rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,167
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Post by rockbrain on Apr 11, 2024 17:50:10 GMT -5
I often have people at sales ask me how long it takes to do a wire wrap and I don't really know. Never timed myself. I decided to time this one. A little backstory. A while ago I had a air conditioning customer that let me take two nice pieces of tornadoes poppy Jasper from her yard. I had planned on making her a pendant out of it at some point and taking it back to her. She had cancer at the time that I got the rocks and didn't look very good. It had been so long. I was afraid that she had passed. I got a call from her today leading us to look at her AC again so I decided to get this pendant made and get it delivered to her. I already had a slab of the poppy Jasper cut and so I decided to time myself from slab to wrap. I can't say this is completely finished because I have to patina yet, but I will do that this evening with some others. From picking up a slab who I had to mark it out, cut out the preform dop, grind and polish, removed from the top, and wrap took just under 1 hour. 59 minutes and 17 seconds. I was not trying to rush at all. Just moving my normal pace but I did try to be very efficient. I had the dop heating while I was still grinding although I did have to wait 5 minutes till it got warm enough, and I started the wire frame while the dop was in the freezer getting cold to come off. I was kind of surprised it was that quick. It is an easy shape to grind and I've done a lot of these wraps like this now.  |
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Post by drocknut on Apr 11, 2024 17:53:08 GMT -5
Nice job on the wrap. I'll bet she'll be thrilled.
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Post by pebblesky on Apr 11, 2024 18:00:37 GMT -5
That is such a considerate and beautiful gift!
Two hours sound supersonic speed to me👍
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 11, 2024 18:43:10 GMT -5
That's really good time. I feel like my simple wraps wrap themselves. I can do them really fast, but not really trying to be fast at all- like you said "efficient".
I bet she likes it.  |
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
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Post by khara on Apr 11, 2024 19:28:12 GMT -5
Geeeez, rockbrain ! I’m impressed. Though I’ve watched you working really hard at this, practicing and building your jewelry business, so I suppose it shouldn’t be a surprise. About how many hours per week do you think you get into your lapidary work total? I hope to be so efficient some day. As for that pendant, I really like the cab, you captured a really nice area of the stone, and the wrap looks great. This will be a really neat gift for your customer and I imagine she’ll be quite surprised and pleased. Do you know if she is in any way involved in the rockhounding or lapidary world? Or did she just randomly happen to have this yard rock and will be amazed that it’s able to be turned into such a beauty? |
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Post by chris1956 on Apr 11, 2024 19:42:57 GMT -5
Man that looks good! Like the copper look and will probably like it more after you add the patina.
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,167
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Post by rockbrain on Apr 11, 2024 20:49:41 GMT -5
Nice job on the wrap. I'll bet she'll be thrilled. Thanks Diane, I hope she likes it. That is such a considerate and beautiful gift! Two hours sound supersonic speed to me👍 Thanks, but it was just under 1 hour not 2. That's really good time. I feel like my simple wraps wrap themselves. I can do them really fast, but not really trying to be fast at all- like you said "efficient".
I bet she likes it. Thanks Tela. The simple ones usually go pretty quickly unless I have an issue. I did one the other day that took a few hours. It's a blatant copy of one you designed and posted on the WW challenge. I probably went about the construction all wrong. It was much different than anything I had done. I really liked your wrap, learned a lot from copying it, and hope to incorporate some of the ideas into my own design. Geeeez, rockbrain ! I’m impressed. Though I’ve watched you working really hard at this, practicing and building your jewelry business, so I suppose it shouldn’t be a surprise. About how many hours per week do you think you get into your lapidary work total? I hope to be so efficient some day. As for that pendant, I really like the cab, you captured a really nice area of the stone, and the wrap looks great. This will be a really neat gift for your customer and I imagine she’ll be quite surprised and pleased. Do you know if she is in any way involved in the rockhounding or lapidary world? Or did she just randomly happen to have this yard rock and will be amazed that it’s able to be turned into such a beauty? Thank you Khara. Tough to say how many hours I spend on it. There's times that I'll spend several hours in my room, the garage or both, then there are weeks or even two that I don't do anything. Karen (my customer) is not into lapidary. I posted about the rock when I first got it but that was back in Jan 2022. I had just joined the forum the month before and was just getting my feet wet cutting cabs. Hadn't done any wrapping yet. Karen picked up several rocks at their rental when an old guy move out. She just didn't want them to get thrown away. When I talked to her today I told her that I had made some things with that rock and that I've been wondering what else was there. When I picked up the poppy jasper that was the only thing I recognized because I had just started. She invited me over to take some more! I'm pretty sure there's some good stuff there. I just didn't know what it was. Man that looks good! Like the copper look and will probably like it more after you add the patina. Thanks Chris. I'm going out to do the patina right now. I want to have it ready in case I go by there tomorrow. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 11, 2024 20:52:30 GMT -5
Nice job on the wrap. I'll bet she'll be thrilled. Thanks Diane, I hope she likes it. That is such a considerate and beautiful gift! Two hours sound supersonic speed to me👍 Thanks, but it was just under 1 hour not 2. That's really good time. I feel like my simple wraps wrap themselves. I can do them really fast, but not really trying to be fast at all- like you said "efficient".
