|
|
Post by rockjunquie on May 27, 2023 10:12:55 GMT -5
Having seen the amount of variety in your work Tela rockjunquie , I can't believe it's possible for you to run out of new ideas. Maybe a new direction - but your imagination is full I'm certain. Maybe you just need a vacation 
Patty
A vacation? Yeah, that sounds great!! LOL! After today or tomorrow, I can relax a little and do more hobby stuff. THAT will be a vacation.  |
|
|
|
Post by susand24224 on May 27, 2023 16:28:47 GMT -5
liveoak , Patty, I expanded my definition of "bead" in my mind to anything that had a hole in it. And I usually use these things as dangles, but it went across the slanted top so nicely. . .these guys are "tough," you don't change their shape, and the hole wasn't positioned properly to let me do what I wanted. And yes, I still love the cab! rockjunquie , Tela, this design needs something, I'm not sure what. Perhaps I will figure out what it is late at night, particularly if I take up wine.
|
|
|
|
Post by liveoak on May 27, 2023 18:57:48 GMT -5
Perhaps I will figure out what it is late at night, particularly if I take up wine. Lubricating the creative process with wine, in the evening, is sometimes just the inspiration needed, for me anyway........ 
Patty
|
|
rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,167
|
Post by rockbrain on May 27, 2023 22:28:40 GMT -5
I'm jumping into the fray late as I've been quite busy. Just did about 10 hours at my shop moving large pieces of metal. My fitness watch says I did 15,153 steps today. Anyway, some nice looking wraps here already, but that's to be expected considering who the wrappers are! I was working on some coils last night using the drill and a large fishing swivel in my vice. It went real well but I was having issues with the wire breaking off in the drill chuck. I wonder if anyone has some tips to avoid this.
Wine is OK but I'm lubing with Jack tonight!
|
|
rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,167
|
Post by rockbrain on May 28, 2023 11:47:35 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by liveoak on May 28, 2023 13:59:38 GMT -5
That's a beautiful sunset pendant rockbrain ! The coil looks really nice.
And I like how you tucked one of the top wires in between the stone & the frame - it's a nice touch.
I know you said you did the coil with a drill, but what gauge wire did you use ? I have trouble with the finer gauges breaking sometimes, even by hand.
Patty
|
|
rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,167
|
Post by rockbrain on May 28, 2023 15:04:40 GMT -5
Thanks Patty liveoak. I was having trouble securing the cab. The coil was just a bit too long and I couldn't really shorten it. I tucked that wire to help hold the top of the cab in place. I think I used 22 gauge for the core and 24 for the wrap, then wrapped that coil around a piece of 21 then wrapped the resulting groove with 24. It's actually amazing how close I came to the right size. I originally practiced the coils with heavier gauge. One of the pieces I made just happened to be perfect to make it halfway. I figured I needed 13 inches of the first coil to wrap and make it halfway around the perimeter. Since I used smaller wire I winged it and made it 12 inches. If I had gone about another 1/4 to 1/2 less I think it would have been perfect. The good thing is, I learned a lot from this. That's one good thing about being ignorant. It's easy to learn new things! I also started wrapping the end of the wire that I put in the chuck with masking tape. Much less breakage. Plus I think I was pulling the wire too tight with the drill. |
|
|
|
Post by liveoak on May 28, 2023 15:43:33 GMT -5
Thanks Patty liveoak . I was having trouble securing the cab. The coil was just a bit too long and I couldn't really shorten it. I tucked that wire to help hold the top of the cab in place. I think I used 22 gauge for the core and 24 for the wrap, then wrapped that coil around a piece of 21 then wrapped the resulting groove with 24. It's actually amazing how close I came to the right size. I originally practiced the coils with heavier gauge. One of the pieces I made just happened to be perfect to make it halfway. I figured I needed 13 inches of the first coil to wrap and make it halfway around the perimeter. Since I used smaller wire I winged it and made it 12 inches. If I had gone about another 1/4 to 1/2 less I think it would have been perfect. The good thing is, I learned a lot from this. That's one good thing about being ignorant. It's easy to learn new things! I also started wrapping the end of the wire that I put in the chuck with masking tape. Much less breakage. Plus I think I was pulling the wire too tight with the drill. Well if you hadn't said I would have thought that tucked in wire was just a nice design element .
You'd never suspect ignorance looking at the finished pendant, it looks great.
For some reason (although I usually patina my wire wrapped pieces) I like that one bright.
Although we all know it won't stay that way - it looks nice.
I haven't tried using a drill for coils - so thanks for the tape & tension tip.
