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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Nov 30, 2022 17:18:37 GMT -5
I have made several of this style of pendant out of copper. A relative recently asked me if I could make a pudding stone pendant in brushed stainless steel to match a chain he has. I thought this style would be the way to go. The other part of the request was for it to be a manly shape not teardrop, oval or circle. I think it came out good enough that he will probably like it but I do not think I would try it again. I used the same gauge material as I use on the copper ones but the stainless is way harder. I think I broke about 6 blades and it was really difficult to form over the stone. So it is possible just much more difficult.  Thanks for looking Chuck |
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khara
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2022
Posts: 644
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Post by khara on Nov 30, 2022 17:50:27 GMT -5
That’s really cool. I like the idea of working with stainless but know it’s pretty hard to work. I like your design. Simple and doable and allows the stone to be the star but adds a neutral or even manly metal element. 👍
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Nov 30, 2022 22:34:10 GMT -5
That’s really cool. I like the idea of working with stainless but know it’s pretty hard to work. I like your design. Simple and doable and allows the stone to be the star but adds a neutral or even manly metal element. 👍 Thanks. 99.99% of my jewelry is made for and worn by women so this one was fun. I think I have only made two other pendants for men in the last 10 years and one of those was for myself. Chuck |
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khara
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2022
Posts: 644
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Post by khara on Dec 1, 2022 0:11:30 GMT -5
Drummond Island Rocks Was it difficult to get the "bezels" pushed down over the stone? Did you just use a bezel pusher? Or table edge? I imagine it'd be hard to not damage the stone.
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vance71975
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2022
Posts: 654
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Post by vance71975 on Dec 1, 2022 0:56:50 GMT -5
I have made several of this style of pendant out of copper. A relative recently asked me if I could make a pudding stone pendant in brushed stainless steel to match a chain he has. I thought this style would be the way to go. The other part of the request was for it to be a manly shape not teardrop, oval or circle. I think it came out good enough that he will probably like it but I do not think I would try it again. I used the same gauge material as I use on the copper ones but the stainless is way harder. I think I broke about 6 blades and it was really difficult to form over the stone. So it is possible just much more difficult. Thanks for looking Chuck Did you Anneal the steel or By it pre Annealed? Annealed steel is softer and easier to work with. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 1, 2022 4:30:54 GMT -5
I really like that look and I KNOW that was difficult to do. I think he'll be happy- it has a very masculine feel. I always think of stainless as being masculine.
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 1, 2022 8:33:54 GMT -5
I'll echo what others are saying with regards to you nailing the "masculine" look on this one. Great job on that Chuck!  |
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 1, 2022 9:34:57 GMT -5
I have made several of this style of pendant out of copper. A relative recently asked me if I could make a pudding stone pendant in brushed stainless steel to match a chain he has. I thought this style would be the way to go. The other part of the request was for it to be a manly shape not teardrop, oval or circle. I think it came out good enough that he will probably like it but I do not think I would try it again. I used the same gauge material as I use on the copper ones but the stainless is way harder. I think I broke about 6 blades and it was really difficult to form over the stone. So it is possible just much more difficult. Thanks for looking Chuck Did you Anneal the steel or By it pre Annealed? Annealed steel is softer and easier to work with. I could have heated it up but that takes away from the "cold" forged aspect of the pendant. The whole idea behind these is to be able to set a stone using very minimal tools. That being said I will probably just never try this with 80 rockwell stainless again. I suppose a thinner gauge would make it easier but I also like the look of this thickness. Chuck |
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 1, 2022 9:40:01 GMT -5
Drummond Island Rocks Was it difficult to get the "bezels" pushed down over the stone? Did you just use a bezel pusher? Or table edge? I imagine it'd be hard to not damage the stone. Getting the tabs pushed over was nearly impossible. Bezel pusher did not work, bezel knives did not work. The only way was using a brass jewelers hammer with quite a bit of force. I really expected the stone to break with how hard I had to hit it but at that point I was frustrated and did not care, lol. I had given up on this pendant a few times figuring it would never end up being usable but in the end somehow I liked it. Chuck |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 1, 2022 10:01:41 GMT -5
