jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 15, 2016 7:56:02 GMT -5
Been making steel rings for an application. Mass production style that an employee could do with zero skill. 9 inch and 11 inch rings no problem, nice perfect circles-target met. Move to 13 inch diameter with wider strip and I was getting a progressive(sorry, digressing) radius, i.e. spiral. No good. So I made a bender with a progressing radius, hoping for exact circles bent, yes, spiral mandrel. Yes, and bull's eye. It works. May come in handy on a smaller scale for jewelry circles. Never seen such a bender. It is a 15 second bend. dead repeatable. So great for production. Mandrel is a pipe cut along it's and squeezed with a clamp and then welded to a base plate in a spiral shape. Gap at cut holds stock, allowing layering. You can actually wrap several layers over and over each other and get varying size circles(think jump ring mandrel). This one bent spirals(no good) This one bends perfect circles, and allows layering. Example of smaller bender that for some reason bent perfect circles without being a spiral f(material perhaps) BUT, holder does not allow additional layers. Spiral mandrel a hit, progressive diameters desired for applications. Gap desired for application. May be able to pull ends together and solder for 'adequate' circles.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Jun 15, 2016 8:02:13 GMT -5
I suppose you could wrap springs and coils on this mandrel as well.
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wampidytoo
has rocks in the head
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Post by wampidytoo on Jun 15, 2016 10:40:38 GMT -5
I was lucky when I was working steel because most of the time there was a roller available. A master of inginudity will always get-er-done one way or another some times even faster and easier. A roller gives good results but requires some expertise which can be hard to find.
I enjoyed working steel most of the time, especially when I had the opportunity to figure out a problem and come up with a solution. I have a feeling you are similar and enjoy the problem solving more than all the other things you do. Well, maybe not all, but most. Jim
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Jun 15, 2016 11:38:14 GMT -5
I was lucky when I was working steel because most of the time there was a roller available. A master of inginudity will always get-er-done one way or another some times even faster and easier. A roller gives good results but requires some expertise which can be hard to find. I enjoyed working steel most of the time, especially when I had the opportunity to figure out a problem and come up with a solution. I have a feeling you are similar and enjoy the problem solving more than all the other things you do. Well, maybe not all, but most. Jim This kinda project floats my boat. Fast work making a dang ring. Darn roller bender is fussy and requires back and forthing. Test of patience. This one takes a little elbow grease but it is not one bit fussy. No wrestling Metal addictive. i am a part timer. I think you did metal for many years. Certain you have seen a thousand such rigs. Conquer the metal, don't let it conquer you. Not much space for lazy either. Metal is a lot of work. I know no lazy welders.
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Post by radio on Jun 15, 2016 16:29:59 GMT -5
Good post Sir! My main problem is cutting perfect circles out of sheet sterling. I must resort to marking the circle, cut it out with a jewelers saw, then file the edges until I have achieved as close to perfect as possible. Right now I am having to cut several 2 1/2 inch diameter circles out of 22 ga Sterling that will be engraved by a master engraver for a special wildlife project
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Jun 15, 2016 23:43:11 GMT -5
Good post Sir! My main problem is cutting perfect circles out of sheet sterling. I must resort to marking the circle, cut it out with a jewelers saw, then file the edges until I have achieved as close to perfect as possible. Right now I am having to cut several 2 1/2 inch diameter circles out of 22 ga Sterling that will be engraved by a master engraver for a special wildlife project Quality jewelry metal work just does not fit in high production category. Hand work makes personality. No substitutes. Human eyes have an affinity for seeing a custom made one of a kind work. I have one with a bot in it, in a safe spot.
