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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 12, 2024 8:54:35 GMT -5
liveoak They are great for earrings.  |
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Post by liveoak on Jun 12, 2024 8:58:46 GMT -5
Excellent ! You are full of good ideas
Patty
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Post by liveoak on Jun 12, 2024 10:11:31 GMT -5
Why is it that one little thing always leads to another..... So now you have me researching Sanp sets.
Interesting- but as I said I can not find copper ones.
BUT, I found stainless steel ones & it's possible to plate stainless with copper.
MORE research required  .
Thanks Tela (I think  )
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 12, 2024 10:36:24 GMT -5
Why is it that one little thing always leads to another..... So now you have me researching Sanp sets.
Interesting- but as I said I can not find copper ones.
BUT, I found stainless steel ones & it's possible to plate stainless with copper.
MORE research required  .
Thanks Tela (I think )
Patty
LOL!! Sorry! |
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Post by liveoak on Jun 12, 2024 10:49:57 GMT -5
No worries, I like challenges - the thing with plating is to find a non-toxic way to do it.
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 12, 2024 11:00:24 GMT -5
No worries, I like challenges - the thing with plating is to find a non-toxic way to do it. Patty I thought you could plate silver in old pickle? |
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Post by liveoak on Jun 12, 2024 11:11:47 GMT -5
You can, but it's very thin plating.
Need something a little heftier.
Patty
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Post by drocknut on Jun 14, 2024 15:45:09 GMT -5
You're safe now Diane! I finally finished (sort of) and photographed mine. 18-and 30-gauge copper (and a little 20-gauge), with copper beads. This tutorial (by ArtsvilleHandcrafted) required considerable precision and items that I don't think exist in the U.S. Does anyone know where to find 17-gauge wire? or 2.5 mm copper beads? I sure struck out on both. Here it is, with numerous imperfections, but I'm just happy I survived it. Front: (wing span of 3 1/2 inches):  and crappy photo of the back, which looks almost like the front:  That's fantastic! Love your work. I'd love to do a Zelda-like wrap inspired by this one should I ever happen to come upon some more skills, haha. Thanks for saving me ;-) Very cool owl. |
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Post by drocknut on Jun 14, 2024 15:50:49 GMT -5
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jun 14, 2024 16:26:18 GMT -5
No worries, I like challenges - the thing with plating is to find a non-toxic way to do it. Patty Patty, you can use the Sterling ones and then plate them in contaminatd pickle. Just store the contaminated stuff in a container and keep it for next time you need to copper plate something.  Ignore this since I was a doofus and didn't read the whole thread before I posted. It will work if you use old pickle that's got a bunch of copper in it from Sterling. I wonder if it would work better if you put some copper wire in there to dissolve? Maybe a couple of heatings and pickling in contaminated stuff would work, kind of like when you depletion guild something  |
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Post by susand24224 on Jun 14, 2024 16:34:07 GMT -5
drocknut I love your scorpion! Such fascinating prehistoric-like creatures, and you captured the essence. I especially like the change in "binding" style on the tail, it really adds a lot.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 14, 2024 17:03:20 GMT -5
drocknut Diane, that's really super cool! I've seen scorpion wraps before, but yours is a whole new look. I like it a lot. It looks really neat and professional, too. Great job! A keeper design, for sure.
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Post by liveoak on Jun 15, 2024 6:01:54 GMT -5
From his pincers to his tail-very realistic
Even his bottom is scorpion like. A work of art.
I'm only wondering if you had a model, he's so realistic 
Patty
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Post by liveoak on Jun 15, 2024 6:07:19 GMT -5
Patty, you can use the Sterling ones and then plate them in contaminatd pickle. Just store the contaminated stuff in a container and keep it for next time you need to copper plate something. It will work if you use old pickle that's got a bunch of copper in it from Sterling. I wonder if it would work better if you put some copper wire in there to dissolve? Maybe a couple of heatings and pickling in contaminated stuff would work, kind of like when you depletion guild. You're right Robin, I discounted plating with pickle on the snap sets, as my experience doing that (mostly accidental) has shown the plating to be pretty thin. BUT on a snap set maybe that's all it needs to be.
So maybe you & Tela were right & I'm overthinking it (likely).