Handsome pendant, Chuck! I can't even imagine the nightmare hammering those tabs down was. It may be an application where a hammer handpiece would be useful.  |
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electrocutus
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 328 
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Post by electrocutus on Dec 1, 2022 10:26:00 GMT -5
It is beautiful and unique, congratulations!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 1, 2022 14:40:57 GMT -5
Handsome pendant, Chuck! I can't even imagine the nightmare hammering those tabs down was. It may be an application where a hammer handpiece would be useful. That is a tool on my wish list. If I did more of this type of work it would move up the list a bit. I have the foredom just need the hand piece. Chuck |
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vance71975
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2022
Posts: 654
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Post by vance71975 on Dec 1, 2022 19:57:40 GMT -5
Did you Anneal the steel or By it pre Annealed? Annealed steel is softer and easier to work with. I could have heated it up but that takes away from the "cold" forged aspect of the pendant. The whole idea behind these is to be able to set a stone using very minimal tools. That being said I will probably just never try this with 80 rockwell stainless again. I suppose a thinner gauge would make it easier but I also like the look of this thickness. Chuck Its an awesome looking piece for sure. |
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 1, 2022 22:49:52 GMT -5
I really like that look and I KNOW that was difficult to do. I think he'll be happy- it has a very masculine feel. I always think of stainless as being masculine. I posted this pendant on a Michigan Facebook group and it got a lot of attention. Not wanting to try using stainless again I started thinking of brushed aluminum. I did a quick google search and it seems it might be a good jewelry choice. There's no nickel in aluminum and it is just about as soft as copper. What do you think? Worth spending a couple bucks to try it. Could make one in brushed finish and then see how it reacts to LOS too. Aluminum rockwell hardness is about 40 VS stainless steel at about 85. That is like petoskey stone VS agate.  Chuck |
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 1, 2022 22:52:40 GMT -5
I really like that look and I KNOW that was difficult to do. I think he'll be happy- it has a very masculine feel. I always think of stainless as being masculine. I posted this pendant on a Michigan Facebook group and it got a lot of attention. Not wanting to try using stainless again I started thinking of brushed aluminum. I did a quick google search and it seems it might be a good jewelry choice. There's no nickel in aluminum and it is just about as soft as copper. What do you think? Worth spending a couple bucks to try it. Could make one in brushed finish and then see how it reacts to LOS too. Aluminum rockwell hardness is about 40 VS stainless steel at about 85. That is like petoskey stone VS agate. Chuck Definitely worth a shot. Let us know how it goes. It's gotta be softer than stainless. |
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 1, 2022 23:04:11 GMT -5
I posted this pendant on a Michigan Facebook group and it got a lot of attention. Not wanting to try using stainless again I started thinking of brushed aluminum. I did a quick google search and it seems it might be a good jewelry choice. There's no nickel in aluminum and it is just about as soft as copper. What do you think? Worth spending a couple bucks to try it. Could make one in brushed finish and then see how it reacts to LOS too. Aluminum rockwell hardness is about 40 VS stainless steel at about 85. That is like petoskey stone VS agate. Chuck Definitely worth a shot. Let us know how it goes. It's gotta be softer than stainless. Already ordered! |
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 1, 2022 23:34:02 GMT -5
With aluminum use a lot of oil or the wax blade lube when cutting, it likes to adhere itself to steel blades.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 2, 2022 7:55:10 GMT -5
With aluminum use a lot of oil or the wax blade lube when cutting, it likes to adhere itself to steel blades. Thanks for that tip. Appreciate it. Chuck |
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 2, 2022 12:40:19 GMT -5
With aluminum try bending your scrap first to see what tight bends do, they might have checking/cracking if you don't do a partial anneal first. Aluminum anneal is easy,
mark the top with a sharpie,
heat from below with a plumbers torch or even butane until sharpie marks pretty much disappear,
and immediately quench in water.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 2, 2022 19:51:12 GMT -5
With aluminum try bending your scrap first to see what tight bends do, they might have checking/cracking if you don't do a partial anneal first. Aluminum anneal is easy, mark the top with a sharpie, heat from below with a plumbers torch or even butane until sharpie marks pretty much disappear, and immediately quench in water. Great advice! Thank you. chuck |
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app for that 
sisters