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Post by radio on Jun 16, 2016 18:53:02 GMT -5
Good post Sir! My main problem is cutting perfect circles out of sheet sterling. I must resort to marking the circle, cut it out with a jewelers saw, then file the edges until I have achieved as close to perfect as possible. Right now I am having to cut several 2 1/2 inch diameter circles out of 22 ga Sterling that will be engraved by a master engraver for a special wildlife project Quality jewelry metal work just does not fit in high production category. Hand work makes personality. No substitutes. Human eyes have an affinity for seeing a custom made one of a kind work. I have one with a bot in it, in a safe spot. Very true. There seems to be less and less people that recognize hand made jewelry, and even less that are willing to pay for it.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Jun 16, 2016 18:58:54 GMT -5
Quality jewelry metal work just does not fit in high production category. Hand work makes personality. No substitutes. Human eyes have an affinity for seeing a custom made one of a kind work. I have one with a bot in it, in a safe spot. Very true. There seems to be less and less people that recognize hand made jewelry, and even less that are willing to pay for it. Yes and yes. They pay $50 for hand made base metal pieces. Get past $100 and you better be a famous artyst. Arlen is both a master and a famous artyst. Can charge anything he wants.
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Post by radio on Jun 16, 2016 19:37:39 GMT -5
Very true. There seems to be less and less people that recognize hand made jewelry, and even less that are willing to pay for it. Yes and yes. They pay $50 for hand made base metal pieces. Get past $100 and you better be a famous artyst. Arlen is both a master and a famous artyst. Can charge anything he wants. LOL! Thanks! Lately, I have been contemplating buying one of those portable defibrillator units so I can jump start a few ladies hearts when they go into cardiac arrest over my prices! I recently had one lady go absolutely Ga Ga over one of the rings in my display and asked to try it on. I handed it to her and thought she was going to have a heart attack on the spot! She looked at the price tag, started sputtering and gasping, placed her hand on her chest and exclaimed "200 hundred dollars?!?!? My God! I thought it would be 20 bucks! " Honestly, I am not exaggerating her reaction. I was so shocked by her words and actions that I was unable to come up with anything other than "This isn't costume jewelry Ma'am"! I have had several variations of her reaction over the years, but nothing as over the top as that one. I really need to think of with a good comeback for such occasions!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Jun 16, 2016 20:15:57 GMT -5
Stay humble and let it go. Us people would have high respect for your work. Never know what you will get from the public. Knowledgeable customers know what they are looking at radio.
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Post by radio on Jun 17, 2016 5:47:50 GMT -5
Stay humble and let it go. Us people would have high respect for your work. Never know what you will get from the public. Knowledgeable customers know what they are looking at radio . Thanks Jim. I wasn't so much insulted as I was just floored that someone would be so uncouth as say such things to a person. Yes, you are correct that knowledgeable people know what they are looking at.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Jun 17, 2016 6:05:35 GMT -5
uncouth- separate, drop off in round file, move on, dwell on the many satisfied customers of the past, stick chest out, smile radio
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Jul 13, 2016 0:43:05 GMT -5
Good post Sir! My main problem is cutting perfect circles out of sheet sterling. I must resort to marking the circle, cut it out with a jewelers saw, then file the edges until I have achieved as close to perfect as possible. Right now I am having to cut several 2 1/2 inch diameter circles out of 22 ga Sterling that will be engraved by a master engraver for a special wildlife project If there's no round punch to be found that size, how about a die and arbour press? That would just leave a minority to shape up and the rest to fine-finish.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2016 20:07:41 GMT -5
Stay humble and let it go. Us people would have high respect for your work. Never know what you will get from the public. Knowledgeable customers know what they are looking at radio . Thanks Jim. I wasn't so much insulted as I was just floored that someone would be so uncouth as say such things to a person. Yes, you are correct that knowledgeable people know what they are looking at. At that moment, I sincerely doubt she knew you were the artist who made it. Likely she assumed China made. Walmart and all.... Next time punch her in the face. Ok bad idea!
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Post by Rockoonz on Jul 17, 2016 0:38:20 GMT -5
Good post Sir! My main problem is cutting perfect circles out of sheet sterling. I must resort to marking the circle, cut it out with a jewelers saw, then file the edges until I have achieved as close to perfect as possible. Right now I am having to cut several 2 1/2 inch diameter circles out of 22 ga Sterling that will be engraved by a master engraver for a special wildlife project If there's no round punch to be found that size, how about a die and arbour press? That would just leave a minority to shape up and the rest to fine-finish. Exactly. I just found a small bottle jack hydraulic press at an estate sale, now I just need to study up on stamping die construction.
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