earthdog
Cave Dweller
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
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Post by earthdog on Dec 11, 2007 17:09:17 GMT -5
Shush, don't tell her. I bought 5 cut pink tourmalines pretty cheap from Ebay and I asked Doc if he could make something like a ring and a pair of earrings for Takila. he said, "sure, send the junk to me" I then asked him, "is there enough time to get them back for X-mas?" Doc says, "I'll try" He turned my junk into something pretty cool for the 'Ole Granny. I didn't think she was worth the gold so I asked Doc to do them up in sterling silver and he did. They were irregular faceted stones so I guess they weren't very easy to get a setting for them but Doc came through like a pro. Thank you Doc for such short notice and working like a fiend to get them done. Kinda funny that tourmaline is my birthstone, so the 'Ole Granny can't forget my birthday. Maybe now I can get away with buying another steam engine or two, or three... The pics don't do these right, thats why I posted so many so you fine people can get an idea of what my junk turned into...
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Post by Jurrasic Jonje on Dec 11, 2007 17:20:44 GMT -5
Those are great. Doc is great he fixed Joi's engagement ring a while back. he does great work.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Dec 11, 2007 18:24:23 GMT -5
He sure does. Those are cool, she'll love'm!
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Post by cpdad on Dec 11, 2007 18:29:24 GMT -5
dude... those ar killer nice ....i dont see how she couldnt enjoy that present...kev.
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Post by ladyt on Dec 11, 2007 18:31:38 GMT -5
EEEWWWWWLALALA Very NICE!! E-dog you are a sweety! Shhh don't tell anybody. She's gonna LOVE them! Doc did a fabulous job. That ring is killer. Now, hurry and hide them so she doesn't see. LOL T
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Dec 11, 2007 19:11:56 GMT -5
I think Takila will love those E-dog! Doc did a fantastic job. Isn't she gonna maybe see them before she gets them? Steve
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Post by midnightrocksi3 on Dec 11, 2007 19:13:35 GMT -5
Awwww. very sweet .. very pretty... And very pro looking. *smiles* Roxy
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earthdog
Cave Dweller
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
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Post by earthdog on Dec 11, 2007 21:29:43 GMT -5
She already knows about them......
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Post by docone31 on Dec 11, 2007 21:42:30 GMT -5
Edog approached me and asked if I could do it. First off, he is real easy to work with. "When you can, if you can." I sent him a site I usually get my findings from. He picked out some styles. Cool. The stones came. Well, there goes those ideas. Tourmaline cuts. 100% custom. A tourmaline cut has no girdle on the short sides. Nothing for a setting to grip. It is dead vertical from the girdle to keel. I did use a princess setting ring body. I added an 8 prong emerald cut setting, then cut down the prongs to hold the main setting in. I had to make each setting for each stone. The issue was how to support the end settings without making it look like it came from K-Mart . I melted some silver, then rolled it into a cylinder. The cylinder I pulled down to .070. Those end pieces became the height supports for the end settings. To tie them in, I used .051 sterling wire I pulled to become an inside shank. I hand machined a piece of steel to draw the tourmaline settings by hammering silver sheet stock around, then soldering. I cut using pierce and cut to make the box type of settings. Now, I measured the stones and got approximately 7mm., by.... The center stone was 7mm X 7.25mm. No way! The keel was 5.3mm. Oh, boy... The two lateral stones were 7.10mm X 4.3mm, 7.2mm X 4.5mm, 6.8mm X 4.60mm and so on, and so on. Each setting had to be different. I couldn't just make one and then make a mold and cast them. Each had to be handmade! It all went together. No way! I went to make a small change and two settings disappeared. Solder acts like a solvent at heat. Poof! Gonzo. Machine out the setting, then start from scratch again. Next time it was a bear to solder. Finally off to the pickle pot and next day I checked them. They worked! Into the vibratory for a week. I went to set the stones. Nothing fit. I had promised Edog I would ship them Monday. I fit each stone and set it. It went real well. The issue was, each keel was different in depth from the other so the tables were uneven. I had to remove the high stones and machine the settings so the keels went into the setting deeper without looking short. It all went in like butter. Set stones, burnish the settings, solder on ear wires, cup burr the ends and bingo! I actually liked it. The ear wires are set at 14mm., so if they are too long, a fingernail clipper can fix that. Easily. The stones are really beautiful. Good stones, just random cut. No biggee. Just remember, auction stones are on an auction for a reason. They do not fit ordinary settings. Each stone must be a custom fit. To set a stone recquires custom setting work anyway, but, non calibrated stones take a little bit more. People have trusted me with some pretty important stuff. I have tried to protect their property with everything I have. I am a full service jeweler, and I am really honoured to be able to do work like I did for Edog. Someday he will be able to take that ring and have a mold made and use some old gold to cast it in gold if he chooses. Being as I make my molds, I built it with that in mind. Now, if I could just make pictures like he did. Congrats on being a grandpa! Oh, yeah, if the ring is too small, it can be rolled a little. I have extra material on the shank. If it needs to be made smaller, the setting can be immersed in water and the shank added to. Any silversmith can do it. Great photos.
