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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jul 3, 2016 10:46:48 GMT -5
So far I am pretty happy with my solder joints and overall fabrication. Next step before trying silver will be to learn how to finish and polish. This was a really cool cab from some killer jamesp coral
DSC03136_resizeI soldered this bail on and that proved very difficult trying to keep it straight with the bezel upside down and not being able to see the front. DSC03141_resizeThanks for looking Chuck
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Post by orrum on Jul 3, 2016 11:31:04 GMT -5
Chuck it's called a third hand. It's alligator clips on a set of swivels with a heavy base. I like to do my work on a white fore brick. I like yo scrape a hole in the brick to accommodate my rounded bail end and lay it in there then put the back plate under the end of the bail and flux it and solder. Your work is great!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jul 3, 2016 11:38:06 GMT -5
Chuck it's called a third hand. It's alligator clips on a set of swivels with a heavy base. I like to do my work on a white fore brick. I like yo scrape a hole in the brick to accommodate my rounded bail end and lay it in there then put the back plate under the end of the bail and flux it and solder. Your work is great! Thanks orrum. I did use the third hand to hold the bail in place but things still moved around a little while heating. I am using a magnesia block and should have stuck some pins around the main bezel. I guess I thought it weighed enough to stay put but it moved a tad. Chuck
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 3, 2016 12:20:41 GMT -5
Moving along with the metal Chuck. Big step doing the sorround. Crazy about that particular coral. It is some solid stuff. Both settings deserve respect. Not sure that many can make those. Just a high skill metal project. The way it is. Lots of patience.
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Post by toiv0 on Jul 3, 2016 14:17:54 GMT -5
Very nice work, you will find when you move on to silver it is way easier than copper.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jul 3, 2016 14:26:56 GMT -5
Very nice work, you will find when you move on to silver it is way easier than copper. Thanks. I really hope so! Chuck
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Jul 3, 2016 14:58:00 GMT -5
Very nice work, you will find when you move on to silver it is way easier than copper. Yes and no. You'd have to really try to overheat copper,but a thin silver bezel can shrink / deform if it gets too hot. Your work is excellent and you shouldn't be afraid to use silver. But then don't be afraid to use copper either: the colour is so complimentary to those stones - and what stones! When you've mastered polishing, do let us know. I'm not sure anyone truly masters polishing. In fact I know of a guy who is professor of polishing and I think his first and last point would be the more you know, the more you realise you don't know. But that doesn't stop us at least drawing a stalemate with polishing and it generally shines to everyone except the man in the know.
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Post by vegasjames on Jul 3, 2016 15:29:25 GMT -5
Looks nice. I like the metal you used with the stones.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jul 3, 2016 15:56:15 GMT -5
Looks nice. I like the metal you used with the stones. Thanks. I was struggling to find stones that would go good with my practice copper. Chuck
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NDK
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Post by NDK on Jul 3, 2016 19:04:47 GMT -5
Looking good Chuck. You're progressing in leaps and bounds!
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Post by Pat on Jul 3, 2016 19:22:08 GMT -5
Very pretty work.
You can avoid soldering a bail onto the backplate by cutting it out when cutting out the backplate. Bail would be one piece with backplate.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jul 3, 2016 21:07:37 GMT -5
Very pretty work. You can avoid soldering a bail onto the backplate by cutting it out when cutting out the backplate. Bail would be one piece with backplate. Thank you Pat. I gave that some thought on the bail but I am just practicing soldering so I figured this would be a good test. I will probably try just forming a bail from the back plate on one of my next ones to simplify things. Chuck
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Post by orrum on Jul 4, 2016 6:10:01 GMT -5
I forgot Chuck but when using the third hand remember it works as a heat sink so use it as far from the solder as posible and as light a contact as possible. Start learning to pick solder. Best way is to make a few hundred jump rings and solder the joins to form a chain. I like pick soldering, it gets you a very clean look with very little effort.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jul 4, 2016 9:51:17 GMT -5
I forgot Chuck but when using the third hand remember it works as a heat sink so use it as far from the solder as posible and as light a contact as possible. Start learning to pick solder. Best way is to make a few hundred jump rings and solder the joins to form a chain. I like pick soldering, it gets you a very clean look with very little effort. Thanks for the reminder about pick soldering. I completely forgot about that when I did my jump ring. Chuck
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meviva
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Post by meviva on Jul 4, 2016 16:32:00 GMT -5
Those look great Chuck!
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icatz
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Post by icatz on Jul 5, 2016 5:57:46 GMT -5
"I soldered this bail on and that proved very difficult trying to keep it straight with the bezel upside down and not being able to see the front." This is a constant problem for me as well, especially with rings.
BTW, I think the coral looks great in the copper. Copper is becoming very hot these days, with the price of sterling and gold being so crappy high. Personally, I find it easier to work/solder with sterling/FS, but a great copper setting with the right stone can be every bit or more glorious. Some of my commissions were from people who preferred copper just because they liked it better. Plus, it's a little more forgiving and if you really mess it up, no big $ loss.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 5, 2016 8:37:11 GMT -5
Copper and other base metals. White brass, German silver, soft brass all make good fodder for such projects. Research their impact on skin. Copper has it's own reputation. Nickel base metals also. Some people do not worry about it. Pendants can be worn outside of clothing, rings bangles bracelets all make skin contact. Copper easy to work with.
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