I'm going to order some up & give it a try.
Thanks for weighing in.
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 18, 2024 13:36:51 GMT -5
I can't believe it! Mine is done and in the tumbler, then patina, but the hard part is done. Took me several tries. The first one came out perfect and then I broke a wire at the end.
Crap!!
But, I did another ... and that one ended up in the scrap bin. Third time is a charm. Then it took me about 10 times to try to get the little bail piece right. So small and 18g. I kept getting it off center. The final project looks radically different, but I like it and it's for ME!
Pics to follow tonight or tomorrow.
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Post by susand24224 on Jun 18, 2024 15:01:05 GMT -5
I can't believe it! Mine is done and in the tumbler, then patina, but the hard part is done. Took me several tries. The first one came out perfect and then I broke a wire at the end. Crap!! But, I did another ... and that one ended up in the scrap bin. Third time is a charm. Then it took me about 10 times to try to get the little bail piece right. So small and 18g. I kept getting it off center. The final project looks radically different, but I like it and it's for ME! Pics to follow tonight or tomorrow.
Yay! So many things to celebrate with this! 1. The long-awaited Tela animal is on its way. 2. Tela occasionally creates the same messes that I frequently create. 3. An elephant! I love it! 4. Tela is making something for herself! All two of my eyes will be tuned in waiting for the end product. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 19, 2024 10:35:16 GMT -5
Here it is. I tried to get good pictures, but this is about as good as I could get it. The 8mm blue topaz looks really washed out. The setting for it is silver and the bail is pot metal.
After I did the frame, I really liked it as is, but wanted a gem in the forehead. After that I needed balance, so I did the trunk with 20g wire. Then the ears looked plain and thin, so I added copper crimp beads to the 18g frame. What I like about the crimp beads is that they aren't perfect and remind me of Indian or African handmade trade beads. The uneven patina was kinda sorta on purpose. I was going for an African elephant, but I guess it could be Indian.
This isn't very big which made it kinda hard to work the heavy g wire in small spaces. All in all, I am happy with it, but it took a lot more work than it looks like.
This has been really fun! I'm glad we had the extra time, though. I've enjoyed seeing Mr Owl and Scorpion and can't wait to see the rest! |
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Post by liveoak on Jun 19, 2024 12:27:10 GMT -5
Wow, Tela, he really came to life !
The beads are spot on & indeed look like primitive beads & very appropriate.
But I love the wrapping on his trunk, adds a nice dimension of the wrinkles, like on a real one.
Would I be guessing the topaz is set in one of those "snap sets" ?
The stone is a nice touch without overwhelming.
A fabulous one of a kind that I'm glad to hear you plan to keep it !
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 19, 2024 15:09:19 GMT -5
I can't believe it! Mine is done and in the tumbler, then patina, but the hard part is done. Took me several tries. The first one came out perfect and then I broke a wire at the end. Crap!! But, I did another ... and that one ended up in the scrap bin. Third time is a charm. Then it took me about 10 times to try to get the little bail piece right. So small and 18g. I kept getting it off center. The final project looks radically different, but I like it and it's for ME! Pics to follow tonight or tomorrow.
Yay! So many things to celebrate with this! 1. The long-awaited Tela animal is on its way. 2. Tela occasionally creates the same messes that I frequently create. 3. An elephant! I love it! 4. Tela is making something for herself! All two of my eyes will be tuned in waiting for the end product. Thanks, Susan.
You know, I KNEW that wire would break and I did it anyway. I had to take the chance. The tusk was shorter than other by a bunch. When I tried to open the bend, I literally heard the snap.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 19, 2024 15:10:46 GMT -5
Wow, Tela, he really came to life !
The beads are spot on & indeed look like primitive beads & very appropriate.
But I love the wrapping on his trunk, adds a nice dimension of the wrinkles, like on a real one.
Would I be guessing the topaz is set in one of those "snap sets" ?
The stone is a nice touch without overwhelming.
A fabulous one of a kind that I'm glad to hear you plan to keep it !
Patty
Thanks, Patty. I'm glad you like it. I plan to wear it tomorrow.
Yes, it is a snap set.
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... to the New Guys from The ChatBox V.2 Crew