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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 7, 2014 10:49:57 GMT -5
I wanted to try a quick experiment with making a simple version of a two sided groove wrap. This cab was only rough shaped to the 120 grit wheel then tossed in the vibe tumbler for 5 days. I figure about 5 minutes spent between trimming and grinding. This morning I went down to cut the groove at 9:30 and by 9:45 the wrap was all done in the tumbler again and all my tools were cleaned up. Total time invested from slab to finished pendant was 20 minutes. The groove is offset in the girdle so that when you combine the 4 wires at the top the bail is centered. Side A  Side B (wire ends show up a little in this blown up photo but in person not really noticeable)  Girdle  Thanks for looking Chuck |
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Post by Jugglerguy on Dec 7, 2014 11:44:00 GMT -5
That looks good Chuck. Just don't tell anyone how quick it was.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 7, 2014 11:57:05 GMT -5
That looks good Chuck. Just don't tell anyone how quick it was. The time/labor is really irrelevant when it comes to the final sale price of items. I would say an item like this would top out at around $20-25 and if I spent on hour hand polishing that cab on the genie instead of using the loto I would not be able to charge any more. The rock used and silver used are not controllable costs so cutting down on labor is the only to make a little profit on simple stuff like this. Chuck |
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Post by pghram on Dec 7, 2014 18:53:07 GMT -5
Nice one, two sided is a nice add.
Rich
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Post by snowmom on Dec 10, 2014 6:48:43 GMT -5
clever, with a very nice end product.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497
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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 10, 2014 9:02:27 GMT -5
Really great idea! Flat top cab with straight bezel makes it easy to groove too. Very clean and good looking wrap....Mel
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723 
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Post by Fossilman on Dec 10, 2014 11:27:45 GMT -5
I like it that way too-thumbs up
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Post by iant on Dec 11, 2014 14:30:56 GMT -5
That is sharp, clean work. Looks totally professional!
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 358
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Post by mjflinty on Dec 11, 2014 18:58:40 GMT -5
Excellent work!
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ilickrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 133 
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Post by ilickrocks on Dec 13, 2014 13:46:49 GMT -5
Really like the clean look of the groove wrap! Someday will have to try my hand at it.
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Post by orrum on Apr 24, 2015 6:42:38 GMT -5
Gmornin Chuck. Susan and I are about ready to get the Gryphette out and start learning groove wrapping. Above you said the wrap was finished and back in the tumbler? Do you put the wrapped cab into a tumbler to work harden and shine the wire? Thanks, Bill
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Apr 24, 2015 7:27:29 GMT -5
Gmornin Chuck. Susan and I are about ready to get the Gryphette out and start learning groove wrapping. Above you said the wrap was finished and back in the tumbler? Do you put the wrapped cab into a tumbler to work harden and shine the wire? Thanks, Bill Yes Bill. All of my wraps spend about an hour in the tumbler with stainless steel jewelers shot and a little dawn dish soap. Work hardens the bail and really shines them up. Chuck |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Apr 24, 2015 9:17:41 GMT -5
Must've missed that one last time around. Nice work, Chuck. Simple lines, and small hands-on time investment. What's not to like? And a great way to work harden the bail afterwards.
Bill and Susan, good luck with your endeavors!
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Post by drocknut on Apr 24, 2015 10:41:50 GMT -5
That looks great. I like the bail being centered.
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Post by orrum on Apr 24, 2015 17:23:05 GMT -5
Hey Diane where you at? ;Thanks Chuck but I forgot to ask if you use a rotary tumbler or the Loto to work harden and shine the wrap up?
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Apr 24, 2015 17:26:42 GMT -5
Hey Diane where you at? ;Thanks Chuck but I forgot to ask if you use a rotary tumbler or the Loto to work harden and shine the wrap up? 3 pound rotary barrel with 1 pound of stainless mixed shot in mixes sizes then a small squirt of dawn dish soap. I usually add water to about a half inch above the shot and run for an hour. I use a dedicated barrel for my jewelry so if your using a barrel that has had grit in it clean it extremely well first. your putting the cart in front of the horse.... did you get a wrap done yet? lol Chuck |
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Post by orrum on Apr 24, 2015 17:45:42 GMT -5
No groove wrap yet but I do a thing called Cold Forge Wire Wrapping Chuck. Actually I got good enough that The Roadrunner Gem and Mineral Club in Quartzite had me teaching two classes a week! LOL. I called it Hillbilly Wire Twisting! I was very impressed with the style of wrap and I must be good at it since Quartzsite lapidary teaching facility is the largest in the U.S.
Send me two teardrop shape cabs of Puddings tone and I will send you one back wrapped. It will be in copper since I am out of 14 and 12 gauge sterling. About 1.5 to 2 inches long.
I taught Diane/Drocknut how to make them in Quartzsite. Maybe she could post a picture. I can't post pictures.
Plus I do silver smithing now, learned that a Quartzsite. So I need to set up a tumber to work harden and shine up copper and silver. We used a Loto for small pieces in Quartzsite and a UV18 for big ones. Wasnt sure about a rotary.
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Post by orrum on Apr 24, 2015 17:47:05 GMT -5
Hey Diane show Chuck a pic of Hillbilly wire twisting for me plesse? Thanks lil girl.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Apr 24, 2015 18:45:45 GMT -5
No groove wrap yet but I do a thing called Cold Forge Wire Wrapping Chuck. Actually I got good enough that The Roadrunner Gem and Mineral Club in Quartzite had me teaching two classes a week! LOL. I called it Hillbilly Wire Twisting! I was very impressed with the style of wrap and I must be good at it since Quartzsite lapidary teaching facility is the largest in the U.S. Send me two teardrop shape cabs of Puddings tone and I will send you one back wrapped. It will be in copper since I am out of 14 and 12 gauge sterling. About 1.5 to 2 inches long. I taught Diane/Drocknut how to make them in Quartzsite. Maybe she could post a picture. I can't post pictures. Plus I do silver smithing now, learned that a Quartzsite. So I need to set up a tumber to work harden and shine up copper and silver. We used a Loto for small pieces in Quartzsite and a UV18 for big ones. Wasnt sure about a rotary. pudding stone is not in season yet,lol I might be cabbing some soon though. I'll let ya know. How much wire is used per cab for your hillbilly style? I am more of a redneck so I'll have to modify it a bit. Chuck |
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Post by orrum on Apr 24, 2015 20:13:26 GMT -5
Chuck I use 10 inches for my regular copper wrap and I use 14 gauge. I waste 2 2 inches or so because I cut the wire before forging it. With the sterling I don't waste any because I don't cut it until the wrap is finished. So my regular wrap uses about 8 inches. I do a abbreviated wrap that has one less loop so it's about 6 inches. Send me a pm with your cell phone number and I can text you pics if you want?
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