered, but then there's a plus to that: even when I make a piece fully soldered, it is usual to leave one join as a potential 'failure' point, so no one gets dragged into machinery by their jewellery chain for e.g. I note that the pattern is curved, but the finished piece is angled. A lovely match of metal to stone.
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
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Post by metalsmith on Jun 12, 2016 13:10:37 GMT -5
Rio certainly know how to part you from your cash. A dremel versaflame was my first torch and still used on many / most pieces and certainly enough to do bezel settings. I've even melted a small amount of copper with it after constructing a small 'igloo' from fire-cement. The versaflame piezo ignition went wrong a bit too soon, but other than that it has served me well. A soldering mat, borax cone and dish; and some solder, small cutters and a fine paintbrush are all you need. See if you can't source the individual components more cheaply from other suppliers. Rio are 'premium' i.e. they charge you a premium.
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rockrose
starting to shine!
Member since May 2016
Posts: 37
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Post by rockrose on Jun 12, 2016 14:27:47 GMT -5
The cab and setting are very complementary! I love unique settings and I think this is very professional looking!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 12, 2016 14:44:40 GMT -5
Thank you- Very good info. When I am ready to take the plunge I will be asking some more specific questions about where to start before ordering supplies.
Chuck
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Post by radio on Jun 12, 2016 15:12:08 GMT -5
When I am ready to take the plunge I will be asking some more specific questions about where to start before ordering supplies. Chuck I would recommend not buying things in kit form, especially from Rio. Since they became a publicly traded company, prices have increased and quality has declined. Most "kits" have company profits in mind rather than customer needs. for instance, the torch kit from Rio only comes with one tip where most places sell the torch with 4 assorted tips. a $5 mini crock pot and a $5 bottle of swimming pool PH down is as good as any, and a LOT cheaper. The soldering board and charcoal brick can be used, but a $10 kiln insulating brick is the best thing since sliced bread. A $50 regulator for disposable propane tanks, a $30 oxy regulator from Harbor freight and the $80, twenty Cu ft oxy bottle and you have your torch set up. Third hands are as useless as the proverbial mammary glands on a Boar hog IMHO. Get a small box of straight pins to use with the kiln brick and there is very little you can't do! The brick reflects heat back into the piece you are soldering and does not act like a heat sink at all. You can simply scrub the surface on a sidewalk to resurface the brick once it gets pitted. The metal forming tool kits are way, way overkill for the vast majority of smiths. I have a rawhide mallet, a hard plastic mallet and a short handled ball pein hammer for use on the hallmark stamps and such. Two sets of mini files, one regular and one fine cut, an 8 inch mill bastard file, sand paper, a couple of burnishers, a bench knife and a pair of 2X Optivisors and you are set go. Do not scrimp on the magnifying visors! This is one area where Harbor freight stuff will bite you in the butt! The Optivisor brand is far, far superior! if you have any questions, please feel free to message me
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Post by rock princess on Sept 19, 2016 14:56:43 GMT -5
any chance you would sell some settings, ? I am a rock princess yes , but setting expert , I suck, period. Heres my email westygirl1@hotmail.com thank you for a non trainable setting maker in need .
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Post by 1dave on Oct 14, 2016 15:30:57 GMT -5
any chance you would sell some settings, ? I am a rock princess yes , but setting expert , I suck, period. Heres my email westygirl1@hotmail.com thank you for a non trainable setting maker in need . I have a princess friend. She says "princesses don't cook" so she doesn't. Period. Perhaps princesses don't set?
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