If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
a few questions from a beginner
Hello all,
I'm a machinist who has been trying to teach myself some jewelry techniques over the last several months, and have decided to finally ask all the questions that have come up in my reading and experimentation. First off, some background. I have been a machinist for the past 12 years, and have made stainless steel body piercing jewelry off-and-on for the past 5 years. I feel that (like others have commented before on this n.g.) the traditional styles of body jewelry that are available are pretty limiting, and boring, thus, the leap into fine jewelry. I have read as many books on the subject as I can get at the library and used bookstore, and practicer a fair bit of sawing, filing, piercing, soldering, patination, et cetera. I feel that now I have a fairly decent grasp of the bare basics. Thus to my first question. I know that the key to all this is practice practice practice, so I wonder if anyone can reccomend a book, maybe like a textbook, or workbook, that has a series of projects, exercises, or the like, that I can work through, thus exposing me to a variety of common and uncommon situations? I have seen a few student exercises here and there throughout "The Brepohl"- sawing and forging IIRC. Also, I wonder which books you would consider indespensible to you. On to another question. Would it be feasable to make my own rolling mill? I have access to all the tools required (except case-hardening the rolls, which I would probably buy anyway), and it seems like it would be a great project. Has anyone seen plans, or info on this? heard of anyone who's done it? A coworker threw away a spool of romex house wiring yesterday, which I saved from the dumpster, took home and stripped. I figure the 12ga copper wire will be useful for practice material. The ? here is, is the copper used in this wire suitable for casting with? I'm sure its fine for forging and bending, but in the books I have right now (complete metalsmith, design&creation of jewelry by Von Neuman, & contemporary jewelry by Phillip Morton) there is no mention of casting copper at all. Does copper oxidize too much to cast? Ive read everywhere not to put steel in your pickle, or you'll get copper plating, but in a book I got the other day, It said stainless is safe. As I have tons of it around (for the body jewelry) I wonder if this is true. I guess I can just try it...... Sorry for the long-windedness :-) Gene Lewis P.S. I'd like to give a big thank you to the professionals who come here and give us newbies the benefit of their knowledge all the time. I've learned a lot just by lurking here. so cheers! |
Ads |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Beginner Lampworking Questions | Maeven | Beads | 11 | September 10th 04 04:55 PM |
The ten questions I want you to answer | Jalynne | Beads | 19 | June 22nd 04 08:58 PM |
Questions About Hardanger | Suzanne | Needlework | 7 | April 23rd 04 11:49 PM |
Some additional questions | Steve Lamb | Beads | 15 | April 3rd 04 03:25 PM |
AD and dumb questions from a newbie | Nathalie Lebreux | Beads | 7 | September 9th 03 09:45 PM |