rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Dec 13, 2007 1:24:38 GMT -5
With all this talk about lapis it inspired me to try a new design. Just made it tonight. Afghan Lapis inlay bracelet:
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Post by catmandewe on Dec 13, 2007 1:43:04 GMT -5
Now that is pretty, that would probably take me about a week, that is IF I knew how to make that!
Nice..................Tony
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Post by midnightrocksi3 on Dec 13, 2007 2:26:51 GMT -5
Oh man I need to get me into a silver smith class or something to learn how to make some of these killer pieces I keep seeing.. Those look great together!!! WOLF.. Ya see that? He started sumpthin huh.. *smiles* Very outstanding job .... You made it look so easy..
Btw.. did I make your christmas list this year??? lol
*wishful thining* Roxy
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Post by Bikerrandy on Dec 13, 2007 5:44:59 GMT -5
That looks sweet!! Very clean design, I like it!
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Post by bobby1 on Dec 13, 2007 9:12:04 GMT -5
That is beautiful work! How did you cut the hole for the inlay of the Lapis? Is it cut all the way through or did you somehow cut a seat to set it on? Bob
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Post by docone31 on Dec 13, 2007 9:49:40 GMT -5
That is georgeous. I love doing designs like that. The only difficulty I have run into is the stone cracks when people put it on, and take it off. I make a double top on those designs. The double top makes the setting stiff enough that even my customons have an hard time busting it. I love form follows design pieces. That is what jewelery making is all about to me. Nice precise cutting. Is the setting hammered down to the stone?
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Post by Tonyterner on Dec 13, 2007 10:52:34 GMT -5
Beautiful. I love the clean lines and simple shape.
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Dec 13, 2007 12:14:40 GMT -5
OK, I guess I can reveal some of my "ancient Chinese secrets." I start out with 12 ga square wire and 12 ga sheet. I cut the 12 ga wire the length of the piece then cut the 12 ga sheet to fill in between. I have a bench sheer which makes cutting the sheet silver a breeze. Then I solder the square wire and sheet silver pieces together with medium solder. I then solder the assembly on top of a piece of 26 or 24 ga sheet using medium solder again. I heat up the whole piece so the solder reflows at the same time I'm sweat soldering the piece to the bottom sheet. Make sure to use enough solder and fill the seams but not too much in the inlay area. I wouldn't use anything less then medium solder because the solder lines would show.
I then trim the piece around the edges and grind and polish the edge even. Now comes the tricky part. Bending the soldered assembly is a bear. Of course it wants to bend in the middle but you have to hold it tight against the bracelet mandril or the horn of an anvil and hammer the hell out of it with the biggest rawhide mallet you've got.
Once you've got it shaped rough up the inside of where the inlay goes. I use a Craftsman vibro graver that's meant for marking tools and such with your name. This will give the glue something to bond to. Then cut a piece of stone a little larger than the piece you need. Then working on a flat lap grind the stone to fit the inlay space. You will also need to curve the back of the stone to match the curve. I use my flex shaft with a 3/4 diamond drum shaped wheel. You keep working at it until you have almost a perfect fit. I say almost because you have to leave it a tiny bit loose for the glue to fit.
Then glue it in place. I use CA Special T (super glue) green label but epoxy would work too. When the glue is dry you take it to the flat lap and start grinding the stone and silver until it's all nice and even. I start out with a 100 diamond lap then move on to 180, 320, 600, and 1200. Then I polish the whole thing with Zam and clean it up by soaking it in Simple Green.
Or you could take the easy route and crush up the stone, sift out the dust, fill the inlay place half full with glue, squash the crushed stone in the glue, add more glue to be sure to fill all the gaps, fill in with more crushed stone, then top it off with more glue. Then when the glue dries grind it off. Oh, you might want to wear latex or nitril exam gloves or you might end up glued to the piece and have lots of crushed stone glued to your fingers. Then you could call yourself "sandpaper man".
Thats about it. Just tales time and patience. I find that inlay is easier when you don't think about it too much. People think in angles and radiuses when all you need to do is grind it to fit. In other words, "Free your mind and your ass will follow."
Rick
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Post by midnightrocksi3 on Dec 13, 2007 12:39:07 GMT -5
"Free your mind and your ass will follow." Rick I wish someone would of told me that 15 years ago Oh yeah.. i'm taking notes now. lol ;D Roxy
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Post by creativeminded on Dec 13, 2007 15:04:02 GMT -5
That is georgous, you really did a great job on that braclette. Tami
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Wolfden
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2007
Posts: 1,368
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Post by Wolfden on Dec 13, 2007 15:50:48 GMT -5
Ohhh suuuure show me the pretties ,, dang I want that . lol Yes Roxy I see .. you gonna make me one ? lol Dang RG that is just beautiful !
Wolf
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Post by Lady B on Dec 13, 2007 16:17:54 GMT -5
Simply STUNNING!!!!
Lady B
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luv2hound
freely admits to licking rocks
I try & I try, but dang it! Those rocks just keep ending up in my pockets
Member since June 2007
Posts: 890
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Post by luv2hound on Dec 13, 2007 16:34:10 GMT -5
This is awesome. You sure do great work.
~~Mitzi~~
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onewomanarmy
has rocks in the head
Carpe Silicis!
Member since January 2007
Posts: 645
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Post by onewomanarmy on Dec 13, 2007 16:52:02 GMT -5
Rick - that is absolutely gorgeous - I love blues and love silver - not to mention very simple designs that let the materials speak for themselves - and this piece...wow. Beautiful - love your style and your work! I would love to be able to do that. Beautiful.
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huffstuff
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2007
Posts: 1,222
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Post by huffstuff on Dec 13, 2007 17:55:55 GMT -5
Let's see if I can come up with some different words.... how about exquisite? Did anyone use that?
Very nice, I love it!
Amy
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Post by stonesthatrock on Dec 13, 2007 18:47:47 GMT -5
my new word is MINE, i hope lol I love it, need my address?
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one80mike
freely admits to licking rocks
@(-_-)@ Princess Leia!
Member since February 2007
Posts: 908
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Post by one80mike on Dec 13, 2007 18:49:20 GMT -5
I MUST NOT LET MY WIFE SEE THIS!!! She will blow our bank account, by a plane ticket from Brisbane to Colorado and hunt you down until she acquires that bracelet. That is stunning. Simple but stunning. Thanks for sharing Mike
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Post by midnightrocksi3 on Dec 13, 2007 19:37:47 GMT -5
LOL wolf.. make you one.. Hell you're suppose to be making me one! lol *smiles* Roxy
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Post by Jurrasic Jonje on Dec 13, 2007 20:50:00 GMT -5
That is one stunning piece.
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