zapins
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 116 
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Post by zapins on Mar 14, 2016 17:32:36 GMT -5
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Post by kap on Mar 14, 2016 18:00:55 GMT -5
Wow! Awesome! Thank you for taking us thru the process!  |
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Post by toiv0 on Mar 14, 2016 19:12:33 GMT -5
pretty cool, I used to cast and you brought back what a lot of work it is compared to fabrication. Nice job.
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Post by beefjello on Mar 14, 2016 19:19:33 GMT -5
Wow, that's quite a process! Thanks for showing all the steps. the necklace is gorgeous!
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Post by vegasjames on Mar 15, 2016 0:12:43 GMT -5
Great job. Very interesting seeing the whole process.
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es355lucille
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2016
Posts: 194
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Post by es355lucille on Mar 15, 2016 0:30:30 GMT -5
Very interesting process! Thanks, amazing job by the way!
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Post by Pat on Mar 15, 2016 0:43:15 GMT -5
Wow! Quit the process! Thanks for taking us through it.
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 15, 2016 7:18:38 GMT -5
Those stones are amazing- never seen them before. The necklace is gorgeous. Thank you for taking us through the process- that looks like it was a lot of work!
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,717
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 15, 2016 9:32:58 GMT -5
Totally amazing work!
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453 
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Post by icatz on Mar 16, 2016 5:34:45 GMT -5
Wow. I've no idea how casting is done, now I know a little more. Beautiful work. And you're the only other person I know who uses Operculum! I got 3 from a local cabber years ago. He said they're basically the rear end of a certain type of snail. They don't find them often but when they do they're gathered in huge quantities. Probably best not to tell people what they are, lol. I assume you soldered all your jump rings closed?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2016 5:45:03 GMT -5
Missed this before.well done.ill be on the way to casting soon.i need my kiln wired up and I'm ready to spin.one question,why the wax when you could have done the same thing with 20 ga.sheet.a lot of work there but I love it.gets my creative juices bubbling.
Dave
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zapins
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by zapins on Mar 16, 2016 12:53:33 GMT -5
icatz if you have any Qs on how to get started in casting let me know. I have much more experience with metal casting than stone work. I'm only now getting into stone working so I can add to my metal sculptures. I'd like to make my own statue bases eventually since they are quite expensive to buy premade. The operculum are the trapdoor of certain snail species, they use them to close the entrance to the shell so they can defend themselves against predators. Almost all snails have operculum but not all of them have a nice gemmy operculum, only certain species have it. The ones I have are from one of the tropical islands (I think in Asia if I remember right). Yes I soldered the jump rings and each and every chain link too. Took me quite a while, but it was worth it in the end. arrowheadave - I cast the fittings because casting is what I know and I hadn't worked before with silver plates. I was also learning to solder silver (which is quite different from bronze!!). I probably would do it differently if I had to do it again and just use the plates, or roll my own 20 gauge. This is a picture of my burn out kiln for jewelry stuff  This is an example of the other projects I've done. Got loads more pictures of random things but maybe I'll do another thread about that (if it is on topic enough for the forum? not sure since it is mainly metal casting and not rock related)  |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2016 13:55:17 GMT -5
Please excuse my ignorance.
If you can fabricate copper forms to them cast. Why not simply fabricate,in silver and be donw with it?
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micellular
has rocks in the head
Rock fever is curable with more rocks.
Member since September 2015
Posts: 640
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Post by micellular on Mar 16, 2016 14:00:04 GMT -5
Beautiful! What a cool necklace, and an excellent photo journal. Thanks for sharing with us, and I can't wait to see what else you make. |
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zapins
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by zapins on Mar 16, 2016 14:48:14 GMT -5
Please excuse my ignorance. If you can fabricate copper forms to them cast. Why not simply fabricate,in silver and be donw with it? I'm not sure I understand what you mean? |
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 16, 2016 15:07:30 GMT -5
The hummingbird statue is very impressive!!!! Beautiful!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2016 15:13:25 GMT -5
Please excuse my ignorance. If you can fabricate copper forms to them cast. Why not simply fabricate,in silver and be donw with it? I'm not sure I understand what you mean? You fabricated copper to make molds, then cast silver. Why not just fabricate silver parts? No casting required? |
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Mar 16, 2016 16:25:21 GMT -5
zapins, that's quite a tour, thank you
wonderful work - I love the humming-birds
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Post by vegasjames on Mar 16, 2016 16:41:18 GMT -5
Nice hummingbird sculpture.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,041
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 16, 2016 17:25:20 GMT -5
I'm not sure I understand what you mean? You fabricated copper to make molds, then cast silver. Why not just fabricate silver parts? No casting required? Scott, are you mistaking the copper-colored wax zapins used to fabricate the models for actual metal? In casting the "fabrication" -involves carving or making wax models which are then melted away and "lost" during the burn-out process, leaving an identically-shaped cavity into which molten metal is pushed either by vacuum or centrifugal force. I agree that making this piece would have been much easier and less time-consuming than casting it but zapins has said he/she is just learning silver-soldering. Model-making in wax is a real art and I'm impressed with the patience and skill shown in making this piece. In the past I've often made stone-set jewelry that was part cast, part fabricated. Which method is used depends on the maker's vision for the finished item. |
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