September Chat thread

[#1]

Welcome metalsmiths ( or should I say "metalworkers"?)
If your name isn't on the list, head over to the Introduce Yourself thread and follow the instructions there please :-)

AbellaBlue = Jessica
AlegraJewelry = Vicki
AlexSharDesigns = Gaynor
AlisonMooreDesigns = Ally
anidem = Jesse
artdi = Diana
AZBluerockers = Mary Lou
bagsnstuff = Dianna
BeatrizFortes = Beatriz
BellaBijouJewellery = Jaime
BellaBijouToo = Jaime
bddesigns= Christen
bijoutery = Jen, Jennifer, or bijoutery
Brokentreasures= Amanda
Brontotheroocity= James L.
cabbingrough = LauraH
CGWhitfield = CG, or Cliff
CharOuellette = Char
Chrissilynn2=Chrissi
Chrissicabs=Chrissi
corybethy = Cory
DaisiemaiCreations = Janea
DaVineJewelry = Danielle
DiemDesignsJewelry = Sarah Jo (CarpeDiemGems)
DominicanLounge= Alpha
Doxallodesigns = Janice
Doxallostudio = Janice
Duffy Designs= Duffy
Eklektisch = Cole
Elementaldesigns= Denise
EmilyWiserJewelry = Emily
Epiphany of a Dragonfly = Wanda
evelynjewelry = Evelyn
evittscreekarts= Lois
ericafreestone = Erica
EyemaginationRSB = Robin
FiliGraceJewelry = Grace
fix8ion = Tammy
FoldAndSpindle = Mike
FoxyGirlBoutique = Melissa
GirlLovesGlitter = Lilian
HappyTortoiseSupply = Jason
Hartleystudio = Ann
HRBeaDesign = Heather
InbarBareket = Inbar
JackStones = Jack
JaneaPauline = Janea
JazznJewelry = Kathy
JelliesJewelry = Jack
JenniferCasady = Jen or Jennifer
Jewelrytutorials = Janice
JonesingforJewelry = Carin
KarlaWheelerDesign = Karla
karmahjean = Karen
kiliari = Raina
KimberlyBellDesigns = Kim
KimVGlass = Kim V
KitandCaboodleShop = Gayle
KriksSilver = Kristie
lamazonian = Vema
LauraRoberson= Laura
LeahBestDesigns=Leah
Lilnut = Caroline
litapsilverj = Lita
Lovebuttonsca = Laura
lsueszabo = Sue
Luxedesignworkshop = Peg
MarcusBerknerJewelry = Marcus
Markaplan = Mark
mattjohnsondesigns =Matt
Maythenwolfbane= Nicole
Metalluxe = Peg
MieleMelograno = Liz
MissToryDesigns = Lina
novadesigns = Tess
novaofsweden = Tess
NRjewellerydesign = Nikki
OrmanaDesign = Katya
OverThinkingIt = Bree
Ppennee = Pennee
PureDichotomy = Wendy
RadianTrace = Ronnie
Ranchiquita = Becki
rockaholic=Peggy
sbevisdesigns = sue
ScrapMetal = Addie
ShireJewelry = Lisa
SilverBlueberry = Esmeralda
SilverLinesJewelry = Jenny
SilverMade Studio = Teresa
silvermaven= Carol and Jackie
StoneBeautiful = Jenn
StoneTemple = Mark
SToNZ = Susan
SugarCity = Grace
thebutterflygirl = Veronika
TheSpeeceCollection = Pat
ThirteenGems=Melissa
tinkertown = Sue (tinkerSue)
Treasuregypsy = Darcy
TreeFrogJewelry = Sheryl
TwoSilverMoons = Birgit
UntwistedSister=Terri
valerietyler = Valerie
verysmallbird = Heather
VillainAccessories = Brandi
VisionQuest = kim or VQ
WednesdaysDesign= Kristina (Wednesday)
wpcardenas= Wanda
2trickpony = Rachel
3sweetpeasjewelry = Gina

[cgwhitfield]

Don't get a burn from the plastic....

And good night.

[2TrickPony]

She renewed something yellow today.

anyone who wants to go look at my new banner, am taking opinions.