I bet she likes it. Thanks Tela. The simple ones usually go pretty quickly unless I have an issue. I did one the other day that took a few hours. It's a blatant copy of one you designed and posted on the WW challenge. I probably went about the construction all wrong. It was much different than anything I had done. I really liked your wrap, learned a lot from copying it, and hope to incorporate some of the ideas into my own design. Geeeez, rockbrain ! I’m impressed. Though I’ve watched you working really hard at this, practicing and building your jewelry business, so I suppose it shouldn’t be a surprise. About how many hours per week do you think you get into your lapidary work total? I hope to be so efficient some day. As for that pendant, I really like the cab, you captured a really nice area of the stone, and the wrap looks great. This will be a really neat gift for your customer and I imagine she’ll be quite surprised and pleased. Do you know if she is in any way involved in the rockhounding or lapidary world? Or did she just randomly happen to have this yard rock and will be amazed that it’s able to be turned into such a beauty? Thank you Khara. Tough to say how many hours I spend on it. There's times that I'll spend several hours in my room, the garage or both, then there are weeks or even two that I don't do anything. Karen (my customer) is not into lapidary. I posted about the rock when I first got it but that was back in Jan 2022. I had just joined the forum the month before and was just getting my feet wet cutting cabs. Hadn't done any wrapping yet. Karen picked up several rocks at their rental when an old guy move out. She just didn't want them to get thrown away. When I talked to her today I told her that I had made some things with that rock and that I've been wondering what else was there. When I picked up the poppy jasper that was the only thing I recognized because I had just started. She invited me over to take some more! I'm pretty sure there's some good stuff there. I just didn't know what it was. Man that looks good! Like the copper look and will probably like it more after you add the patina. Thanks Chris. I'm going out to do the patina right now. I want to have it ready in case I go by there tomorrow. Now I have to see it. Tease! |
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Post by jasoninsd on Apr 11, 2024 20:58:07 GMT -5
Gary, that's one helluva piece to do in under 1 hour! From top to bottom...it's top-notch! |
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Post by pebblesky on Apr 11, 2024 21:16:36 GMT -5
Oh I misread it. How could that be achieved under an hour. It will take me more than an hour to locate a specific rock I have in mind...
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,167
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Post by rockbrain on Apr 11, 2024 21:49:16 GMT -5
Gary, that's one helluva piece to do in under 1 hour! From top to bottom...it's top-notch! Thanks Jason. It just fell into place. Oh I misread it. How could that be achieved under an hour. It will take me more than an hour to locate a specific rock I have in mind... Well, I did have the slab in hand when I turned on the timer. Finding them can be a different matter, but this one was filed in the box that it was supposed to be. |
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,167
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Post by rockbrain on Apr 11, 2024 21:53:09 GMT -5
Here it is with the patina.  |
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,167
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Post by rockbrain on Apr 11, 2024 21:56:55 GMT -5
Okay Tela you asked for it so here it is.  So as stated before , I cut this cab and did the wrap, but the wrap's design is totally rockjunquie Tela's. I copied it as closely as I could. I want to add that copying this wrap has inspired me for a new design. I don't do well drawing things out. I work them out in my head. I don't have a whole wrap design yet but have what I think is a great idea for the hanging header part. This wrap reminds me of something antique Asian and I want to go even further in that direction. |
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Post by liveoak on Apr 12, 2024 6:11:48 GMT -5
I'm pretty impressed with the 1 hour pendant - which includes making the cab.  It looks really nice. I like the twisted wire on that one.
Tela's Asian inspired design is a good, neat copy.
You're on a roll - I look forward to seeing what you do with that style.
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 12, 2024 6:16:14 GMT -5
Okay Tela you asked for it so here it is. So as stated before , I cut this cab and did the wrap, but the wrap's design is totally rockjunquie Tela's. I copied it as closely as I could. I want to add that copying this wrap has inspired me for a new design. I don't do well drawing things out. I work them out in my head. I don't have a whole wrap design yet but have what I think is a great idea for the hanging header part. This wrap reminds me of something antique Asian and I want to go even further in that direction. Not too shabby! I look forward to seeing your own spin on it. I'm sure it will be great! |
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johnthor1963
starting to spend too much on rocks
Cattle dogs rock
Member since June 2023
Posts: 236
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Post by johnthor1963 on Apr 14, 2024 7:57:01 GMT -5
Wow really smoked that one. Love it hope your customer enjoys it. Thanks for sharing
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agatewhisperer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2020
Posts: 836
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Post by agatewhisperer on Apr 14, 2024 21:46:54 GMT -5
Holy smokes, less than an hour! That's pretty amazing. A lot of times it seems like I spend an hour trying to just draw out where on the slab I want to cut out. Looks great!
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topperace
starting to shine!
Member since December 2023
Posts: 33
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Post by topperace on May 5, 2024 15:57:57 GMT -5
Here it is with the patina. Will you post a picture of the back side… would like to see how you did that. |
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,167
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Post by rockbrain on May 5, 2024 18:19:56 GMT -5
Here it is with the patina. Will you post a picture of the back side… would like to see how you did that. I gave it to the woman that gave me the stone. I never took a picture of the back. I have some very similar wraps. They are packed away right now but I'll be getting them out soon as I have a sale this weekend. I'll take a pic when I do. The back is very simple. I just take the two back frame wires and push them towards the center of the stone with my fingers. |
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birdie
starting to shine!
Member since September 2024
Posts: 36
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Post by birdie on Sept 23, 2024 7:16:11 GMT -5
Just stumbled across this one. That is absolutely beautiful, but even more so – the fact that you were so considerate and made it specifically for her as a thank you - It says so much about your kindness and character. Well done, all around!
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