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Post by krazydiamond on Apr 12, 2005 15:57:50 GMT -5
some of you know i've been taking a silversmithing course the past few months (it's only once a week) and have asked to see progress photos. i posted the stones shown here sometime ago, but here is where i'm at with the silver, here are the makings for two bezel rings: the bezel soldered to the backing sheet and the stone that will go in there (a piece of procelain jasper). and here is the finished bezel cup after i trimmed and filed away the excess backer: now i have to solder the bezel to the ring and mount the stone, will post the finished product next week unless i mess up big time! OK, i messd up one (doover) and got one (not perfect..) i really screwed up on the other one, didn't MELT it but came close to it...did my first real burn trying to SAVE the piece from fallling over. i'm loving it really. thanks for looking, KD
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Post by Cher on Apr 12, 2005 17:03:15 GMT -5
Hey KD, that looks neat, can't wait to see the finished product. Oh yeah, the package went out this afternoon, I'm babysitting at my daughter's and can't leave you a pm cause I can't remember my password .... ;D Anyway, it's on it's way with the two slabs, let me know when you get it ok.
Cher
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Post by sandsman1 on Apr 12, 2005 17:40:54 GMT -5
kd looks like your doin great with it ,, nice job so far keep showin as you go
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Post by Tweetiepy on Apr 12, 2005 18:37:53 GMT -5
KD what the heck are you doing taking a class in cabs makin'? Chu don't need no stinkin' cab class! Your stuff is amazing, I find it amazing that you think you need a class.
PS: Love your work! and that porcelain Jasper... my new favorite along with mex lace & amethyst!
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Post by docone31 on Apr 12, 2005 19:16:29 GMT -5
Krazy, next bezel, leave more material next to the solder joint. When you mount it to the ring, the bezel/plate joint will shrink up leaving a concave point. I hope you are using only hard solder. Easy, medium leave a print on a finished ring. Hard solder matches the colour of sterling, even when tarnished. As you now know, it is very hard to solder small items in silver. How many bezels did you fry before you got the first one? Making the bezel joint was the hardest I had to do. I fried my share. When I got to casting, I made my first ring with fried bezels. I burned that many. Looking good kiddo. I also make my ring blanks round. I cut the top half of the blank, and spread it to the sides of the bezel. It looks finished that way. I have to add 3/4 size to the ring shank to do that. Lookin goo
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Apr 12, 2005 20:10:43 GMT -5
Very nice KD!!! I love what you are doing. I can't wait to see it finished. That is just too cool, completely home done from rough to ring. That is super!
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Post by krazydiamond on Apr 12, 2005 20:21:32 GMT -5
hope i'm not jinxing this, Doc, this is my first bezel. i've done a lot of "building up to this point" at the classes and have been amassing the tools i need here at the house. i've be putting off the torch and supply part but i think i got the rest mainly. still have to get some good flux.
Doc, i did the bezel joint with hard solder, the bezel to backing with medium solder, i'm sure the instructor is going to go with easy for the next join.
i'm SO freaking into this now it's amazing.
KD
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Post by docone31 on Apr 12, 2005 21:21:54 GMT -5
Krazy, this is serious. Do yourself a favour and do not learn to use medium, or easy. We have taken on an artist, and I cannot get him to use hard solder and he cannot make anything I make that sells. He spent years going from hard to medium to easy, and back with most being easy and medium. The difference between easy, and hard in melting temperature is 80 degrees. A ring made with easy is a ring that comes back for repairs. Message sent. I like the joints. The ring is a good and clean and parallel. The butt joint on the bezel is invisible, and the bezel to plate is level. The cut and pierce inside the bezel/plate is a good thing to learn. A very good piece for a first time. You can tell your instructor I approve of it. Except for the different grades of solder. I never teach with anything but hard solder. I never use easy, or medium even on touch ups. I dip my piece in alcohol and borax and touch it off. I also never pickle between solder joints, especially with gold. Gold being porous absorbs the pickle and prevents further repairs. I save the pickle process as the last step prior to polishing. Mostly I use an ultrasonic to defirescale. I also use Cratex for final polishing prior to ZAM. I am very encouraged by your first attempt. Put away the easy. You will develop better flame control using hard and your work will proceed faster. Great first attempt. I wish my artist could do that.
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Post by creativeminded on Apr 13, 2005 8:40:19 GMT -5
You are doing a great job. I wish I could take another metal smithing course, but my local collage doesn't carry that course anymore. Tami
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Post by rockyraccoon on Apr 13, 2005 9:52:57 GMT -5
oh this is exciting! when will it be finished? i can't wait to get to this!
kim
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Post by krazydiamond on Apr 13, 2005 15:38:26 GMT -5
haha, Kim, like you need one more hobby!
thanks for the encouraging comments, Doc, and everyone, hopefully i will have something finished next monday!
KD
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Post by rockyraccoon on Apr 13, 2005 16:00:44 GMT -5
i forgot to ask you what are the things on the right that are flat on the bottom?
yes i need more hobbies lol.
kim
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Post by krazydiamond on Apr 13, 2005 18:19:21 GMT -5
those are the ring shanks, Kim, i will solder the bezels to the flat bits to make the finished rings.
band rings were part of a previous project in my class.
KD
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Apr 14, 2005 9:24:31 GMT -5
Hey KD, For your first piece that is really amazing ... seriously! When I took Silversmithing I was burning up everything The instructor came over and said ..."well it must be hereditary (?)" ... and when I asked why ... "she said ... when your son took this class he burnt everything up too ..." Actually .. her favorite comment was ... "how far were you intending on wasting this material before you asked for some help?" I did finally get the minumum requirements down .. but, I haven't tried my hand at it any further ... as of yet! I was much better at lost wax casting than anything else in the class. So, when I look at your first piece ... I am absolutely awe struck ... you have definitely a better hand at it that me ;D Thanks for the photo's ... definitely keep us posted with the finished piece! John
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Apr 14, 2005 12:21:31 GMT -5
Hmmm KD sounds like Doc just offered you a job? I am very green with envy! That is amazing work- I checked into some local classes but the instructors "hand pick" there students- like you have to try out for it- well I can barely weld to pieces of steel together with (what I read on another board) 1500 degree superglue! Soldering- well lets say that I can manage to melt enough stuff to get to wires to stick together but that is my limit (I won't even go into torches) Congrates
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Post by krazydiamond on Apr 19, 2005 6:32:46 GMT -5
i tacked on some photos last night, didn't realize i had to post to get it back to the top of the stack.
KD
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Rose
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2004
Posts: 875
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Post by Rose on Apr 19, 2005 6:37:32 GMT -5
Looking great KD - really impressive
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Post by docone31 on Apr 19, 2005 7:27:06 GMT -5
I like the work. It is subtle, simplistic, and will highlight the stone. Did you use sawdust under the stone? I use my business cards. I find sawdust will expand and push the stone out of the bezel down the road. Lookin good.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Apr 19, 2005 7:47:29 GMT -5
kd we'll get to say we knew you when and saw your first work! are you patting yourself on the back? you should be. ok what's next to make? ;D
will you be taking another class after this one? i know you said you have been gathering all your tools at home. will you do it without instruction after the class is over? how's this work?
kim
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Post by Cher on Apr 19, 2005 10:01:03 GMT -5
Wow that ring turned out really cool. I didn't even realize you had added new photos. I'm so impressed ... yeah, I knew you when *smile*. You're doing an awesome job!!
Cher
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