Patty
|
|
|
|
Post by susand24224 on May 28, 2023 15:44:46 GMT -5
rockbrain Great job! Fits the stone perfectly and executed to perfection. I've done a few of that type of coil (largely as components in earrings and necklaces) but they've never turned out as nicely as yours did--something to strive for. The overall effect of your piece is perfect in my eyes; a most fitting and elegant wrap.
|
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on May 28, 2023 19:08:33 GMT -5
rockbrain - I'm in awe. Seriously...that is an amazing job on that wrap!
|
|
khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
|
Post by khara on May 28, 2023 22:38:46 GMT -5
Very nice rockbrain ! I’m impressed too with your photography. Great wrap and you’ve shown it off well.👍 |
|
khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
|
Post by khara on May 28, 2023 22:44:42 GMT -5
Very nice susand24224 ! I can see what you were thinking with that long bead. But since it didn’t work it’s probably meant to be for another piece. Since it’s so big it does sound like two chain attachments might work better than a single bail. I’ve worn pendants in the past that had a tendency to flip around backwards I think cause they were just too big for a single bail. |
|
khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
|
Post by khara on May 28, 2023 22:46:32 GMT -5
I’m not sure I can make anything this month. ☹️ Just coming up too fast and I’ve added a night job to my schedule. Maybe next month! 🤞
|
|
rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,167
|
Post by rockbrain on May 29, 2023 11:14:13 GMT -5
rockbrain Great job! Fits the stone perfectly and executed to perfection. I've done a few of that type of coil (largely as components in earrings and necklaces) but they've never turned out as nicely as yours did--something to strive for. The overall effect of your piece is perfect in my eyes; a most fitting and elegant wrap. Thanks so much. I'm having fun with the coils. I've only done a couple and they were single coils. When I practiced a couple for this wrap I did some where the final accent wrap was a 1/2 round with the flat side out. Subtle difference but pretty cool looking. rockbrain - I'm in awe. Seriously...that is an amazing job on that wrap! Wow, thanks jasoninsd. I appreciate the kind words. Very nice rockbrain ! I’m impressed too with your photography. Great wrap and you’ve shown it off well.👍 Thank you khara. I got a light box that Tela had shared a link to a while back. Oddly enough it works amazing for the pendants with my cell phone adjusted for the light. I can't seem to get good cabachon pics in it though. |
|
rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,167
|
Post by rockbrain on May 29, 2023 20:31:18 GMT -5
I decided to give it a light patina. I like it this color.
|
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on May 29, 2023 21:01:04 GMT -5
Here is my submission for the May challenge. Looks like I covered last month's as well! I've been wanting to try some of these coils for a while and I learned quite a bit from this. I'm not sure if I'm going to patina it or not. So it will be like this for now. It was hard to get a good representation of the stone and the wrap. The last picture is what the cab actually looks like. I think it's a piece of carnelian.    In a word... BEAUTIFUL! Your workmanship is amazingly tight (in more than one sense of the word). Great job!!
I like it better without the patina.
|
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on May 29, 2023 21:01:15 GMT -5
I decided to give it a light patina. I like it this color.
If it's the same color that's coming up on my screen, that turned out killer!! |
|
|
|
Post by liveoak on May 31, 2023 10:34:13 GMT -5
OK, I finally got my earrings together.
I did start with a tutorial, but as usual I end up tweaking the design a bit.
Of course, they came out different. By the time I got the second earring done, I had refined my thoughts a little.
But then I'm sure hanging on different sides of a head- no one will know.
I'm particular to the left one.
Thanks for the challenge- I made it just under the wire.
Coils & bead.
Front:
Back:
Patty
|
|
|
|
Post by southernlakehuronguy on May 31, 2023 12:07:25 GMT -5
I'm jumping into the fray late as I've been quite busy. Just did about 10 hours at my shop moving large pieces of metal. My fitness watch says I did 15,153 steps today. Anyway, some nice looking wraps here already, but that's to be expected considering who the wrappers are! I was working on some coils last night using the drill and a large fishing swivel in my vice. It went real well but I was having issues with the wire breaking off in the drill chuck. I wonder if anyone has some tips to avoid this. Wine is OK but I'm lubing with Jack tonight! Hey there rockbrain, I'm new to the forum, have been lurking for a couple of months now. But anyway, forgive if this a dumb suggestion about wire twisting, I have no concept of the tools and techniques you all use in creating your masterpieces, but would a pair of wire twisting pliers work? Just a thought.... |
|
rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,167
|
Post by rockbrain on May 31, 2023 15:15:11 GMT -5
Thanks rockjunquie Tela, that means a lot coming from you. My wife likes it better with the patina, so there is that.  Of course right when I was typing this, out of the blue she told me she'd like it better without the dangling beads. jasoninsd it pretty much looks gold in person. |
|
Of course right when I was typing this, out of the blue she told me she'd like it better without the dangling beads. 
