goldfinder
Cave Dweller 
Member since December 2020
Posts: 273
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Post by goldfinder on Mar 7, 2023 15:00:16 GMT -5
Hey all! I decided to try silversmithing again and make a pendant for my Mom's upcoming birthday. When we visit them I often bring some cabs to show them what I've been up to, my Mom seemed to like the Amethyst lace better than any other material so that's what I decided to go with. This one is some Chevron Amethyst I picked up in Quartzsite. It was a pretty rewarding feeling to go from a rough rock I picked up for a few bucks and slab it, trim it, cab it and get most of the soldering done in an afternoon while leisurely working. The soldering was a lot faster than the first pendant I made. I learned a lot this time around, specifically around buffing. I struggled with the tripoli step last time. After watching YouTube videos I realized I wasn't putting nearly enough pressure on the buffing wheel, I was using a light touch last time. After really putting some force while buffing with tripoli and fabulustre, it looked a ton better than my first pendant. (As a side note, what do others use to cover their stones while buffing? It seemed like the painters tape I was using was causing some yellowish haze/tarnish to form on the find silver bezel. I pulled my hair out trying to solve it but luckily I finally got rid of it.) It's not perfect but learned a lot and that's what it's all about. Thanks for looking!   |
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 7, 2023 15:03:44 GMT -5
Oooo- very pretty! I'm sure she'll love it and YOU made it from start to finish.  |
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Post by opalpyrexia on Mar 7, 2023 15:14:37 GMT -5
Very nice work!
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Post by jasoninsd on Mar 7, 2023 15:33:01 GMT -5
 Very seriously...that is a gorgeous pendant!! The cab looks great...and I love the bezel setting!! I think you did a fantastic job! I think no matter what, mom's will tell us whatever we make looks awesome...but she won't be fibbin' when she says it about this one!  |
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goldfinder
Cave Dweller
Member since December 2020
Posts: 273
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Post by goldfinder on Mar 7, 2023 16:27:48 GMT -5
Oooo- very pretty! I'm sure she'll love it and YOU made it from start to finish. Thanks! It is neat to be able to turn an "unappealing" rough rock into a wearable piece of jewelry, although there were some bumps along that path lol. |
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goldfinder
Cave Dweller
Member since December 2020
Posts: 273
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Post by goldfinder on Mar 7, 2023 16:29:54 GMT -5
Thanks! I appreciate all the tips you gave last time! Silversmithing is quite a learning curve but I think I'm getting the hang of it. |
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goldfinder
Cave Dweller
Member since December 2020
Posts: 273
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Post by goldfinder on Mar 7, 2023 16:34:48 GMT -5
Very seriously...that is a gorgeous pendant!! The cab looks great...and I love the bezel setting!! I think you did a fantastic job! I think no matter what, mom's will tell us whatever we make looks awesome...but she won't be fibbin' when she says it about this one! Hahaha thanks Jason! Yeah I think she liked it, we gave it to her when we visited this last weekend and she put it up on display with a card my wife made so I guess it passed the "test" lol. |
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
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Post by khara on Mar 7, 2023 22:19:06 GMT -5
Wow, that is very nice! I think your mom is going to love it! And I’m impressed that you sound like you’ve only just started learning, your craftsmanship is very nice. The little bit of metalsmithing I’ve done, I don’t have an arbor for polishing. I just use my Foredom and the little spider wheels. I don’t typically try for a mirror polish, and instead do the patina’d look.
