A question about vacuum casting. Is it possible to have too much vacuum capacity applied to the bottom of a small flask? Being a hobbiest and a dabbler, I don't really have the 'normal' commercial equipment specific to the casting process. I'm using a Welch belt driven vacuum pump left over from...

Hi I am looking for a vacuum casting machine (silver jewelry casting). Hobby use. Regarding performances and price, I need advice before purchasing. What are, in your opinion, the best relevant criterians for a durable and effective machine (power/performance of the pump, size, after sales service,...

I have a student that is need of a vacuum investment table, or a complete vacuum caster if anyone has one they would like to sell. She also is going to purchase a mold vulcanizer too. Don Norris learnsilver.com

I read about using a vacuum arrangement to remove the bubbles from investment, then pouring it into the flask around the model and vacuuming it again. Seems redundant, why not mix it, pour it in and just vacuum it once? Or have I mis-read? -- Carl If you try to 'reply' to me without fixing the...

New York based Master Goldsmith Valentin Yotkov will be giving a chasing and repousse workshop at Metals Edge Studio in Scottsdale, Arizona February 9,10,& 11. Chasing and Repousse are hammering techniques aimed at producing a pattern in relief in metal. Valentin studied with the finest European...

Hello everyone, I hope you are enjoying the summer and charging yourself with creative energies. Before taking your well-deserved summer vacation please take a look at our Fall 2005 Classes and Workshops schedule. Registration is not open for the following classes: Miniature Vessel Raising for...

Dear friends, It's been a busy year at that Valentin Yotkov Studio and as the year comes to an end, I am elated to announce that the studio will remain open a bit longer. For how long is still unknown. The construction is complete on the fourth floor. Sharon and I have been relentless in...

http://www.valentinyotkov.com | Valentin Yotkov invites you on a trip to his native Bulgaria. Immerse yourself in rich history and tradition and fall in love with a small country, little-known to the Western world. Admire glorious gold and silver treasures, watch Masters demonstrate their...

The Folk Art Center in Valle Crucis North Carolina will give visitors an opportunity to explore the High Country's rich history of folk arts. What better place to do so than the 143-year-old Hard Taylor House? Area businessman Mike Hulbert leased the house with a vision: to establish a gallery and...

YEah, I know this is a loaded question Yes, I know that like all gems, karat value increases exponentially with the size of the ruby, because large gems are the rarest Yes, I know color and clarity etc. are important Still, is there a basic table showing what the value of a ruby per karat is?

I'm trying to rebuild a thermal evaporator. We need a power supply to heat the boats (only precious metals and aluminum). I've seen very high prices for power supplies at some vendors, and I read that a VARIAC can be a good, and cheap choice. Now, what is a variac? Can it be used to evaporate...

Hi, Did anyone hear about VendorPro? Do you have any sort of experience with these guys? I recently received a mail from them offering a marketing program for $340 a year. The offer sounds interesting so I checked their site http://www.vendorpro.com. The problem is that You can't see any real...

I was looking for soyer enamels (the best enamels I know) and i've found www.todobellasartes.com, a spanish web that sell them almost half price of the rest. They send them everywhere in the world. There is anyone that know them?

I want to make pendants using a combination of glass, copper tape and solder. I've made them before but using lead free solder but I'd like to step up and start using silver solder. What I'm after is something that I can perhaps paint on somehow and then heat at a low temperature to set. It's...

G'Day, In australia I've found it very difficult to find jewellery books within the price range of my budget. Imagine my joy at finding a wonderful book "Hand made Jewellery" by Louis Weiner published 1948 for $20 AUD (less than $15 USD). I'm only a quarter the way through reading it, but it is a...

I was wondering if anybody had a used vibratory polisher/tumbler = available=20 for sale. Greg Krynen www.krynen.com - my home site with forums for different crafts www.PurpleDragonGifts.com - my business selling jewelry and small art.=20

Do any of you readers know how to remove the links in the stainless steel bands on these watches? It appears to be easy but the pins that you can see through the holes in the links do not want to compress. There are directional arrows on the side of the links that would be against the wearers arm....

When I was placing an order at Rio Grande, I saw lots of wonderful-looking instructional videos for sale. Unfortunately, the budget does not allow for it :( Part of the reason that I always want to take the "easy" way and come here and ask everyone's advice, is that I am pretty severely...

Here are some videos on jewelry making: http://www.bammerwiki.com/uberdu/index.php/Burlington_NJ_Jewelry

I have a Vigor engraving machine and need to buy some parts. I'm looking for a motor and rotary, plastic cutting bits, to fit my model (number of which I don't have here right now). Does anybody have a source for aftermarket/used/new parts for these machines?