Naps over. RING process added

[FrogAndBearCreations]

Too cool!

[unclestu]

Hi Jim
Thanks for the science lesson on the super not so secret any more process of ring making. They look really great.
Now for some suggestions.
With your great talent in carving, why not do some scrimshaw work around the rings. You can do different themes to focus on different markets.
You can also mount small stones around the ring to give them some sparkle.
Then we come to the idea of some enamel work or inlay work.
What about cutting out small shapes through the ring like cresent moon, stars, clover, spade and so on.

I wonder how pet wood would hold up as a ring
Stu

[Deleted]

Stu- Thank you but you blow my carving talent way out of proportion. I have hand carved on soft stone and I think that I am way to shaky to attempt carving a tiny ring with a rotary tool. Even under my 3X lighted magnifier the rings look too small to carve on. Maybe if I clamped the ring in a vice and held the rotary in both hands I may be able to carve a stick man. The suggestion does intrigue me but I do not feel talented enough. I could send the rings to KK or bear and have them carve something. Man, you have started an itch and I am going to end up destroying some rings and it will be all your fault.

Now I am going to throw it back to you Stu. I have not seen any carvings coming out of your hands. We should be seeing some progress without any excuses.
Jim

[helens]

That's so interesting! Thank you for posting all the pix of the process and generously sharing. Those pictures are fantastic, and your descriptions are great! I'm not going to try making rings like that, but I love learning about how it can be done. You definitely write better than you read! j/k.

Is it only jade that's strong enough to withstand making rings? Agate is too brittle, what about jasper? Or are all the quartz-based stones no good? Have you tried Chalcedony? I saw the most incredible looking rings in Chalcedony... it's a small step to go from what you are making to making these:
jewelhistory.com/2008/06/13/is-mineralogy-jewelry/

There's another designer that does them also in Chalcedony, and I can't remember her name now... I'll post a link if I think of it.

[adrian65]

Great looking rings. Interesting process, also.

Related to your explanations, I wander what "caca" means to you, 'cause in my language it means literlally "poop" or "crap" ;D

Adrian

[unclestu]

Mar 1, 2012 5:49:52 GMT -5 adrian65 said:

Great looking rings. Interesting process, also.

Related to your explanations, I wander what "caca" means to you, 'cause in my language it means literlally "poop" or "crap" ;D

Adrian

Adrian in English the word caca also is boop but is usually said with reference to baby poop. It is a sanitized word for sh*t
Stu

[Deleted]

Adrian - Our slang is almost impossible for people outside the US to pick up unless you live here for a long time. When I was in China I had to be very careful about what words I used because the people there would have no idea what I was talking about. Most English speaking people do not have a clue how difficult the language is. I used slang in the first sentence (pick up) that would confuse most foreigners but we think nothing of it.

Helen - hahaha Sometimes I do not write so good also. I re read very carefully before posting. Thank you for the heads up on the rings. They are beautiful. A Duchess probably does not go rollerblading or slam her hand on the bar at a new years party though. lol That ring probably had to be made entirely with a rotary tool because it would be difficult to drill that shape. I guess that it could be drilled then the part under the finger carved away to make it smaller.

I have no way of differentiating between chalcedony and agate and think they are pretty much the same thing??? I look at jasper pretty much the same way and had the same results with it as I did with the others. A couple of things that I learned was that a ring too thick is painful to the fingers next to it so adding strength that way is not a good option. A longer ring such as the agate ring on the post you pointed out adds strength but drilling a piece of agate that thick would take hours unless I bought special equipment to force water inside the hole saw. There is probably a reason that person only made three. The center could be removed with a rotary tool, which he probably did but that would also take an enormous amount to time. An established artist could get away with that because they can charge an arm and a leg for the ring. I am of the American fast and furious set who just wants to make a buck instead of art. (not all of the time though)

I did have some luck with quartz not shattering as bad as agate but I am not a big fan of quartz because I have not had real good luck with polishing it especially in the tumbler. Even though the hardness is the same as agate, quartz is easier to work with as far as drilling and cutting because it's structure is not as tight.

I have taken nephrite and jade rings, put them on the center of my little finger and whacked them on a hard wood table until my finger was bruised and the rings did not break. One whack with an agate or similar material and it would be broken. The jade is some super tough stone yet so much easier to work with it is hard to believe. I can drill five or more jade rings in the time it takes me to drill one agate ring. The only draw back is that they are pretty much all the same unless a person could find white or black jade. The agate rings are very colorful and second to none in the beauty department so that is a bit of a let down. I have tried to think of ways to line the agate rings with silver but then I would have to get into another form of art and the sizing would be a problem. I have given it a lot of thought and like the "water flows down hill" the nephrite and jade are the way to go. I may try Stu's suggestion and fiddle with carving but I do not see any great things coming of it.
Jim

[peachfront]

Jim, I have a block of material that someone told me was Pink Jade. Is this a nervy question, or is it possible that I could send you the stone, and if you can work it, send me back one ring and you are welcome to keep the rest? You have a U.S. shipping address, right? I'll take a photo in a little while if you have any interest. My Agate ring is long gone, as you say, it broke! This pink material is not Agate but as I'm not familiar with Pink Jade, I guess my only real worry is that it is not Jade either. It is not a dyed stone like the Pink Jade I just googled. I got it from an estate in I think 1992. Let me know if you'd even be interested in looking at it, and I'll snap a photograph I can post. To make one ring, it looks like it would be quite an effort...although I certainly appreciate your detailed posting.

[Sabre52]

Peach: Pink jade is usually thulite which is a massive pink form of zoisite. Some is pink and green where the green is probably nephrite jade or a relative like tremolite. The pink areas are softer than jade and if mixed with the green, tend to undercut. The pink is composed of interwoven crystals though so might hold together in a ring but would probably be less durable and more prone to scratching than solid jade.....Mel

[peachfront]

Oh gosh, I'll be disappointed if it's Thulite but nothing would surprise me!

[peachfront]

Update: These rings are even more impressive in person!!! Wow. Thanks, Jim!!!

[Deleted]

You are very welcome. And thanks for the trade. Everyone loves that stone. If the shine gets a little dull just rub them with 3000 sandpaper and they should shine right up.
Jim

[Pat]

Jim, you are going to have all the RTH people happily wearing rings!

[Deleted]

That would be cool. Starting a trend like Madonna. Will that make me famous or does that work the other way around. LMAO
Jim

[Tom]

Thanks for the tutorial, I am going to have to try this out

[Pat]

Using Jim's method and his help, I've made rings of Wyoming jade, Blue G Lawsonite and blue lace agate. Haven't chipped any of them and I wear them frequently.

[Deleted]

Ok, Which one of you stole the photos? lol Not sure what happened but I will try to figure out which photos and put them up again.
Sorry
Jim

[hubrocks]

Those are some great looking rings!!

[jamesp]

It is not how much materials you have-it is what you do with it that counts.A little bit sure went a long way Jim.You have patience of Job.And do not worry,you have a ways to go before you catch up w/Madonna,sorry a loooong way:>

[danb]

Very cool! How fast do you run the drill press when you are cutting the slabs? How long does it take you do do a cut? Thanks for sharing your process!