steelandstone
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2008
Posts: 500
|
Post by steelandstone on Jan 26, 2014 16:47:31 GMT -5
Well it has been almost 6 months since I picked up a torch and for some reason yesterday I just had an itch to make something. So I went through my spare parts, and drops bin and came up with this.  It is two 5mm Pink Spinels and a 3mm Chrome Diopside all set in sterling. It was quite a hard one to get a good pick of. |
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2012
Posts: 35,999
|
Post by jamesp on Jan 26, 2014 17:00:54 GMT -5
Very nice. I like your styles. thanks for showing
|
|
|
|
Post by 1dave on Jan 26, 2014 23:05:25 GMT -5
In my book, just about anything individual shines above "professional" stuff stamped out by the billions.
Well done!
|
|
|
|
Post by connrock on Jan 27, 2014 7:14:15 GMT -5
Very nice piece!An umbrella for a rainy day?
Do you make your tube settings?
Some years ago I made 6 tube settings,,, 2-6mm and 4-4mm just to prove to myself that I could do it!LOL NEVER again!
It was part of the learning process and what I learned,,, was to buy them!LOL
connrock
|
|
Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
|
Post by Tom on Jan 27, 2014 12:26:39 GMT -5
That is a very nice pendant!
|
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Jan 27, 2014 14:10:26 GMT -5
Very pretty! Love the design and your choice of stones- those spinels are gorgeous.  |
|
steelandstone
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2008
Posts: 500
|
Post by steelandstone on Jan 27, 2014 15:30:57 GMT -5
Very nice piece!An umbrella for a rainy day? Do you make your tube settings? Some years ago I made 6 tube settings,,, 2-6mm and 4-4mm just to prove to myself that I could do it!LOL NEVER again! It was part of the learning process and what I learned,,, was to buy them!LOL connrock Yes I do make my own tube settings. I try to make as many of the findings as I can. Prong settings are next on my list but they will take some practice (As the first few attempts....Not so good) . In the beginning I did buy pre made tube settings but they are not cheap, especially when silver was sky high, I also like to make my own so I can vary the height depending on the situation. |
|
|
|
Post by wireholic on Jan 27, 2014 15:34:46 GMT -5
Cool design & those Pink Spinels are gorgeous!
|
|
steelandstone
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2008
Posts: 500
|
Post by steelandstone on Jan 27, 2014 15:43:35 GMT -5
Very pretty! Love the design and your choice of stones- those spinels are gorgeous. Thank you, The spinels are great because they much more affordable than Sapphires or Tourmaline and still have nice color. I would love to use some other stones in my pendants but it is not in the budget right now. |
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Jan 28, 2014 10:52:59 GMT -5
The spinels are great because they much more affordable than Sapphires or Tourmaline and still have nice color. I would love to use some other stones in my pendants but it is not in the budget right now. I love spinels! I especially love the ruby red ones. Although not inexpensive, they are still a great alternative to ruby - and redder. Nothing is quite as twinkly as a spinel... well except for diamond, I guess. |
|
|
|
Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Jan 28, 2014 11:41:49 GMT -5
I really do like your scrap pendant!!!!! You did an excellent job of putting together a really nice pendant using what you had. I love to do stuff like that, with jewelry & in the kitchen.
|
|
|
|
Post by pghram on Jan 28, 2014 15:22:49 GMT -5
Beautiful pendant, very creative. That's a neat way to make the bail.
Rich
|
|
Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
|
Post by Tom on Jan 28, 2014 17:36:26 GMT -5
Ok Question? is that whats called a "cup" setting, or a "tube" setting? Would you mind telling us (me) how you go about setting the stones. Did you make the little bezels the normal way, or use tubing or buy them. its a great pendant and a really nice design, I really like the spiral wire was that done by hand too.
