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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Dec 5, 2013 16:18:15 GMT -5
With mistakes, of course. Got kind of rough pushing the bezel over the stone so I bent the copper & bezel some so the solder sort of lost it's grip between the brass & copper at the bottom of the pendant & at the bottom of the bail on the back. Other than those two spots everything else is pretty secure. Also got a scratch on the brass.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Dec 5, 2013 17:11:59 GMT -5
You are way ahead of 99.999999% of America Donnie. That is what, your 10th one?
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bsky4463
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2013
Posts: 1,696
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Post by bsky4463 on Dec 5, 2013 17:12:15 GMT -5
Awesome, that looks great.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,681
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Post by Fossilman on Dec 5, 2013 17:14:14 GMT -5
Awesome!
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Post by 1dave on Dec 5, 2013 21:33:20 GMT -5
With a start like that, there is no stopping you now!
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Dec 5, 2013 22:08:41 GMT -5
Looks really nice donnie
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Post by vegasjames on Dec 5, 2013 22:17:37 GMT -5
Very nice design.
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Post by connrock on Dec 6, 2013 8:35:46 GMT -5
You did V E R Y good on that piece and should be proud of what you've accomplished! I wish I had done that good on my 1st piece! Congratulations! connrock
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Dec 6, 2013 11:31:04 GMT -5
Awwwww geeeee, thanks connrock!!! Already thinking about the next one!
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Post by pghram on Dec 6, 2013 11:38:46 GMT -5
That IS really nice.
Rich
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Post by connrock on Dec 7, 2013 7:50:15 GMT -5
I guess I'm like a lot of us and expect every piece I work on to be exactly how I envisioned it and have it come out perfect.Out of all the work I've done,very few have come out this way.In most cases I'm in "damage control" mode trying to save something I messed up.Some times the piece comes out better then what I envisioned but I get VERY frustrated with myself for not being able to stick to the plan. "How can I salvage this" seems to be a constant thought in my mind and if I don't stop working on a piece I KNOW I WILL scrap it. Well,,,I have pieces of all types of scrap metal alllllll over the place ranging in size from maybe 12"x 1" to tiny pieces smaller then the head of a thumb tack! When I was trying to braze tin cans to make dogs I get pretty frustrated blowing holes all over the place and was having a hissy fit. Time to stop and regroup,,,or quit and I don't like quitting! I relieve my frustrations by picking up pieces of that scrap and just "doodling" with them,,,laying one piece next to another,,,on on top of another,,,,just playing with something that doesn't mean a hoot if I mess it up cuz there is NO plan or idea of an "end product".I'm just having fun sticking pieces of scrap together! ,,,,like I said,,,I was trying to make tin can dogs so there was a lot of scrap pieces of cut up tin cans just laying there so I had at it and made this out of some of the scrap,,, NOTHING fancy,,,,just a bunch of scrap brazed together. The thing is,,,,as I played with the scrap,brazing it,,,I let myself go and was learning how to braze thin metal while easing my mind at the same time. The MAIN thing is,,,I didn't quit! We ALL make a LOT of mistakes but most people don't talk about it.I try to show all of my mistakes so others can learn what not to do! If your next piece comes out 1/2 as good as your 1st,,,,,it'll be a thing of beauty,,,,just don't expect every piece to come out as good as you thought it might! connrock
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Dec 7, 2013 8:07:02 GMT -5
Connrock, you are an inspiration. One thing I have not been able to do is "plan" something out. I hate trying to "come up" with a design & draw it out! I really suck at that!!! I do better just picking up the pieces I am going to use & plan as I go. That's what I did with this one. That's what I will do with the next one & that's how I have done my wire wrapping...............just go with the flow. I guess you could say the rock will be my inspiration. I will lay it on a piece of metal & if it makes me feel good there I will take it another step, if not change the metal. It's anything goes until I am all happy & comfortable inside. Whatever I design is for someone else & I know that if I am happy in my heart that someone, somewhere is going to be happy too. I guess you could say it's a labor of love, except it's not really labor, it's play!!! Maybe that sounds a little weird but that's what works best for me.
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RockIt2Me
has rocks in the head
Sometimes I have to tell myself, "It's not worth the jail time."
Member since December 2009
Posts: 668
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Post by RockIt2Me on Dec 7, 2013 8:17:52 GMT -5
Pretty darn good, Donnie...ambitious too! Soldering brass to copper is difficult.
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Post by connrock on Dec 8, 2013 7:57:47 GMT -5
I do a lot of my work just like you do yours. If I'm working with rocks/jewelery,,,I cut a cab and that cab inspires what I will make for it as a setting.To me,,,each cab tells a story (in my mind) and that forms what the end product will be. There are times I try to plan and draw something but I can't draw very well so usually I just go with the flow,,,,,if I could draw like some of those jewelery designers do I toss out the rocks,etc and become an artist!LOL
RockIt2me said,,,,"Pretty darn good, Donnie...ambitious too! Soldering brass to copper is difficult." I've never had much luck working with mixed metals.I've tried soft solder and silver solder but the solder always "leaches" out and looks terrible!I've seen pieces with mixed metals on this site that blow my mind! You did VERY well with yours! connrock
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2013 18:56:41 GMT -5
Also got a scratch on the brass. I dated a 'fine artist' many many many moon ago. Her line was it's not a mistake. It's an unexpected feature. Donnie, make LOTS of scratches and now it's a feature.
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Dec 10, 2013 19:19:22 GMT -5
Yep, that's the way to do it alright! I like the way she put that!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2013 12:08:20 GMT -5
Yep, that's the way to do it alright! I like the way she put that! That lady was a keeper. But, she broke my heart. She liked to do scratch art. Black paint on white board and she'd scratch the image into reality. She did a drawing of an american indian chief I thought was worth $1000 in 1986'ish. She told me I was crazy. I took the piece and the easel to Venice Beach put a sign on it ($1750), set up next to a bizzy sidewalk, grabbed a sandwich and a soda and supped my lunch. I had many talkers and lookers. After about an hour and a half a woman walked up. She was dressed like no other. Emeralds and diamonds, pearl necklace silk garments.... she wreaked of wealth. We chatted for about 10 minutes and I learned her grandfather was a chief and the image reminded her of that man. She pulled a picture from her purse to show me it was nearly his twin. Soon she walked away. 30 minutes later here she comes. I picked my lady up for dinner that night and handed her the money. She asked about her easel. I had bought her a new one and brought it in. She blew up. Her joy turned to rage when she learned I sold her easel. She took half the money, kicked me out of her house and told me to never contact her again. Broke my heart. Probably a good thing.
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Dec 11, 2013 12:22:55 GMT -5
What a story! Yes, it probably was a good thing!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2013 12:34:19 GMT -5
What a story! Yes, it probably was a good thing! Maybe the easel was originally used by renoir or rembrandt!
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Post by 1dave on Dec 11, 2013 13:52:28 GMT -5
What a story! Yes, it probably was a good thing! Maybe the easel was originally used by renoir or rembrandt! That has to be it!
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