metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Oct 1, 2016 13:40:27 GMT -5
Very nice! I'm assuming you did these by hand? I had a friend in the UK who sent me a few pieces. I think I still have a small piece somewhere. To me, the jet has a real romance to it. I run a small variable-speed bench-grinder with a pendant. They were polished with that using tripoli and rouge. Polishing seems to be in keeping with silver - just when you think you're done with the tripoli, the rouge shows all the remaining scratches and you have to back-track. After 3 iterations I thought I was done - then the photos showed some rouge remaining. Yes, the curse of digital photographs catches everyone. In fact I think that the digital photography test should be part of our standard prep / QA. When I cleaned off the leftover rouge, and with the benefit of daylight there were more scratches left and I had another cycle to do. They're gleaming now though I'm interested that you consider it romantic: it was the mourning jewellery of the Victorians, made fashionable by Queen Victoria when Albert died, she wore it in memory. Of course that was love lost. The internet tells me Albert died in 1861. Albert died at the age of 42 - it was generally thought he died of typhoid, but recent theory is that he suffered from Crohn's. However, Typhoid was rife and indiscriminate at the time; most of the population were dead at an earlier age and you only made it into your 40's if you were gentry. The issue of sanitation was raised and addressed during the reign of Queen Victoria, which is probably why she lived to such a ripe old age. The history of sewerage was documented by an ex-colleague of mine - see the fourth link below for a remarkable if lengthy read. Victoria wore jet for 40 years until her death in 1901. Her instructions were for her funeral to be white. Victoria & Albert-a fresh perspectivelengthy Wikipedia articleCrohn's theory linkSewerage in Leeds - David Sellars - link
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Oct 1, 2016 10:54:46 GMT -5
Do you self collect? I haven't been to Whitby in a year or two - the last time I visited was the day after that big flood that knocked out the life guard station and flooded some of the town. Managed to grab two fairly big pieces, although I didn't do anything with them. I do, although with one thing or another haven't been able to do so for a few years, until earlier this summer. Anyway, Ebay tells me others have had more success than me! Lucky for me they don't do anything with it and for what I pay, it must nearly cover their fuel for a day out which I don't mind.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Oct 1, 2016 1:48:20 GMT -5
Also a fan of your leather work.
Lightsabers? No idea how you'd even start!
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 30, 2016 18:42:26 GMT -5
There's no doubt I'll be making some more Whitby Jet cabs Some others still need finishing, yet, but to bring some recent and new works together for starters... A tiny Whitby Jet cabochon just 11.5 x 7.5mm Fit for a ring ... The first image after the calipers shows the cab after the first polish: some rouge and scratches still present: back to the polish. <old pictures> Preserving the Araucaria striations <old pictures> <old pictures> Perfectly apt for this gemstone, traditionally used for mourning jewellery - but its post modern usage has gained popularity with followers of gothic fashions who attend Whitby Abbey to celebrate (the fiction of) Dracula. This cabochon is stunningly polished. It's difficult to say whether this outshines the Mrs' Thigh Length Patent Leather boots!! Whitby Jet tear-drop cabochon <old pictures> Whitby Jet earring cabochon duo <old pictures> Whitby Jet pendant cabochon <old pictures> <old pictures> Whitby Jet rough <old pictures>
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 30, 2016 12:54:01 GMT -5
looks good. what gauge is that D-shaped wire? Chuck Approx AWG 6, but that would be round - this is D-profile. Thanks for looking & commenting.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 30, 2016 12:52:48 GMT -5
That's one hell of a markup. Of course, your supplier didn't get the gold at £32,750 / kg, either. He paid a markup, as did all the ppl involved with the gold before him. Can you melt your own? Is mercury still involved? (Living in the dark ages, I am.) Anyway, i think plain bands are lovely but yes they're a lot of work to make perfect with no blemishes. The parent company is Heimerle & Meule (German); they sell 1oz fine gold at 1,270 Euro where the spot price is 1,170 ($1315) so as they must be making something on that, they must be buying very close to base-price. No, mercury isn't involved in smelting gold and I could just about do it. I could probably make my own, the thing is to draw down the ingot to size would need more gold than you'd use. Yes, it would keep / re-use but sometimes there's economy in getting what you need for the job. There's £85 of 9ct or £221 of 18ct in a ring like that 4x2mm D-profile - approx half of AWG 6. These bars look to be very good value, if I had that kind of money lying around (and wasn't in the market for a facetter) ...
