nansaidh
spending too much on rocks
Jewelry artist, graphic designer, dog lover, car nut (etc.)
Member since August 2008
Posts: 311
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Post by nansaidh on Dec 21, 2008 19:04:02 GMT -5
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Post by Michael John on Dec 21, 2008 20:12:49 GMT -5
Hmmm ... where did you get that last stone? That looks just like the copper ore that came from a lower vein of my Chrysocolla mine. Is that possible? I tried to tell people that it would look cool when cabbed or tumbled, but nobody listened ... it just didn't sell well at all. I still have lots of it in my garage.
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nansaidh
spending too much on rocks
Jewelry artist, graphic designer, dog lover, car nut (etc.)
Member since August 2008
Posts: 311
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Post by nansaidh on Dec 21, 2008 20:16:18 GMT -5
Hmmm ... where did you get that last stone? That looks just like the copper ore that came from a lower vein of my Chrysocolla mine. Is that possible? I tried to tell people that it would look cool when cabbed or tumbled, but nobody listened ... it just didn't sell well at all. I still have lots of it in my garage. I found that on Moonstone Beach, California - I believe/assume it is "vulcan" jade - or at least it has that coloring (nephrite if you see this, would you weigh in with your opinion?). Nancy
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Post by Michael John on Dec 21, 2008 20:31:30 GMT -5
Hehehe that's cool! I'll have to take a pic of that copper ore for you ... it looks JUST like that!
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Post by Bikerrandy on Dec 21, 2008 21:48:35 GMT -5
Great job!! Where did the bezels come from? Did you make those?
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Post by frane on Dec 21, 2008 22:19:59 GMT -5
Very nice work. I have the same question that Randy has. Bezels look great! Fran
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,786
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Post by adrian65 on Dec 21, 2008 22:57:27 GMT -5
Beautiful rocks and the silver settings are simple and ellegant. The hidden bail you use is my favorite system. Some of the rocks seem not to have a slope capable to secure it into the silver setting (especialy the 2nd to last one). Do you also glue your rocks on the silver or you rely only on the tightening of the silver frame?
Adrian
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Dec 22, 2008 0:34:16 GMT -5
Really Great work Nancy! Exactly how long you been doing this?? Colorful Rocks too. Steve
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Post by sitnwrap on Dec 22, 2008 2:16:24 GMT -5
Those are beautifully set and the stones are lovely. The settings are just so clean and classy and does a great job accenting the stone. WTG! btw, my fav is the 5th pic down, it's a beauty.
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Post by Tweetiepy on Dec 22, 2008 9:41:07 GMT -5
Beautiful stuff - I like the bails & the settings, are those glued in there?
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Post by Tonyterner on Dec 22, 2008 11:30:20 GMT -5
Those look great! I'd say you are learning quickly. Those woodturning skills must be helping you.
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nansaidh
spending too much on rocks
Jewelry artist, graphic designer, dog lover, car nut (etc.)
Member since August 2008
Posts: 311
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Post by nansaidh on Dec 22, 2008 13:22:00 GMT -5
Wow, thanks everyone! Let me try to remember all the questions: Randy and Fran, I make the settings out of sheet silver (for the backpiece) and fine silver "bezel wire" which is actually strips of fine silver. The bails I make too - some out of pieces of the bezel "wire", some out of 18 or 20 gauge sterling wire hammered flat where it's soldered to the backpiece. Everybody re: gluing: Okay, you all caught me - I also use a flexible cement to help hold the stones in place - since I use a lot of tumbled stones (that don't have flat backs!!), the cement is critical to holding it properly and securely, although I do roll the bezel wire "down" as much as possible on the stones, too. If I'm setting a cab, though, I don't use cement - only on stones that don't have flat backs. Steve - I took a jewelry/silversmith class last year and since then have made maybe 12 or so bezel settings (that was one of the things we learned in class). Each batch gets a tiny bit better looking (I tell myself this, anyway!!). Every tumble batch gets combed through for candidates to be set in silver. All my Christmas gifts to family this year were local stones set in silver pendants - since all our family is back east, I thought it was kinda cool to send them a little piece of California that I'd taken from rough stone, tumble-polished, and set. Tony - Thank you!!! I recently bought some very cool looking pieces of acrylic for pens and can't wait to get out to the lathe and see what these are going to look like inside! We went to a "tool outlet" store this weekend - I came home with the pen blanks, but Larry (my SO) came home with $1k worth of Festool equipment!! ROFL! Merry Christmas everybody! Nancy
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Gem'n I
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2008
Posts: 980
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Post by Gem'n I on Dec 22, 2008 21:11:37 GMT -5
Nice Work Nan...now you need a stamp for the back with your name...sure takes care of Christmas gifts!!