Ok lots of questions and thanks for sharing
Tom
|
|
steelandstone
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2008
Posts: 500
|
Post by steelandstone on Jan 28, 2014 19:04:45 GMT -5
I really do like your scrap pendant!!!!! You did an excellent job of putting together a really nice pendant using what you had. I love to do stuff like that, with jewelry & in the kitchen. Thanks, I should have called it my "Pot Luck" Pendant. |
|
steelandstone
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2008
Posts: 500
|
Post by steelandstone on Jan 28, 2014 19:24:47 GMT -5
Ok Question? is that whats called a "cup" setting, or a "tube" setting? Would you mind telling us (me) how you go about setting the stones. Did you make the little bezels the normal way, or use tubing or buy them. its a great pendant and a really nice design, I really like the spiral wire was that done by hand too. Ok lots of questions and thanks for sharing Tom Tom, Those are all Tube Settings. You can buy pre made Tubes but I buy the Thick wall tubing and make my own. You cut the tube to your desired length making sure the ends are nice and square, next you have to use a setting burr to cut the seat for the gemstone to fit in making sure you get the right depth. Finally you use a concaved stone setting punch to close the top of the tube over the very edges of the stone. If you click on this Link Tube settingAnd then click on the More Info tab directly below the picture of the tube setting it will explain the entire process in a little more detail with pictures. Most faceted gemstones are either Tube set or Prong Set, those are the two most common settings. Larger ones can be Bezel set, or even Tension set and there is numerous other types. "Cup" usual refers to Bezel cups like these  The Spiral wire was all bent by hand with various pliers. Any other questions please feel free. Phil |
|
Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
|
Post by Tom on Jan 28, 2014 21:11:44 GMT -5
Thanks Phil
Great information thank you. I needed an excuse to buy the burrs:). Thanks a lot I may have to buy some stones to play with. More tools and less money, woot!
|
|
steelandstone
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2008
Posts: 500
|
Post by steelandstone on Jan 28, 2014 21:16:30 GMT -5
Thanks Phil Great information thank you. I needed an excuse to buy the burrs:). Thanks a lot I may have to buy some stones to play with. More tools and less money, woot! You sound just like me, any excuse to buy a tool. |
|
Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
|
Post by Tom on Jan 29, 2014 10:20:26 GMT -5
Hi Phil, yes its almost as much fun to collect the tools as use them:) What setting burrs would you recommend from this Rio page? www.riogrande.com/Search/setting-burr-setWhat set of setting tools would you recommend: www.riogrande.com/Search/stone-setting-systemI likely won't do enough of this to justify spending tons of money so hoping for the less expensive sets, yet I am well aware that if I buy junk I just won't be happy. I still remember that Russian Lada I bought (really didn't) I am not dedicated to Rio by any means. Watched a couple video's on this method and it looks like fun. any info is great, otherwise I will wing it, works most of the time LOL Thanks again, and if anyone else has something to say go for it! |
|
|
|
Post by connrock on Jan 29, 2014 10:26:34 GMT -5
Funny story,,,,,, When I made the 4mm and 6mm tube settings I knew nothing about them and couldn't fund any info on the web.I sat for a long time thinking if I really wanted to do this but God hates a coward so off I went! I checked the size of all the 6 stones with a caliper and choose a drill that was slightly bigger then the stones.I wrapped bezel wire around the 2 different size drills and soldered the joints of the bezel wires.I took what I thought was the appropriate size square wire,made small rings to fit inside of the "bezel tubes" and soldered them inside and flush with the top edges,,,,are we havin fun yet? LOL If all of the above wasn't difficult enough for me to do I now had to make seats for the stones into that square wire,,,,setting burrs,,,,never heard of them and wouldn't know one if it was sitting in front of me! I took(I think) a 5/32" and 15/64" drills and ground the cutting edges as close as possible to match the angles of the stones. When I drilled into the first setting I well knew that the square wire was not "deep" enough so it was back to the drawing board again! I made 2 sets of the square wire for each setting and soldered the 2 pieces of square wire together to get the depth I needed for the stones.I also used a taller bezel wire to give me a little more room for error. After getting the square wire soldered into the tubes I had to solder the tubes themselves onto pieces of silver so I had something to hold the tubes for drilling,,,,I learned this while trying to drill the original tubes! LOL I snipped away some of the silver holding the tubes and carefully sanded the rest off with small 3/4" fine sanding disks in my Foredom.I should add that I have the Foredom drill press. I had to "play" with the angles inside the settings for a LONG time till I got then as close as possible to match the stones.I epoxied the settings into the guard of the knife I was making and then set the stones using a curved burnishing tool. A long time after I did this I found that I could have bough tube settings and that there is such a thing as setting burrs! LOL I never even gave it a thought to use heavy walled tubing either! LOL They didn't come out as good as a jeweler could do but I did do it!  Like I said in a previous post about me making tube settings,,,NEVER AGAIN! LOL connrock |
|
Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
|
Post by Tom on Jan 29, 2014 13:19:20 GMT -5
looks pretty damb fine Tom, sounds like alot of work and effort but you did it! I knew about the thick tubing and burrs and stone sets I just thought I would never try it. But Phil has got me on a roll, so much stuff to do and learn, so little time left to do it. My kid knows that mom and dad are spending what money we have and she will like have to pay to bury us LOL, well ok not that bad but as she has more than us, well:) My son in law already knows all the rock he has to carry out of the basement!
Take care
|
|
X - Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's rocks
- O Henry