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goldfinder
Cave Dweller
Member since December 2020
Posts: 273
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Post by goldfinder on Mar 8, 2023 1:21:55 GMT -5
Wow, that is very nice! I think your mom is going to love it! And I’m impressed that you sound like you’ve only just started learning, your craftsmanship is very nice. The little bit of metalsmithing I’ve done, I don’t have an arbor for polishing. I just use my Foredom and the little spider wheels. I don’t typically try for a mirror polish, and instead do the patina’d look. Thanks a lot for the kind words! Yeah it's only the second thing I've tried silversmithing so I definitely just started. Ah that's a good idea, I've been trying to go for the mirror polish and it's been a pain and steep learning curve lol. I don't have a polishing arbor either, or a Foredom, but I did find this thing from the hardware store that worked to mount buffing wheels to anything with the common 1/4"-20 threads that most cabbing machines use for the end-lap or flat laps. My old slant cabber/flat lap had the same 1/4"-20 threads so I picked up this rod from the hardware for for like a $1 I think. They had a bunch of different lengths/sizes, this one was 5" to get the buffing wheel away from the machine a little. Not sure what the name is of it but it threads in where a lap would go and a muslin buffing wheel can be screwed on the coarse threaded end. I just used gorilla tape to stop the buffing wheel from threading any further down the rod while using it. Maybe someone might find this little trick useful to mount a buffing wheel to any 1/4"-20 threaded end easily!  |
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ashley
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2023
Posts: 937 
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Post by ashley on Mar 8, 2023 7:53:56 GMT -5
That is absolutely beautiful!! |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 8, 2023 8:41:47 GMT -5
Very pretty! I know your mom will absolutely LOVE it! I usually polish my setting before I set the stone and then give it a touch-up after with just rouge if it needs it. (It usually does).  |
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
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Post by khara on Mar 8, 2023 13:20:00 GMT -5
Oh cool, thank you for the tip on the make-shift buffing wheel attachment. I think I may try that. I’ve actually removed my left end lap from my machine as I just don’t use it and it is too close to the first wheel and gets in the way of larger cabs. So this may be a good option for using that space and easy to put on and take off. I had been looking at the cheap arbors, there are several out there for less than 100 bucks. Thought that may be a good starter option, and see how long it lasted, but this is a good step before that even.👍
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goldfinder
Cave Dweller
Member since December 2020
Posts: 273
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Post by goldfinder on Mar 8, 2023 14:12:16 GMT -5
That is absolutely beautiful!! Thank you!! Very pretty! I know your mom will absolutely LOVE it! I usually polish my setting before I set the stone and then give it a touch-up after with just rouge if it needs it. (It usually does). Thank you!! Ah that's a great idea! What do you use to push in the stone? Oh cool, thank you for the tip on the make-shift buffing wheel attachment. I think I may try that. I’ve actually removed my left end lap from my machine as I just don’t use it and it is too close to the first wheel and gets in the way of larger cabs. So this may be a good option for using that space and easy to put on and take off. I had been looking at the cheap arbors, there are several out there for less than 100 bucks. Thought that may be a good starter option, and see how long it lasted, but this is a good step before that even.👍 Yeah it is a good workaround and worked surprisingly well. I think on a lot of cabbing machines the left side has left hand threads (LH) while the right side has right hand threads (RH)? I only found this thing with the regular RH threads. Just wouldn't want you to cross thread your arbor if the left side is LH threads! |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 8, 2023 16:35:23 GMT -5
That is absolutely beautiful!! Thank you!! Very pretty! I know your mom will absolutely LOVE it! I usually polish my setting before I set the stone and then give it a touch-up after with just rouge if it needs it. (It usually does). Thank you!! Ah that's a great idea! What do you use to push in the stone? Oh cool, thank you for the tip on the make-shift buffing wheel attachment. I think I may try that. I’ve actually removed my left end lap from my machine as I just don’t use it and it is too close to the first wheel and gets in the way of larger cabs. So this may be a good option for using that space and easy to put on and take off. I had been looking at the cheap arbors, there are several out there for less than 100 bucks. Thought that may be a good starter option, and see how long it lasted, but this is a good step before that even.👍 Yeah it is a good workaround and worked surprisingly well. I think on a lot of cabbing machines the left side has left hand threads (LH) while the right side has right hand threads (RH)? I only found this thing with the regular RH threads. Just wouldn't want you to cross thread your arbor if the left side is LH threads! I use the regular bezel pushers and burnishers. I have some agate burnishers I use when I'm setting a softer or delicate stone. |
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goldfinder
Cave Dweller
Member since December 2020
Posts: 273
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Post by goldfinder on Mar 8, 2023 17:52:33 GMT -5
Thank you!! Thank you!! Ah that's a great idea! What do you use to push in the stone? I use the regular bezel pushers and burnishers. I have some agate burnishers I use when I'm setting a softer or delicate stone. Thanks for the info! I had just been using a brass bezel pusher then sanding away any marks from that. I think I'll look into some burnishers. I'm quickly understanding why silversmith benches usually have TONS of different tools lol, nothing is better than the right tool for the job! |
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bgoodz
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Bill
Member since January 2023
Posts: 85
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Post by bgoodz on Mar 17, 2023 14:43:12 GMT -5