Larry
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Post by Bejewelme on Dec 22, 2008 23:22:30 GMT -5
Nancy: They were worth the wait and boy do they look good, I am back East, aren't you my cousin??? Your work is so nice, the silver work looks great, I also like how the bale is set lower so you don't see it when wearing the piece, I think that really highlights the stones. Beautiful in every detail!! Amber
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Post by Tonyterner on Dec 23, 2008 9:51:29 GMT -5
Nancy, you should know you can never have enough woodturning tools and its easy to spend that much on a top brand like Festool.
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Post by Tony W on Dec 28, 2008 0:48:23 GMT -5
Nancy, your last post was my inspiration to get into bezel setting in a big way... and now this one may help keep me going What great work... and believe me I know how hard it is to get it all right. My first one was a great soldering job, with lots and lots of special thanks to Tom/Connrock and good advice from Phil/Steelandstone, but I made a slight mistake... I soldered the bezel on upside down so the stone won't fit unless I put it in upside down Believe me I know the pit falls ....and you are doing so good!! Please keep posting them so I can get a lift when I'm down and lose hope for my work, lol. How are you polishing them? They look so good!! Tony
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Post by sparkles on Dec 28, 2008 8:27:47 GMT -5
Hey Nancy,
Those are just sublime Buddy, really gorgeous examples, you have a fantastic talent with the silver-work. I love the bezel settings, and the stones look amazing all jacketed up, that's phenomenal work Buddy. Those folks are going to love wearing them, they really leap out.
Can't wait to see some more, they really are beautiful Buddy. Thanks for sharing your handi-work.
Cheers,
Sparkles.
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nansaidh
spending too much on rocks
Jewelry artist, graphic designer, dog lover, car nut (etc.)
Member since August 2008
Posts: 311
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Post by nansaidh on Dec 28, 2008 12:56:18 GMT -5
Nancy, your last post was my inspiration to get into bezel setting in a big way... and now this one may help keep me going What great work... and believe me I know how hard it is to get it all right. My first one was a great soldering job, with lots and lots of special thanks to Tom/Connrock and good advice from Phil/Steelandstone, but I made a slight mistake... I soldered the bezel on upside down so the stone won't fit unless I put it in upside down Believe me I know the pit falls ....and you are doing so good!! Please keep posting them so I can get a lift when I'm down and lose hope for my work, lol. How are you polishing them? They look so good!! Tony Thanks Tony - it's good to be somebody's inspiration! I've upside-down'ed a bezel or two, not to worry. You do have the option of reheating the piece to release the solder but fine silver tends to warp/melt so you really have to be careful with applying heat evenly and keeping that torch moving if you try that. Polishing the bezel - Doc - docone31 - told me this secret - take a wire brush (just regular steel wire, not stainless, I discovered that's too hard and it leaves marks) on a rotary tool - I use my Foredom but a Dremel will work in a pinch - and clean up the junction between the bezel wire & base. It makes a world of difference. (thanks again Doc!!) Then I put it in a tumbler with mixed stainless steel shot and a little squirt of Dawn dishwashing liquid for a few hours. Everything has to be filed & sanded to remove any heavy marks on the silver, first though. FYI this does make the bezel wire harder to push down onto the stone after tumbling but it's worth it, IMHO. Then after the stone is set (and any marks from pushing the bezel down are smoothed away with sandpaper or a fine file), I use my Foredom with various polishing bits, usually something soft with rouge to finish. Foredom makes a "satin finish" bit too if you'd rather have a more matte finish. HTH!! I'd love to see some of your settings - did you post and I missed them? Best regards, Nancy
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nansaidh
spending too much on rocks
Jewelry artist, graphic designer, dog lover, car nut (etc.)
Member since August 2008
Posts: 311
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Post by nansaidh on Dec 28, 2008 12:59:17 GMT -5
Thanks for everyone's wonderful comments!! I have lots of cabs now from Rockhobbit plus some that Ed/stoner has cut for me and more coming from him so I'm going to be a bezel-setting fool (if I can afford to buy more silver - LOL)!! Thanks to everyone - y'all are awesome. Nancy
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Post by Tony W on Dec 29, 2008 1:02:25 GMT -5
Lol, Lady you inspired me in wire wrapping too when I was ready to it give up... so don't worry, you are inspirational No, you didn't miss my stuff... I'm not near ready to post anything yet. Tony
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