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#1
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Newbie Help
Hello everyone,
My wife has been really getting into making jewelry the last two years, so much so, that she and my daughter are even doing a 'Mother/Daughter' show in December. I'd like to invest in her new found hobby and ramp her up to 'the next level'. To my thinking, this would be giving her the ability to solder/weld/grind/polish silver. Can anyone recommend a book and a 'starter set', whether it exists in kit form or that I have to track down and buy the components. As an example, she is using a Dermal and dental burrs to drill small holes thru Abalone and semi precious stones and then putting silver clasps thru. I know she would like to encase the entire backside and sort of 'frame' the pieces, then have real hoops that have no joints in them. Websites? Resources? I want to give this to her as a Christmas present. Thank you for all the help. Andy Martin Nash, TN |
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#2
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Hi Andy,
A great resource to start with is the Rio Grande Tools and Equipment Catalog which you can order from www.riogrande.com. It's about 500 pages of good color photographs covering just about anything you would ever need in the way of jewelry supply and they actually print the prices, unlike some others that want you to call. The catalog is $10.00, but the prices rarely change and it's great to thumb through and see what's out there. This catalog does offer "kits" of bundled tools, but I would suggest holding off on buying something like that. Most likely there would be some tools that would never get used and create clutter. My view is that you identify the tools you (or in this case your wife) need and get the right item. You identified two needs in your posting, namely soldering and polishing. The first will require a torch of some kind. All jewelry soldering is done at high temperature, not the low temp kind used in electronics, and so high heat is needed, which is why you need a torch. Torches are based on the gases that will be used (Oxygen/Acetylene, Oxygen/Propane, Acetylene/Atmosphere). I use just acetylene with a torch that introduces atmosphere. This means I only have one tank to fill and secure, also this combination does not burn as hot as Oxyacetylene and so does not require UV eye protection to use (welding goggles). If your wife is only going to be soldering then this setup is ok, but higher temperatures are needed for casting (as you have to melt a lot of metal fast). Rio Grande carries all of these, but you could probably find all these at a welding supply near you to save on shipping and so that the tanks would be filled right then (can't ship filled tanks). As for polishing, a lot of people use the Dremel tool that you mentioned, or they step up to using a Flex Shaft tool from Foredom. These are like dentist drills in that they are motors attached to a foot control on one end and a handle on the other for using various tips. There are several different models available with different horsepower motors. These may spin faster than the Dremel, have more attachments and a larger range of motion. There are all sorts of burs, sanders, polishers, etc. You can also buy or make a stand that allows the end of the Flex Shaft to work as a drill press (for small bits). I'm a big believer in having a lot of books on a favorite subject, so here are some that I have and might suggest: The Complete Metalsmith Author: Tim McCreight Tim McCreight has a virtual monopoly on jewelry and metalworking books, but that is because they are all pretty good. If your wife had no other books, she should have this one for its clear presentation of practical techniques, list of suppliers and further reading suggestions. It's spiral bound so it lays flat for bench reference and is about 11.00 new. The Encyclopedia of Jewelry-Making Techniques Author: Jinks McGrath This book show a wide rage of techniques used in jewelry making. While it does show the steps to do these things, its best use is to see what can be done, then find more in-depth material on how to do it. (about 25.00 new) Jewelry (Fundamentals of Metalsmithing) Author: Tim McCreight This book offers more examples and techniques specifically aimed toward jewelry design and creation. Another good one from Tim McCreight. (30.00 new) The Art of Jewelry Design Author: Elizabeth Oliver Where Tim McCreight focuses on the how of jewelry, this book is all about the why. Technique is barely mentioned in this book with all the emphasis placed on how to generate ideas for jewelry, keeping your ideas fresh and meaningful. (30.00 new) The Theory and Practice of Goldsmithing Author: Erhard Brepohl This book is dense in some places covering the related chemical, physical and geometric properties relating to smithing. If your wife becomes more serious about metalsmithing or if you think she would appreciate such a volume, it is a great addition to any collection of metal references. (70.00 new) One last consideration is perhaps a subscription to Metalsmith magazine. They put out five issues a year, four regular article issues and one exhibition in print (that issue is devoted to looking at examples of artists working in metal from all over the U.S.) It is a nice change from some of the jewelry magazines that focus more on technique and sales. Hope that some of this helps in time for Christmas. Max Phippeny |
#3
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Thanks so much Max,
Yours is EXACTLY the kind of input I was looking for. Thanks again, Andy |
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