metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Jan 18, 2019 11:52:42 GMT -5
Great work & no worry - win-win!
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
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Post by metalsmith on Jan 18, 2019 11:50:53 GMT -5
I bought some silver solder in powder form and make up my own paste at the time I need. I’ve been informed solder paste ages quickly. It doesn’t justify its price in my book.
Learning to use solder pallions can be a bit of a journey but it’s s valuable skill. Home made paste works too for small jobs where a pal lion is often flooding the joint. Keep tidy and there’s significantly less tidying up to do.
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
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Post by metalsmith on Jan 10, 2019 13:36:27 GMT -5
Superglue will begin to deteriorate with heat way before a rock starts to get hot. The only stone I had trouble with heat was a stabilised turquoise, that broke.
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 22, 2018 11:16:13 GMT -5
Easier to state least favorite—- hematite! Black everywhere. Favourite: boulder opal - free fake suntan
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 22, 2018 7:54:42 GMT -5
Opal / Boulder Turquoise Jet Lapis Chrysocolla Jade Have I gone over my quota? But I’m just getting started!!
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 22, 2018 6:53:40 GMT -5
I’m interested in what colours the calcite ... does it have purple fluorite in it?
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 22, 2018 6:51:33 GMT -5
Outstanding! I see a castle complex on a ledge, steep rock faces, lightening, waterfalls, & boulders below amongst pools of water. All bathed in cool moonlight. A classic! Congrats!
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 22, 2018 6:49:20 GMT -5
Great work. Two choices with cabs that size would be either thin them down or go with the flat buffs - or anywhere in between. On the finish you’ve nailed it and the shape is great too. Keep on!
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 20, 2018 14:17:37 GMT -5
Ha, metalsmith, that'll teach you make a smart-aleckey remark. You could just get a real discussion going. Moi?
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 19, 2018 14:48:47 GMT -5
I was thinking "That's a pretty mediocre Christmas Card, but WAIT ... (really did have to wait as the cogs turned only slowly) ... that's a ROCK?!?!!?" (blush2) Amazing
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 19, 2018 14:40:01 GMT -5
So now you're admitting to heating and treating this piece - as well as dyeing?
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 19, 2018 14:31:19 GMT -5
Stunning, particularly the last one - and that slab! Oh wow!
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 19, 2018 14:27:21 GMT -5
Wow - can see just why it is called Kaleidoscope!
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 19, 2018 3:04:58 GMT -5
If I was to try kintsugi I would buy some gold wire and a fine file before I spent $100 on a single gram. How wrong could you go? #600 or so ..?
(I’d also research how to do it!!)
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 19, 2018 3:00:18 GMT -5
Straighten the edges and then draw & add a rectangular wire of the appropriate width. Burnish to flush set the stone. The only real risk here is how the bezel meets and interacts with the flush-wire. Maybe keep the wire a mm shorter at each end and onl solder to the back will allow the bezel to behave as intended all the way around. I’ve seen this done successfully before. It just pushes our comfort zones but that is how we advance... good luck!
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 3, 2018 1:49:21 GMT -5
Amber is so soft it can be cut by hand quite easily. #600 or finer will do it and keep it cool. I wouldn’t be too afraid to tumble finish it but it’s so easy to do it by hand and get the instant gratification of seeing things progress all the way through to being finished.
If it was to go in the tumbler I’d use the very fine slurry I have including #3000 diamond paste I saved from a previous RTH competition and / or a really soft medium such as walnut shells as is typically used in polishing silver ( hardness 2.5) might be a perfect filler. I haven’t tried it, mind...
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 3, 2018 1:26:43 GMT -5
Check the shine on number 3!! Amazing!
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 3, 2018 1:24:31 GMT -5
Love ... heart!
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 1, 2018 3:53:21 GMT -5
MsAli . I see the interesting face, but don’t know what GOT is. Game of Thrones I see the Night king I can see this one!
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 1, 2018 3:03:27 GMT -5
Nice work! Really like the setting on the labradorite, reminds me of spectrolite Beautiful work on all! Spectrolite is a proprietary name for a certain labradorite quarry and it’s high quality blue-and-other shaded labradorite. The colour play in it is down to the variety of labradorite feldspar. I’d caution against Using spectrolite for other material e.g. from Madagascar which may be similar as Spectrolite is a proprietary name.
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