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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Oct 31, 2015 11:57:54 GMT -5
BUT, I did finally finish this one. That is to say I quit striving for perfection & concentrated on just finishing the ring. The rest will come later. Lots of mistakes, scratches I can't get out, nor do I want to try to get them for fear of grinding away too much silver. So I just tried to make it look like they are supposed to be there. Nope, you're not going to see them in the pictures. Not going to show them because I am still going to do some more work on the shank. I had soldered the setting on this one once before, got it crooked, set it to the side & took a long break. I did some wrapping, made some necklaces, played with some cacti & succulents & finally decided to try it again. Sooo I unsoldered the bezel from the shank & in the process discovered that not only do I need to re solder the bezel to the shank again I also need to re solder the shank too! Sooooo I took another long break & played with some more plants! Well, I finally made up my mind to heck with it, I'm just going to finish the ring, mistakes or not. This is what it looks like now & I might scratch up the band some more to make it look more on purposely scratched. Maybe!
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Post by radio on Oct 31, 2015 18:06:26 GMT -5
are you soldering the bezel on the backing from the outside? using wire solder? for a smooth join, leave the stone in the bezel and run the base of the bezel over a file a few times to make certain it is even all the way around. Flux the base, then set the bezel in position and place 3 to 4 small pallions of solder inside, but touching the bezel. the join will be virtually invisible and is a good preparation for when you start filing the base even with the bezel.
any idea how you are roughing up the bezel so much? is it happening when you hammer the base, or while forming the bezel to the stone? are you measuring the length for the bezel, or actually wrapping it around the stone?
Not being a PITA here, just trying to figure out how the boo boo's are happening so we can suggest better methods for a nicer finished product
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Nov 1, 2015 7:32:20 GMT -5
I think it looks beautiful. I like when stuff isn't "perfect." The tiny mistakes make it an original and it doesn't look like every other thing out there. I've been working on making unique pieces lately, a little different, a little odd. They get more comments than the traditionally made items. My only suggestion would be to add a bit of oxidation to the entire ring. One, because the stone is so light it needs contrast, two because the imperfections will be more highlighted and it will pop even more. I doubt I'm in the majority here, though.
I also use the "screw it up and put it aside for a week or two" method. Usually works great!
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Nov 1, 2015 8:26:03 GMT -5
Radio, you are NOT a PITA! Not even in the slightest sense of the word. The bezel I did as you suggested & it was fine, when I first did it. The problem was messing with it & the shank so much, so many times that I created scratches & dents with pliers & such. Scratches on the shank, with trying to get the ends to match, over & over again. Then when I finally soldered the two together, the bezel moved slightly & then it was crooked. So I had to repeat the process all over again, including getting the ends of the shank to match up again & re-soldering. I say, had to repeat the process because I guess some people would just throw it in the scrap pile & start over. I'm stubborn & won't do that so I tried it again. I am happy that the shank held together & that the bezel held together despite all the extra heat it was subjected to & that the bezel soldered to the shank even using med solder instead of soft, as was suggested earlier on by my instructor months ago. I forgot that part & realized it later on. I guess you could say it was all self inflicted due to lack of experience, frustration & stubbornness. I am get ready to do another one & believe I will do better this time. In the meantime I will still tweak this one some more to do as icatz suggested because I do think it needs more contrast. I will also pay closer attention to the things you said to see if I can make that work better for me. Thanks for your input & please feel free to continue as I always appreciate whatever suggestions you have to offer.
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flrocks
starting to shine!
Member since December 2013
Posts: 40
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Post by flrocks on Nov 1, 2015 20:36:29 GMT -5
Donnie, I like the reticulated base and the 'reticulated' stone, good pattern patch. Use some LoS to darken the base. Think about a roughed finish on the bezel with some light LoS. On the shank you could sneak into Mr. Treasure's tool box and find a small metal chisel; put the ring on your mandrel and lightly tap chisel on the existing dings so they will somewhat match the new dings. Then make make your own dings randomly around the shank. Also use LoS in the shank dings. Be cautious about using too much 'hammer' it will enlarge the ring. If the ring is slightly small then use the hammer as necessary.
Next time you make a ring with this type of shank think about using the sweat solder method. Use a third hand to keep the shank in place. With a wide band like this I would use a larger bushier flame so everything is heated together. I am assuming you are completing the shank with hard solder before you solder to the base.
Good design and good stone match I really like it.. When you finish it up put it on the web for $65.00 to $75.00.
Bennett (also in Florida, just farther north.)
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Post by radio on Nov 1, 2015 20:47:17 GMT -5
Radio, you are NOT a PITA! Not even in the slightest sense of the word. The bezel I did as you suggested & it was fine, when I first did it. The problem was messing with it & the shank so much, so many times that I created scratches & dents with pliers & such. Scratches on the shank, with trying to get the ends to match, over & over again. Then when I finally soldered the two together, the bezel moved slightly & then it was crooked. So I had to repeat the process all over again, including getting the ends of the shank to match up again & re-soldering. I say, had to repeat the process because I guess some people would just throw it in the scrap pile & start over. I'm stubborn & won't do that so I tried it again. I am happy that the shank held together & that the bezel held together despite all the extra heat it was subjected to & that the bezel soldered to the shank even using med solder instead of soft, as was suggested earlier on by my instructor months ago. I forgot that part & realized it later on. I guess you could say it was all self inflicted due to lack of experience, frustration & stubbornness. I am get ready to do another one & believe I will do better this time. In the meantime I will still tweak this one some more to do as icatz suggested because I do think it needs more contrast. I will also pay closer attention to the things you said to see if I can make that work better for me. Thanks for your input & please feel free to continue as I always appreciate whatever suggestions you have to offer. Glad you weren't offended by my critiquing. If you dont have one already, buy a kiln insulating fire brick like this>> www.esslinger.com/fire-brick-for-soldering/Lay the backing flat on the brick and solder the bezel on. hammer, trim and do as much as possible at this stage, then turn the bezel underneath and press lightly into the brick or use pins the hold it in place. Shape the shank on a ring mandrel, then secure the shank in a wooden ring clamp and file both ends somewhat flat, flux the base, position shank, place a pallion of solder at each end of the shank and solder Third hands are the worst enemy you can have, but for some reason, folks still tell newbies they need them.
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Nov 2, 2015 12:16:53 GMT -5
Bennett, thank you so much for your input. Yes, I did use hard solder. That is sort of what I had in mind to do. Radio, yes I do have a fire brick & that is exactly what I have learned to do lately. I think perhaps you are referring to soldering the individual ends of the shank to the bezel which is something I haven't tried yet. In this case I completed the shank, filed a flat spot a short distance away from the join & then turned the bezel upside down on the fire brick set the shank on the bezel, then soldered it on.
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iwannarock
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2015
Posts: 22
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Post by iwannarock on Nov 2, 2015 13:28:32 GMT -5
Hi just wondering what stone that is as I need to find something similar for a customers lost stone in a setting
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Nov 2, 2015 14:16:52 GMT -5
Hi, iwannarock! It's dinosaur bone.
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