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Post by tkrueger3 on Feb 28, 2010 12:34:08 GMT -5
So I had made this little cab that I didn't like because it has a vein of something crumbly running through it horizontally. The face is ok, though. I took a beginning smithing class back in January, and finally have acquired almost all the equipment I needed, so I decided to experiment with this crummy little cab and some inexpensive metals before I tried using the "good stuff". I first made a bezel mount by cutting brass sheet in the exact outline of the cab. Then measured around the girdle and cut that length of finesilver bezel tape (bezel wire). Squared up and soldered together the 2 ends of the cut tape, then shaped it around the brass base piece and soldered it onto the brass. Well, I decided that looked just too "plain", so I cut another piece of brass about 1/8" larger than the first brass piece. I cut about 4" of Sterling 18ga square wire, twisted it, then shaped it to make the perimeter decoration around the larger brass, and it also forms the bail. Then soldered the wire to the larger brass. Finally, I soldered the bezel to the larger brass. Then I "pickled" the final piece, brushed off some remaining discoloration, then mounted the cab into the bezel. What remains is to polish the whole thing, which is currently waiting for the crushed walnut shells and red rouge that I've ordered, to arrive. So here it is in it's current, not-quite-finished state. It's kinda funky looking, but hey, it's just for practice, right? LOL!   Thanks for looking! I do have a question for anybody that does this smithing work - how do you polish your work after it's done - do you use steel shot in a vibe, in a rotary, or do you use something else? And would regular old BB's work instead of the stainless steel shot, which at today's prices must be gold-filled or something? Tom |
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Post by rockmanken on Feb 28, 2010 12:56:47 GMT -5
Tom, looks like you did an excellent job on it.
I polish mine on a muslin buff with red rouge polish compound. I also have a vibrating outfit that fits on my Ameritool flat lap and use stainless steel pins.
I don't think bb's are stainless, they may discolor your work. Won't hurt to try on a piece of scrap.
Ken
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dbrealityrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2010
Posts: 1,084
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Post by dbrealityrocks on Feb 28, 2010 13:52:07 GMT -5
I use a buffing machine w muslin wheels topolish my stuff. When I look back at my early stuff I see that same as you have done I didn't get my bezel pushed tight against the stone. Doing so makes for a much better looking piece. Looks great though and w/ a little more practice they'll be looking professional.
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Post by superioragates on Feb 28, 2010 14:31:33 GMT -5
Well.....I kinda like funky stuff....so...this is cool lookin
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abuelito
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2009
Posts: 156
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Post by abuelito on Feb 28, 2010 14:38:57 GMT -5
wow great bumbling,only difference with your work and mine is i fumble,keep on keeping on another addiction ab
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Post by Bikerrandy on Feb 28, 2010 15:41:37 GMT -5
The last cab I did that was that color and crumbly was garnet. That's a sweet pendant!!  |
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Post by frane on Feb 28, 2010 16:18:46 GMT -5
I think that is something to be proud of! Beautiful work!
Fran
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Post by NatureNut on Feb 28, 2010 17:58:24 GMT -5
Tom, that's really very, very nice! Really like the twisted wire and how it becomes a twisted bail.
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Post by tkrueger3 on Feb 28, 2010 18:02:36 GMT -5
Thanks, everybody - on the next one I do, I promise it will be more decorative, and I will exercise a LOT more care in the process, because I can't afford to waste a lot of sterling sheet or finesilver bezel tape! That stuff is EXPENSIVE!!!! I actually have a pendant/earring set of cabs that I've had sitting aside, waiting for me to get brave enough to set them in silver - some kind of dark reddish-purply translucent stuff that's really pretty. Don't want to waste those, cause I don't have any more of that material. I don't think I ever took a pic of the whole set, but this is a different pendant cab from the non-translucent, non-purply end of the same slab, where I didn't like the shape it ended up with:  Tom |
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NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Feb 28, 2010 19:42:31 GMT -5
Cool pendant Tom. Keep it up!
Nate
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nancyid
has rocks in the head
No stone goes unturned.
Member since January 2009
Posts: 563
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Post by nancyid on Mar 1, 2010 10:58:23 GMT -5
I really,really like it. Way to go Tom!
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Post by Bejewelme on Mar 1, 2010 14:31:17 GMT -5
Tom:
That first pendant looks great for your first one!! Geez, I like the copper background, it is hard to do I am watching Tony learn and struggle, it looks so easy, it is an art for a reason! Keep at it, you got skills!
Amber
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caborella
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2010
Posts: 7
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Post by caborella on Mar 2, 2010 22:27:53 GMT -5
Very nice! I'm so jealous that you're getting into silversmithing! I can't wait to be able to. Good job! (<:
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Post by Woodyrock on Mar 3, 2010 1:52:24 GMT -5
Looks pretty good for for being new to the craft. Like db said, your bezel is not tight, but you can work it down for a finished look.
Woody
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Post by drocknut on Mar 3, 2010 11:39:08 GMT -5
Looks good to me.
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Post by Tony W on Mar 11, 2010 23:31:04 GMT -5
NIcely done! As for the stainless shot. I bought some a while back from Rock Shed...1 lbs. I think...whatever the smallest amount was...and I am very glad I did. Best money I've spent in a while. I use it in my vibe with burnishing compound and it really cleans my pieces up, before I take them to the wheel. Phil/Steelnstone recommended it and I'm so glad I spent the bucks. I just leave the shot in the water/compound mix and don't worry about rust. I can put in 4 or 5 pendant size pieces and the little bit of shot does the trick. I usually let it run for 3 or 4 hours. The 27 bucks plus ship I spent on the shot and compound has saved me endless hours of hand cleaning...and I wasn't doing a very good job at it  T |
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Mar 17, 2010 3:28:11 GMT -5
Hi Tom
Im a bit late on this one, Like Tony above I use A rotary with S Steel shot
I use a tumbler to polish my and my students silver work with a comercial polishing powder and Stainless steel shot (Stainless steel dosent rust)
Works well and Then I finish of with Luster
If you have pendants with fancy scroll work on the outside you have to use this method as buffs just eat up wire !!
Its just made barrel out of a 4" pipe with 3 X 1/2" angle pieces pop riveted inside the barrel (to lift Shot) or all the lot just slithers on the bottom of the barrel
There is a American guy that has a real good Free silversmithing course called Will Smith
He is Brilliant and has a section on polishing as well as a compleat course and some easy projects , look it up on the net
If you have difficultie email me john@matco.me.uk Pleased to help ,
Jack,
Yorkshire UK
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Post by tkrueger3 on Mar 17, 2010 16:12:16 GMT -5
Hi, Jack - do you polish wire-wrapped pendants in the stainless shot? I'm guessing it should polish ok, without hurting the stone unless it's a really soft stone, and should make the wires stiffen a bit also.
I was unable to find anything on "Will Smith" other than tons of stuff about the actor.
Tom
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Mar 19, 2010 3:51:02 GMT -5
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