[2TrickPony]

Jaime, I know her renew finger is ok.

[Former_Member]

love the locket!!!
rio must be busy today, no confirmation my order shipped today...
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MarcusBerknerJewelry says

One 'good' side effect about a higher base price for silver, here in the states, the fab cost on grain has diminished so much that it does not matter so much (if charging) to spread orders out.

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i can't figure out what this statement means.help! please.. i have my casting equipment but haven't purchased ss grain yet...i'm also having some difficulty processing how i would figure out the cost of each ss charm, including investment, mold, time, etc... such a newbie on this...

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ordered this punch today for earring cards, working on some ideas for earring/necklace set cards/diplay
http://www.etsy.com/listing/61067166/easy-earring-cards-create-your-own-brand?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_se...
marcus, loving the archee/frog stories. sadly my new cat attacked/scratched leg of dh this a.m. in kitchen when dh got the wet food out to dish up for him (we knew he didn't like males when i rescued him. he isn't behaving this way w/ DS2) . i'm thinking alibaba wanted to be the alpha male and drive dh away from food. will possibly put ali on leash tomorrow a.m. for feeding.... very soon i will have to fork over $210 for 2 cat behaviorist phone consults, i've got no prior experienxce with F2 generation Savannah hybrid... things were going so well in their relationship yesterday. he's getting along better w/ whippet since she attacked him Mon due to hard nose scratch.

got the skil 9" band saw from Lowes, 3/8th inch 18TPI saw blade, only 18tpi they had in stock....bosch brand

[2TrickPony]

have fun at the gem show!!!!

[Former_Member]

rachel, my grgrandma's name... sorry i dont know what prior banner looked like

[cgwhitfield]

Rachel, are parts of etsy loading slowly for everyone or just me? Your shop took about two minutes, got bored waiting, checked my shop, it loaded instantly. Back to yours and the banner finally arrived.

Can't recall exactly your previous banner, was 'the sun' mentioned there too. I'm guessing when I say I think I prefer the previous one. Nothing to base that on though.

[2TrickPony]

ha, good excuse!


I had to go pull it up and look at the old one myself, as soon as something changes, I immediately forget.

[2TrickPony]

I got more of the horse and rider in, and he used to be in the middle.
plus I was having problems with the old font, people would read it and say,
"2 rick pony?" and look at me funny.

it had to go.

[Former_Member]

rio ordered did ship today. i'm having xmas arrive next week.. shhhhhhh tee hee. was so fun to look at my new jewelry idea books on bday yesterday, i'm spoiling myself. was it cg posted the quote about negative situations to appreciate bliss? anyhooooo, after 2 yrs of worst years of my life, i'm now experiencing HAPPY, and it feels wonderful...which i'd have misssed if i'd pulled the plug in dec '09...

[cgwhitfield]

Jeanne, the 3/8" blade should do straight cuts better (could be counterintuitive reason it might not be much better, complex to explain) but it will be limiting for any curves.

Do you know the saw blade length? Vermont American very likely has a 1/8" blade to fit.

[cgwhitfield]

Jeanne, don't think it was me but it sure could have been.

[Former_Member]

cg, i'm thinking it is 59.5, saw comes w/ 3tpi i think so i bought the only 18tpi pack they had in stock until i could look online...
so i saw the diagram of how to cut the straight lines into the curve of the circle... is that how i do it or can the 1/8th blade cut the actual curve. must explore if there are youtube band saw videos... mom will be here several days next week, i might not have brain power to learn new power tool... omgosh, cat poo smell attack. it is the worst, not to get us started on fart talk again

[Former_Member]

anyone see etsy team "church of pie" 17 members...

[cgwhitfield]

Jeanne, with no experience, I'd be very detailed when following the instructions for setting it up. And then please start your first cuts on some thin wood, 1/2" or less. It's more forgiving on the blade if you're off line.

Mine is a 59.5" blade so they are available.

Hard to explain, but while it's easy, it can be less easy if basic methods aren't followed. Any book explaining woodcutting with a bandsaw will be applicable. Ideally, if you know someone with more than an hour of epxerience, and watched them while it was being explained, ten minutes would be enough.