Very pretty! I know your mom will absolutely LOVE it! I usually polish my setting before I set the stone and then give it a touch-up after with just rouge if it needs it. (It usually does). I too *usually* polish the setting prior to setting a stone and also usually hit the complete piece again with red rouge unless I need to touch up the bezel from burnishing or pushing. If so, I normally use different grits of pumice wheels with the foredom hand piece on the bezel, then the final. You mentioned using Tripoli, as you prolly know from using Tripoli it will cut in a bit on the silver which is ok if that is what you're needing or want to do. You might want to try yellow which cuts a little less and puts a pretty nice pre polish on the silver, sometimes a final. Please keep in mind separate muslin buffs for the different polishing compounds you're using (contamination of different polishing grits). As to cleaning the piece (after each round of polishing) I use a small Ultra-sonic unit but you really don't need an ultra-sonic tank unit unless maybe doing multiple group pieces. You can as I have done is just use an old butter tub container, warm water, house hold sudsy ammonia and a few drops of liquid detergent and an old tooth brush. This should remove any left over polishing residue. (I'm old school) and was taught this mixture method, Ive never purchased any pre-made cleaning solutions but who knows maybe they are just as good. Hope this helps a bit. Your pendant is very nice, the stone color banding, cut and polish and I like the scalloped bezel. I'm sure your Mom will love it, beautiful piece made just for her and by her son. Very nice! Congrats to you goldfinder. |
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
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Post by khara on Mar 18, 2023 2:17:08 GMT -5
goldfinder On your make-shift buffing wheel, does your buff have a very small arbor hole and just screw directly onto the coarse threads the way that little tiny Dremel buffing wheels do, or does your buffing wheel have a larger hole, like a standard 1/2”? I’m only finding large arbor hole buffs and these require two nuts and two washers to squish the buffing wheel and hold it on the threaded rod. Anyway just curious if you’ve got nuts and washers or just the buff screwed onto the threads only? Edit: I remember now your comment about using tape to keep the buff from traveling to center so you must be using the spin on type. And I did find some on Cutting Edge Supply that don’t have the large arbor hole.👍
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goldfinder
Cave Dweller
Member since December 2020
Posts: 273
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Post by goldfinder on Mar 18, 2023 14:41:14 GMT -5
Very pretty! I know your mom will absolutely LOVE it! I usually polish my setting before I set the stone and then give it a touch-up after with just rouge if it needs it. (It usually does). I too *usually* polish the setting prior to setting a stone and also usually hit the complete piece again with red rouge unless I need to touch up the bezel from burnishing or pushing. If so, I normally use different grits of pumice wheels with the foredom hand piece on the bezel, then the final. You mentioned using Tripoli, as you prolly know from using Tripoli it will cut in a bit on the silver which is ok if that is what you're needing or want to do. You might want to try yellow which cuts a little less and puts a pretty nice pre polish on the silver, sometimes a final. Please keep in mind separate muslin buffs for the different polishing compounds you're using (contamination of different polishing grits). As to cleaning the piece (after each round of polishing) I use a small Ultra-sonic unit but you really don't need an ultra-sonic tank unit unless maybe doing multiple group pieces. You can as I have done is just use an old butter tub container, warm water, house hold sudsy ammonia and a few drops of liquid detergent and an old tooth brush. This should remove any left over polishing residue. (I'm old school) and was taught this mixture method, Ive never purchased any pre-made cleaning solutions but who knows maybe they are just as good. Hope this helps a bit. Your pendant is very nice, the stone color banding, cut and polish and I like the scalloped bezel. I'm sure your Mom will love it, beautiful piece made just for her and by her son. Very nice! Congrats to you goldfinder. Thanks for the tips! It's greatly appreciated! I think I'll try setting the stone after polishing the next time I make one. Do you just use a normal brass bezel pusher? What kind of burnishers? I have a couple ultrasonic cleaners I use to clean nuggets so I might try using that to clean the piece between steps. Thanks a lot for the encouraging words!! |
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goldfinder
Cave Dweller
Member since December 2020
Posts: 273
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Post by goldfinder on Mar 18, 2023 14:43:52 GMT -5
goldfinder On your make-shift buffing wheel, does your buff have a very small arbor hole and just screw directly onto the coarse threads the way that little tiny Dremel buffing wheels do, or does your buffing wheel have a larger hole, like a standard 1/2”? I’m only finding large arbor hole buffs and these require two nuts and two washers to squish the buffing wheel and hold it on the threaded rod. Anyway just curious if you’ve got nuts and washers or just the buff screwed onto the threads only? Edit: I remember now your comment about using tape to keep the buff from traveling to center so you must be using the spin on type. And I did find some on Cutting Edge Supply that don’t have the large arbor hole.👍 Yes it's the buffs with a small hole that just thread on. I bought mine from Rio Grande when I ordered silversmithing supplies. Hope that helps! |
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bgoodz
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Bill
Member since January 2023
Posts: 85
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Post by bgoodz on Mar 19, 2023 22:28:09 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips! It's greatly appreciated! I think I'll try setting the stone after polishing the next time I make one. Do you just use a normal brass bezel pusher? What kind of burnishers? I have a couple ultrasonic cleaners I use to clean nuggets so I might try using that to clean the piece between steps. Thanks a lot for the encouraging words!! goldfinder ….bezel pushers & burnisher used. First two are prong pushers but ive used them on bezels also depending on the situations. The third one is a “rocker” to rock the bezel, last one is a curved smooth burnisher and usually most used. Hope this assists you with your bezel settings. Bill  |
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