cutter
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 129
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Post by cutter on Apr 27, 2008 8:50:03 GMT -5
Howdy all. Back in the early 70s I bought this little pendant from an antique estate jewelry seller. I thought it was very unique. I just loved the format and thought it would be a great way to display some of my rocks. But how on earth was it done. Through the years I have asked several people as to how they thought it was produced. No body has ever given me a good answer. I know that it is old and that however it was made, did not need real hi-tech equipment. I would guess that if it was pulled off using copper, it could also be done with silver and gold. It is seamless and had to be done involving some heat. How did they warm up the rock without fracturing it? Anybody have any ideas? Thanks Brad
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darrad
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,636
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Post by darrad on Apr 27, 2008 9:06:49 GMT -5
I like that! Very unique although it probably was not at the time it was made. I am guessing and this is just a guess that a clay mold was formed to fit the stone and melted copper was poured around the edges.
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Post by creativeminded on Apr 28, 2008 7:20:56 GMT -5
My guess is molten copper was either in a rod and heated to where it dripped onto the stone. or the copper was completely melted in a crucible and poured in droplets on the stone, and my final guess is waste wax or lost wax molding. Tami
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49er
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 753
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Post by 49er on May 7, 2008 23:42:29 GMT -5
I have played around with a lot of jewelry, but have not seen any thing as interesting as your piece. Have you taken it to a jewelry class at your local university or college? They may help you understand how it was made.
49er
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Post by docone31 on May 11, 2008 21:11:17 GMT -5
Electroforming. That would be about the date they really played with electroforming. Same technique as bronzing baby shoes. Wax would have been dripped around the stone. The stone itself would have been covered with oil. Aluminum paint would than have been put on the wax. From that point, it was placed in an electroformer. Simple. The wax is still probably in there.
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Post by LCARS on May 14, 2008 22:49:59 GMT -5
Wow, what an interesting piece! I've never seen anything quite like it before.
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karenfh
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,495
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Post by karenfh on May 31, 2008 1:00:18 GMT -5
Don't know how it was done, but it is very cool! I hope to see more info here about this. Thanks! Would love to hear more from docone about the technique.
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AGATEGRRRL
spending too much on rocks
AGATEGRRRL
Member since October 2007
Posts: 466
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Post by AGATEGRRRL on May 31, 2008 9:24:23 GMT -5
Hi, You could also wrap it with copper foil, tin it with blobs of lead free solder & patina it with copper solution. I've made lots of jewelry using that process & it works great. Patti
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WyckedWyre
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2007
Posts: 1,391
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Post by WyckedWyre on May 31, 2008 12:35:19 GMT -5
PICS! we want PICS!
8-)S
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AGATEGRRRL
spending too much on rocks
AGATEGRRRL
Member since October 2007
Posts: 466
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Post by AGATEGRRRL on Jun 4, 2008 10:53:35 GMT -5
Hey NMrocks - were you asking me for pics? Unfortunately I don't have any. It was quite awhile ago that I made them & I don't have any pictures of them. Those materials though are all used in stained glass making & can be easily found at any stained glass supplier.
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cutter
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 129
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Post by cutter on Jun 4, 2008 12:55:17 GMT -5
I don't think we have the answer yet. The copper is solid through and through. If ya look at the second pic, you can see where the beads have worn down till they are flattened. This is why I quit wearing the thing. Along with the green stains on the front of all my shirts. I have been messing around with a torch and copper wire. I heat the wire till the end just gets ready to drip and then get it to land and stick. Limited success. Sticking is a problem. The beads prefer landing everywhere except where I want them. Including my lap. I have been using common plumbers flux. I wondered about a pickleing solution. The other dificulty is that no matter what size of wire I use, the surface tention of molten copper seems to always make the same size droplets.
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