Take Heart, the February Chat Is Here.

[#1]

New month. Carry on....

[heartsabustin]

I get them on my cell phone occasionally. We kept getting calls from the Gallup Poll people on our house phone - our number is unlisted, and they made the mistake of calling one night while we were eating. I was already ill about something, and I let the poor guy on the other end of the phone just HAVE it.

It got VERY quiet around the table for a couple of minutes, and then hubs just busted a gut laughing. : D

[heartsabustin]

Two new pieces of jewelry made today. I'll call that an accomplishment.

Boys have a half day, so I'm off to pick them up.

[ChrissiLynnDesigns]

Pouring down rain here. At least it's in the 40s. Still glad we're getting rain.

[DistinctivelyDharlee]

49 here. Got up to 84 yesterday. It set a record. 100 years ago I think it was 83. I actually turned the AC on for about 5 minutes lol. Heat's back on today. Crazy!

[SilverCedarJewelry]

I have a question for CG or anyone else who has experience with bracelets that hinge on one side. Here is the work in progress: https://www.instagram.com/p/BfjNRXRnjBE/?taken-by=silvercedar Why do I hardly ever see bracelets that hinge on the side? It seems like a good system. The only ones i have seen are those old hollow domed ones with the fancy clasp. Would my bracelet work with a hinge on one side and a wide hook on the side that clasps? Would the hook need to be hinged? Thanks for any insight into this.

[heartsabustin]

That's a neat piece, Irene. Unfortunately, not my forte.

I actually had someone ask me to do that, but I think she wanted a clamper style with the spring in it. Way outside my skill set - I wouldn't even know where to start.

[SilverBlueberry]

I was wondering how you would proceed with that Irene. Looking forward to seeing what CG says.

Kat, that’s horrible! :(

Hedda is much better today.

I bumped my lower arm really hard into a door handle and some things like grabbing a cup or a milk carton now hurt. Oh well, I suppose it’ll pass. Sleep time now.

[cgwhitfield]

Just back from town, ugly snowy weather.

Irene, I have seen wide cuffs hinged at the sides, I think most often with a slide in/slide out long pin on one side attached with a lightweight chain. They seem to function fine but it is a lot of work.

Having a hook on a wide hinged cuff might be irritating if it can rattle around a bit. I've never seen one that didn't close firmly somehow.

But....there are no rules.

[cgwhitfield]

Probably a lot of possible solutions for a clasp. Can't think of a simple to make one though.

[PPennee]

Irene, I just sent you a photo of the 10 x 3 mm side hinged bangle we do in class in DC. As you can see it is a lot of fine detail filing and mitering but there is no pin- it clicks in place and stays put. I wish you were on FB, I tried to tag you and post a link but I can't find you there
I'll see if he posted any more angles on IG and tag you

[SilverCedarJewelry]

Pennee I got the photo thanks. I can't quite visualize how it works. I am on FB under my own name. Do I have to join some group to see more photos? Or friend you?

[PPennee]

CG if you happen to get on Instagram, look at the photos on jewelryclassdc the hinged bangle we did in class I sent Irene is on there. It's a beast, but I know once you see it you can explain it far better than I do- nothing dangles, it all just fits together and snaps closed- you have to use good pressure to open it

[SilverCedarJewelry]

To open it do you press from underneath?

[SilverCedarJewelry]

I was imagining a simple rigid hook that faces upwards and fits into a slot. Would that not be secure/openable/closable?

[cgwhitfield]

I'm seeing 500 posts on jewelryclassdc, no idea where to look.

[SilverCedarJewelry]

CG this one:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXx7yfJFvbF/?taken-by=jewelryclassdc

[cgwhitfield]

Thanks. So the right side in the pic gets squeezed under the left side.

Your wide cast piece may not have the needed consistent 'spring back' for that to work. Hard to tell from here.

[SilverCedarJewelry]

I think you are right about the lack of consistent spring back.

[PPennee]

just pull on the sides Irene

[cgwhitfield]

I can't think of a simple solution. Short of a design addition, say like a pair of 'rails' of say 2mm x 6mm either inside or along the outside.

Doesn't mean there isn't a simple solution. Nothing is springing to mind...possibly blocked out because it would be a lot of fussing.

[SilverCedarJewelry]

What are the problems with a rigid hook and a slot?

[cgwhitfield]

I'd say nothing inherently wrong, but Pennee's example depends on the 'spring back' to hold the hook in place. Without that, and bracelets banging around a bit, it might inadvertently come undone. Maybe with some sort of safety catch?

Really hard to judge without it being in hand.

[Untwistedsister]

Very interesting discussion. I know some in my last Silversmith class with Nancy English did a hinged bracelet but I didn't do one so I can't recall exactly how it was done.

Hubs is much stronger today. Climbed from his wheelchair into bed by himself although he didn't do it correctly. The poor nurses - dealing with a patient that isn't thinking totally clearly but anxious to do things by himself. I'm just so afraid he will undo some of the good that the surgery did. And He is in MUCH less pain and can do movements he couldn't do for several months before the surgery. Progress. and I am getting NOTHING done.

[heartsabustin]

Terri, take it easy. You're not going to be able to as much. When FIL was in the hospital for five weeks, I thought I was never going to get caught up. You will get it all done.

[SilverCedarJewelry]

Terri I am so relieved to hear that there is progress with your husband.

I may go with CG's original suggestion of putting a removable pin in the hinged side of the bracelet that opens.