There are a few things I could explain that will help a lot, lengthy in words, simple in concept.

So, easy enough but not a gimme.

[Former_Member]

Jaime posted in this thread about an hour ago...

http://www.etsy.com/teams/7718/site-help/discuss/9054982/

[Former_Member]

cg, glad you mentioned the book again, i will look for one, we do have a rockler? wood store about 5 miles away, maybe they demo. wonder if my handyman uses one... i need him to come back and do some stuff, he could show me. i agree a 3d demo sure speeds up the learning curve...hmm maybe neighbor across the street knows...
i'm trying to design wooden display for earring/necklace cards, possibly construct out of 1/4" plywood, so i could practice w/ the 3TPI blade it came with right?

[cgwhitfield]

Yes.

I'm so tempted to start to explain some stuff but a book would help so much more.

Anyway, the workpiece should be held gently but firmly. The blade can't be forced into a curve sharper than the depth of the blade (yours 3/8" now) will allow. The kerf - the part being removed - is wider than the body of the blade. Visualize the blade cutting a curve. The outside set of teeth will be touching uncut metal first, and the heel - back of the blade might touch the outside of the curved kerf - that's the sharpest radius that blade will cut. If forced into a sharper turn the middle of the blade will touch the inside of the kerf, and if the heel and middle are touching with pressure it will lever the teeth side towards the outside of the curve. It will go straighter than if it's not forced sharper than it wants to cut.

And that could be demonstrated in about ten seconds. A good video will definitely help.

[cgwhitfield]

So Jaime better have a note...

[Former_Member]

>>> i can't figure out what this statement means.help! please.. i have my casting equipment but haven't purchased ss grain yet...i'm also having some difficulty processing how i would figure out the cost of each ss charm, including investment, mold, time, etc... such a newbie on this...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The most expensive thing to aquire, after equipment, will be time and experience. I would focus on these first, and let 'pricing' come naturally later.

The fabrication costs tacked onto silver, when silver was $5.00 an ounce made up a large portion of the cost, up to 50% at times. When silver is $40.00 an ounce, it is really not that big of a deal if the fabrication cost per ounce is $4 or $6, as both are nearly insignificant to overall cost per ounce. (So I can place smaller orders, with higher fabrication costs and still compete.)

[Former_Member]

thanks marcus, makes sense...do you only cast sterling? or do you or have you used bronze? or white bronze. i'd like a low price pt... for some sea influenced items but living in CA i run into the 'lead law'
Rio bronze casting grain caveat says buyer responsible for lead testing. i'd hate to have to throw the dang stuff away if above Ca limits...not to mention the fact i'd not like to breathe lead fumes. technically each new purchase would have to be tested. i'd also like to do some big bronze sea items for home decor: drapery tiebacks, wall hooks.... course i have a poor track record for actually implementing my plans. a gal can dream, i think i live in a virtual reality world, create in my mind all the time, seems like i've already done the work, similar to CG's comment this week. that one i know he said re: sandwich

[Former_Member]

i might need to take the approach of making different "lines" in different months, 1 month my ocean/sea, another month my woods/floral, and so on hahaha
i have too many passions, need to throw some outat the life raft

[cgwhitfield]

Jeanne, I know exactly what you mean. The most fun I have is something I start with little or no thought. The things I have time to think about often end up being boring to complete since it's a fait accompli in my noggin before I pick up a tool.

It's led to a sort of zen like enjoyment of the tool manipulation itself since there's not much discovery going to happen.

[Former_Member]

Bronze casting, although done by many, is a bit 'dirty' and best suited to shops that could be described as foundries. Just opinion there.

By the time you have the time, materials etc invested, silver is still a pretty good deal, easy to work with and most accepted by most customers. (I would start looking at base metals seriously when silver is somewhere in the $60 to $100 an ounce range.) Again, all shops and business goals are different.

Cost of equipment can start going up fast when working with larger items. If you are working with base metals, you want an oven large enough to fit a sizable pour into to make back your time and costs. (People are willing to only spend so much for a basic cast bronze item.)

[cgwhitfield]

Off to bed, thinking that when a 3-D printer can use different materials and read brainwaves we'll all be out of work.