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 30, 2016 12:22:06 GMT -5
I have been working on a page for lapidary/geological/fossil groups in the UK, as there is not much up to date information. If anyone is aware of any active, related groups in the UK please feel free to PM me. Best list I know of is to be found at srbstones
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 29, 2016 13:54:38 GMT -5
Thank you... only when I'm in a position to cut and return.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 29, 2016 12:33:27 GMT -5
The good lady would like a new wedding ring. Her existing one won't resize without compromising its shape, which she loves. The price of gold is currently £32,750 / kg yet the price of a cast gold wedding ring (from my supplier!) calculated out as £111,000 kg. Judging by the weight they're hollow-cast. I'm aghast, it seems you pay more for the privilege of not using so much metal! E.g - they charge you more and give you less. Further to my refusal to pay such extortionate charges, I'm charged with making one. However the good lady won't be happy unless it meet her exacting criteria. This ring has to be perfect and profiled just how she likes. Not that she's fussy, but a WR will be worn day in day out. Before I'm allowed to fetch the yellow stuff, a mock up in silver was required. 3.5mm D-profile wire formed to a perfect join and then hand-filed to the required profile. Fine polished. Seemed to meet with approval. I have the go-ahead. (Oh and I found / cut the staging too)!
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 29, 2016 9:50:48 GMT -5
wegrowcrystals.comEtsyScience and Art: Bridewell Stone is created from Earth Elements, which are liquified at over 2300 degrees. As the crystallographic activity occurs, the formations come into being, encased in the rock crystal. Each boule is then cut with diamond embedded tools. Those slices of crystals are then shaped and polished by hand. Nature dictates the direction, size, and color of the rutile needles; it is our job to determine how the needles will be viewed in a finished piece. Whilst it is maintained that these stones are not synthetic, under the GIA description / definition they are exactly that.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 29, 2016 9:43:08 GMT -5
shermandukejewelryThat's a great offer. One I'd be pleased to take you up on but I don't yet have a facetter, despite nearly doing a deal a few weeks ago, I held off. So if you get any other offers, take them; I might be a while yet. If you're in no rush, please keep me in mind. I don't think my decision is 'if', but really it is 'when' and 'how much'?
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 29, 2016 9:38:37 GMT -5
I think it looks really good for your first ring and 2nd project. The only thing that stands out to me is the gap between the stone and bezel wire, but still not bad at all. Which I don't think is helped by the thickness of the metal: 1) the thickness of the bezel appears to contribute to the apparent gap i.e the gap isn't that big, but there's a thickness of metal from where the eye appreciates the bezel is 2) the usual, digital photos showing all our sins to the world at 10x magnification; great, technology, thanks! You did good here, Nate, but perfection is the game we're in...
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 28, 2016 12:53:22 GMT -5
Great stuff, Nate. The bezel is tidy ... what's the stone?
The second one melted ... copper!? What were you cooking it with?
It looks like the bezel lip could do with a little help with pushing it over a touch more. Maybe the copper bezel is still a little thick; filing a little more towards the top would help. An expert I know recommends doing this to a 45 degree edge aiming to be so very even for a super-crisp finish.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 25, 2016 7:40:21 GMT -5
For square corners, file a V-notch to 2/3 of the metal depth and the bends will be tidy; solder. As you note above, this needs consideration in the length of bezel / wire. Rounded or oval cabs are a good place to start. Square corners will wait for you to come back to.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 25, 2016 7:37:46 GMT -5
Hi John
welcome to the forum from a fellow limey ... Yorkshire!
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 24, 2016 16:04:06 GMT -5
I have no involvement with the sale, but for info, there's some for sale on the bay: item 351848927266 if anyone is interested?
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 23, 2016 12:37:26 GMT -5
Ok, here's my first attempt. It's got hundreds of mistakes like the corner of the cab breaking, crooked bezel, crappy solder joins etc etc. But it was mainly for practice and was quite a learning experience. It's 24 ga copper and I used the sheet for the bezel strip too. I think that's too thick and contributed to my problems. Using a rectangular cab didn't help either. Next try will be round or oval. Critiques welcome. I have thick skin, so don't worry - you won't offend me lol. Remember that Rule 3 was to be your own worst critic. Or best, depending on how you view things. It is easy to criticise; harder to give feedback / suggestions. You've gone beyond criticising to consider what mistakes you've made and how you can learn from them. Job done.
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metalsmith
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Garnet
Sept 22, 2016 13:33:21 GMT -5
Post by metalsmith on Sept 22, 2016 13:33:21 GMT -5
You need to name the store. Loud and clear. We are full here and that store needs avoiding. Dumb Bitch. The Karmechanic arrives...
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 22, 2016 13:22:32 GMT -5
The orbs in a lot of rhyolites are tiny thundereggs, also could be concretions like oolites. Note the formation of oolites is in sedimentary environments ...
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 22, 2016 12:11:35 GMT -5
Just waiting on a rainy day now ...
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