karock
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2007
Posts: 667
|
Post by karock on Apr 6, 2012 12:02:59 GMT -5
Hi All, I am currently taking a jewelry fabrication class at a local arts center. This is one of the major projects. I chose to use a piece of petrified wood and place it in a Sterling bezel for a pendant with earrings to match. Here I am partly finished with the bezel and am about to shape the earring stones. I will post more progress in a couple of weeks. Enjoy! Karock    |
|
|
|
Post by helens on Apr 6, 2012 12:22:04 GMT -5
Will be interesting to see your progress. It looks great so far, nice bezel:).
|
|
|
|
Post by talkingstones on Apr 7, 2012 6:36:24 GMT -5
Nice color on the wood and your shaping looks great! Keep posting on it!
|
|
|
|
Post by frane on Apr 29, 2012 6:59:26 GMT -5
Looking good so far! keep up the great work!
Fran
|
|
|
|
Post by connrock on Apr 30, 2012 6:56:26 GMT -5
Looks very good so far!
I'm curious to know why you used a dop and wax to remove the cab from the setting,,,,,if in fact that's what you did?
If so,,,you may want to try laying a piece of dental floss under the cab which helps to lift the cab out of the setting?
connrock
|
|
karock
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2007
Posts: 667
|
Post by karock on Apr 30, 2012 16:24:17 GMT -5
Good question. When I put it into the setting it was quite tight and doping seemed an efficient way to remove it. It also helped with holding the piece when sanding the sides and back. The dental floss idea seems like a good idea too so I will keep some in my tool box from now on. About two more weeks and this set will be finished.
karock
|
|
ulstergeki
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2012
Posts: 111
|
Post by ulstergeki on Apr 30, 2012 16:31:53 GMT -5
Im glad to see non-wire wrap silver project, nice
|
|
|
|
Post by connrock on May 1, 2012 6:54:18 GMT -5
Another tip,,,if I may,,,,
First let me say that I'm self taught and have never taken any silversmith classes so you may want to take what I say with a grain of salt,,,,
One of the tings I found difficult to determine as a newbie was to figure out how much solder I really needed for any given joint.
The bezel cup seemed pretty big to me so I loaded up on the solder.
I ended up with way too much solder and the cab wouldn't "seat" in the setting.
The area on the inside between the bezel wire and the back plate is very difficult to sand,grind,file,scrape,etc,etc and I was pretty upset with myself for using too much solder.
It finally dawned on me one day that it is MUCH easier to grind the bottom edge of the cab a tad then it is to get out excess solder.
No one will ever see it and the cab fits much better with ease.
I use either a 220 diamond wheel or a 600 Nova wheel to slightly make a bevel on that bottom edge.
There are many avenues of approach on how to solder a bezel cup and I think it's important to do it which ever way an individual is comfortable with,,,,
This way of doing it is my "comfort zone".
connrock
|
|
karock
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2007
Posts: 667
|
Post by karock on May 1, 2012 20:06:30 GMT -5
Hey Conrock thanks for the tip. I am with you on the over-soldering. After getting several projects with silver and bezel underway I can see why so many do the wire wrapping because it takes so much less time and looks good.
Karock
|
|
|
|
Post by connrock on May 2, 2012 8:17:58 GMT -5
I'm fair to midland with soldering but wire wrapping is NOT one of my better talents!
I ruined enough silver,copper and gold filled wire to fill a bucket,,,a few times!
Its' one of those things I can't master and is better left to those who can and have!
connrock
|
|
WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
|
Post by WarrenA on May 3, 2012 22:54:06 GMT -5
I am also a beginner with soldering and with help from the great connrock I am working with silver not wire. this arthritis business in the knuckles doesn't make wire wrapping any fun at all. Keep posting your progress, I would like to see the bail you have chosen.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pat on May 5, 2012 18:35:04 GMT -5
We also use the dental floss trick. Sometimes we use two pieces NS and EW. Other options: drill a hole or two in the back, so you can poke the item out if need be. Frequently we polish the back, then cut out a design in the back. If the back is especially pretty, we use a stepped bezel, so you can see it all.
One more hint (if you like): if you bezel is too high on the backplate, cut out a piece of plastic a little smaller than the bezel cup you have made. Place your cab on that. It makes it a little bit higher and the plastic does not swell or disintegrate. We use lids from ice cream tubs, and we like ice cream : )
Your pendant and earring set is going to be beautiful!
|
|
dbrealityrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2010
Posts: 1,084
|
Post by dbrealityrocks on May 7, 2012 16:25:25 GMT -5
looking good!!! I'm also almost self taught (I was shown how to solder) and I never thought about putting the stone in before the fabrication was finished and polished. The few I've made the wrong size just gets another stone cabbed to fit. The idea of grinding the bottom edge is a good one. I started with opals and I was already doing that before I learned to set them because a sharp edge on opals is a recipe for a chipped one. Will be fun to watch your progress.
|
|
karock
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2007
Posts: 667
|
Post by karock on May 13, 2012 23:34:49 GMT -5
Well here is an update. The Jewelry class ended and it was a bit rushed trying to finish all of the projects. Working with silver is definitely a challenge. Everything has to be sequence with the different grits and all. I made the bale for the pendant by cutting a preform on 18 gauge ss sheet. I rolled it thinner and then looped it over with round nose pliers and soldered it down on the back. The bezel has not be completely set on the pendant but is nicely shaped. I flattened some 18 gauge SS wire for the earring connecters and soldered them onto the back but need to shorten them for appearance. The earrings still need to be polished and for small work the doping helps be to control them on the buffer. The next time the art center has an open shop day I will go back and finish the set then do a final post. Thanks again for the clever tips. Karock  |
|
|
|
Post by connrock on May 15, 2012 6:50:43 GMT -5
It looks like you've learned well and are on your way to creating some very nice pieces!
Something I would like to suggest.
As in any endeavor,there are MANY ways of doing any given part or all of a project.
There is a lot of info on the web that will help and always keep in mind that what works for one doesn't always work for everyone.
A real jeweler and or silversmith would probably cringe if they saw how I set-up and solder a bezel but it's what works for me and the end product isn't all that bad.
Don't live thinking the world is flat!There is ALWAYS another way of doing something right over the horizon!
Good luck and keep us posted!
connrock
|
|
|
|
Post by stonesthatrock on May 15, 2012 8:29:35 GMT -5
wow kenny, that looks pretty cool...... you will have to bring it over so i can get a better look.
mary ann
|
|
dudfirst
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2012
Posts: 1
|
Post by dudfirst on Jun 12, 2012 17:54:39 GMT -5
Those look really cool! I'd make some for my girlfriend if I could. xD
|
|
|
|
Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Jun 13, 2012 1:18:01 GMT -5
A Good outcome looks realy good
jack
Yorkshire uk
|
|
|
|
Post by apolishedearth on Jun 13, 2012 15:48:00 GMT -5
Those look very nice! I too am trying to learn to make bezel settings but I am not doing as well.
They look great and will be beautiful when your finished.
|
|