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,787
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Post by adrian65 on Dec 11, 2007 22:28:30 GMT -5
Beautiful gift. It proofs that, despite your sharp tongue, you have a warm and smooth heart.
Doc, you are a true artist.
Adrian
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earthdog
Cave Dweller
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
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Post by earthdog on Dec 11, 2007 22:41:41 GMT -5
Adrian, What in the Sam hell does that mean?[glow=red,2,300] I DO NOT [/glow]have a sharp tongue. I am a sweet, gentle, caring, understanding kinda guy and a good listener, but I [glow=red,2,300] DON'T[/glow] have a warm smooth heart
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Post by Bikerrandy on Dec 11, 2007 22:58:54 GMT -5
Sharp tongue? ;D lol, I've met Jim and Takila both in person, great people!! (and definately looking forward to another visit one day)
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RockyBlue
fully equipped rock polisher
Go U.K.
Member since June 2006
Posts: 1,719
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Post by RockyBlue on Dec 11, 2007 23:01:37 GMT -5
Hey edog! Awsome! Doc does outstanding work.He did a pendant for me for my grandaughter and she just loved it............Rocky
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,787
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Post by adrian65 on Dec 11, 2007 23:03:37 GMT -5
Adrian, What in the Sam hell does that mean?[glow=red,2,300] I DO NOT [/glow]have a sharp tongue. I am a sweet, gentle, caring, understanding kinda guy and a good listener, but I [glow=red,2,300] DON'T[/glow] have a warm smooth heart Well, well! Kinda predictable! Neither the sharp-tongued, nor the smooth-hearted won't admit they are like that ;D Let's make it 50-50: maybe I was wrong about the sharp tongue, but you can't fool us about the warm heart (at least 98.6 Fahrenheit degrees ) Adrian
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Post by docone31 on Dec 11, 2007 23:24:22 GMT -5
You know, one of my finishing techniques is to put the piece in the microwave for 5 minutes before setting any stones. Yeah, you get some sparks, and definately a light show, but, it usually eliminates any Electricals in the finished piece. It sounds like I did not fry out Electricals for long enough. My wife got a little nervous when the microwave started making popping sounds. She had never heard that before. I told her it was kinda like putting a cockroach in the microwave. They pop. Well, they dance around a little bit, and any tapworms inside them come out and pop, then they slow down, get real still and POP! Cockroach norger all over the inside of the microwave. Electricals just shoot sparks. They gave up their bodies back when the ship landed at Roswell.
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Post by stoner on Dec 11, 2007 23:40:35 GMT -5
Aw edog, you're just an old softy, nice job Doc. Cool gift edog!
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Post by takilasunrise on Dec 12, 2007 9:37:46 GMT -5
He's being nice when he says "sharp tongue"!
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Post by creativeminded on Dec 12, 2007 10:07:11 GMT -5
Those are beautiful, well done. Tami
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Post by Tonyterner on Dec 12, 2007 11:14:14 GMT -5
Nice rocks ED and Doc did a heck of a job setting them. I think Takila will love them.
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Post by takilasunrise on Dec 12, 2007 11:50:39 GMT -5
Oooops! I peeked!!! ;D ;D ;D I've always wanted some pink tourmaline jewelry!! But it still doesn't give you permission to buy anymore steam engines!
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