Jewelry Making Thread

[#1]

Jewelry Making Thread

[Former_Member]

@ Shannon and Tommy

I live in Portland and went to the school years and years ago..it's wonderful and if any of you budding silver- gold-smiths would gain a great deal of info there....

I sold all my shop stuff 15 years ago..when the market started dropping and my sales started falling.and the big buyer I had closed their shop-well I just couldn't afford to buy product to make anything. I still had my 'real' job + family to support-it sucks but I did have fun for 10 or so years. I love working with casting, even sand casting was fun!

So before you invest a lot in equipment, here are a couple of things I did.

.... see if you can barter shop time in a local repair shop.

..find out if someone will rent you kiln time before you buy one. They can be very expensive out front and running them becomes cost prohibitive. All that power needs to be figured into your product cost.

...a friendly local silversmith can be your best resource for used equipment too-they are always in the loop of who is going out of business.

My 'real' job was that of a business telephone installer. It was so depressing to see people rent space for all kinds of businesses, be so excited about what they were doing. They would paint and decorate and buy expensive counters et etc (before the computer and internet sales and cell phones). And then, a few months later I would have to go disconnect their phone for non-pay...and they would be going out of business. It can be so tough!

I personally got to the point where I had to decide if I was going to melt things that had not sold down and try for a more modern design or just bite the bullet and put everything away for a while, sell the equipment and look for a less costly up front way to create.

Now, at 70, I'm back to what I was doing in 1960! Wire wrap. Crazy isn't it

Be well

New Etsy shop owner and new team member Elle @ Turquoise Tchotchkes

[Former_Member]

I have just a handful of Spencer Opal triplets left. I have never worked any other kind. Bob Stoubaugh from our rock club, he was 96 when he helped me do my first triplets. He's been featured on Idaho Gems PBS Master's series.

He's been gone now a few years but leaves behind some of the most beautiful specimens of finished Spencer and Bruneau Jasper at our Herritt's museum. I'll try to find the links or at least the PBS showings.....he was such a good man.

[Former_Member]

Hi Mickey,

Now there is something you dont hear much about anymore Spencer Opal

[Untwistedsister]

I was fortunate to take a cabbing class from a master cabber that has won national awards, Lowell Swain. He's in his 90's and still cabbing beautiful stones and sharing his knowledge with others.

[Former_Member]

Hi Terri, that sounds like a real honor to take classes under him.

[Untwistedsister]

He's just the absolute sweetest man and I learned alot. He also believes in taking classes from more than one instructor.

[Untwistedsister]

Okay- I finished my larimar ring today. Why does it take so much strength to press that bezel down on the stone - geesh!! I still have one area I can't hardly get down. I would like to tumble polish the ring. Will the larimar be ok? I think I will keep this one. I just don't think my work is good enough yet to sell.... but it will be eventually....

Here's my flickr page with the photos. The third photo is before I set the stone. http://www.flickr.com/photos/93408714@N04/

[Former_Member]

I don't know Terri on if its ok to tumble it. I guess if it messes it up you could refinish the stone in the ring? not sure.

The ring looks fine to sell. :-) jeez lol. nice work!

I never could figure out why they don't make a larger bezel setting tool that you could use Leverage with. :-) being a guy , its even hard for me to set at times.

[Untwistedsister]

Nice to know it's not just me with those bezels. I saw on a rio video that there's a little hammer tool for the foredom that they use. Might have to look into that one.

I've heard of putting tape over the stone in the tumbler so maybe I'll try that too. That larimar was a biscuit to polish - it wants to flake off. I'd hate to even attempt it again in the setting.

[Former_Member]

I have one of those hammer attachments for my fordom.. If i needed a doorstop it might finally have a rea use. Lol. seriously not such a good investment. does anyone else here use one of these?

[GenesisGems]

I know people that seem to like them Jerry.
Myself, I would be afraid of chipping the stone.

Nice ring Terri! I hate cutting Larimar. PITA!

Looky what I found at that show today!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93413456@N07/8522613610/in/photostream

[Former_Member]

Maybe i just never got the feel of it. thanks for adding that Paul. If i can find it I may be willing to part with it... :-)

[Former_Member]

Nice Chrysocolla ! that is a great find. please if you cut it any , let us see it?

[GenesisGems]

Bought it from a mineral dealer, not mentioning that I was going to cut it!

This piece is loaded with gemmy material!

Can hardy wait to start cutting it, after I figure out the best way to do that!

Mineral dealers hate me! :-0

[Untwistedsister]

That Chryscolla looks very crystally (is that a word?). What do you do with it from that point? do you slab it? facet it? or just leave it as the beautiful mineral specimen it is? Find anything else? We wanna see it all.

[Untwistedsister]

ahhhhhh so you ARE going to cut it.

[Former_Member]

it needs a little work.. lol. eh Paul?

[GenesisGems]

TerrifromUntwistedsister says

or just leave it as the beautiful mineral specimen it is?
_________________________________________________________

NOT!

It has a large open space in the middle. The top is totally translucent material about 4 mm thick. I'm going to try and remove that in as big a piece as I can. That is the first step. Next step will be determined when I can see what it looks like inside.

I also found a nice piece of uvarovite garnet drusy that I want to make earrings with. I will probably use some green Tsavorite accent stones with it.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/93413456@N07/8522610312/in/photostream

[GenesisGems]

Jerry,

What do you think of a gem silica carving, and have you ever seen one?

[Former_Member]

that garnet is hot... i bet rare? Green garnet and Crysocolla, you have good taste in stones. :-)

i don't buy much anymore but ..
My website is starting to sell stones. sold 3 today.

[GenesisGems]

Thanks!

I only buy what I think I can make a profit on. I don't buy as much as I used to, I buy better!

[GenesisGems]

I got a hit from our website a few days ago, how is that project coming?

[Former_Member]

Hi Paul, I've seen a few Carved. Expensive as you need everything right. That piece looks very stable. I don't think you can do anything wrong with it. just my opinion.

I guess at least a few ways to go, cut and free the bubbly area... (very nice)
Cut a stone out of that area... could be museum quality?
carve it or a combo? and whats left to do other things?

the website is doing ok, slowly growing daily. i have about 5 to add now.

[Former_Member]

gotta run to the store, be back later :-)

[Untwistedsister]

What's the story with those killer marra mamba slabs? Drool, drool