From the monthly archives:

September 2009

Metal Color and More

by Laurie Jane Kern on September 16, 2009

In my last post  I wrote about using copper to mount a Bruneau Jasper.

I am now starting to work with 2 other jasper cabs that I have, which are mostly of a tan and brown nature.

I placed the two of them along side some more copper sheet like I did with the Bruneau, but this time I concluded that copper is not the best metal to use. I tried silver and it makes the stones look flat. The more I looked at the cabs I began to realize that my eyes kept returning to the brown. Then I came to the conclusion that bronze might be the best material to use, and if needed maybe a slight patina would be needed on the final piece. I have ordered some sheet which I can use not only for the mounting plate but I can take a strip to the rolling mill and make my bezel too.

All of this has made me recall a statement someone made to me quite recently.

As you might remember (or not); I have been on a search for a teacher/mentor to learn metalsmithing - forging, sinking, raising and such. I have spoken and emailed a lot of people in the past few weeks and when I discussed what I am looking to learn I stated that I am open to working in copper and bronze - as well as silver. I would even work with tin and brass if appropriate. [I also think that learning on these less expensive metals is best and considering the price of silver these day, why wouldn't you!]

Well the person in question emphatically said: I am not teaching these days and if I was, I don’t work in those metals.

I found it a bit odd at the time and I still find this odd.

 

Ok, so you are not teaching these days, I can move on and find someone else. Thanks for your time.

But the “not working in those metals” came across - well snobbish! How dare I even mention working in these metals! What was I thinking?

I can’t imagine that metalsmiths, who are now working in silver and gold look down their noses at these materials.

I want to believe that when learning the art, the material they first hit with a hammer was something other than silver and gold. The Silversmithing books I have even instructs the reader to use copper and lead sheet to see how metal moves!

Now that I have put this out there, well I can move on but I am curious as to what you think.

 

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I Beat it into Submission

by Laurie Jane Kern on September 7, 2009

Several months ago, I bought a beautiful Bruneau Jasper that was cabbed and polished. It was not cheap but well worth the money.  I have a very old Lapidary journal that had an article about Bruneau jaspers and how mounting them in copper enhanced the colors - and looking at the one I had bought, next to some copper sheet really did make it pop.

I knew what I had to do!

First I make some copper viking knit ‘chain’ with coiled ends. You have to have a copper chain for a copper pendant.

Then I went looking for copper bezel wire. Well that was impossible to find so I had to make my own. I was already signed up for Jay’s rolling mill class - no problem I would wait until I took it.

And I waited, and recovered from my shoulder surgery.

During this down time, I doodled some designs. And waited some more.

The rolling mill class was August 15 and a week later I was down at the club, using the small rolling mill to make my copper bezel.

During the soldering of the first bezel, I blew out the joint, my torch was too hot and the wire too thin (28 g). Back to the club to roll some more and I then got my bezel completed 26 gauge this time.

I had sawed and filed my backing in-between the bezel making. It was rectangular, it had rounded corners, I then planished it with a hammer (that was my next mistake). Because I had planished the outer area of the backing, it has stretched and warped and no matter how I sanded the bezel it would not lay on the backing with out a gap.

I thought I would be smart [i.e. STUPID] - I used some binding wire and got most of the edges to meet the backing and started to solder. WRONG, the solder just flowed out the gaps and all over the backing and then I again blew out the bezel.

This was yesterday, I was sooo angry at the copper and myself. I even considered selling the cab on and not deal with it at all. I spent the night watching stupid movies and knitting. This morning was another matter. I would just put it away for a few months, post some questions on the Orchid list and see what help I could get.

Did I put the cab away - NO! I pulled out more of the bezel wire and made a new one. I made a new backing and decided to planish it AFTER the bezel was soldered. It was ‘laurie go slow, you can do this, you can beat it at it’s own game’

I DID!!!!!!!!!!!! YES IN DEEDY I BEAT IT.

I have just finished setting the cab. I needs a bit of cleaning up but here it is.. TA DA

Terri - you asked for it and here it is on my dirty work bench (10:21 pm)

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I Taught A Class

by Laurie Jane Kern on September 4, 2009

I just finished teaching my first class!

Several weeks ago, months actually, I taught myself Viking Knit. I was wearing when I made a trip down to the Palomar club. I passed around and the ladies (and you know who you are!) all wanted to know about it.  Diane as teaching the class that night, and soon afterwards we talked about me teaching it.

I then went off for my shoulder surgery and did not get back down to the club until July.  It was during that visit that we decide to do it in August. One thing let to another and eventually we put out an email that the class would be held over two nights, the last week of August and the first week of September.

I decided that we should first work in copper. This way if anybody had a major boo-boo, we could start over without wasting silver and $$$$$.

And so, last week was the first night and everyone went home with 26g copper wire, their leader, and a dowel to work on. When we met yesterday, everyone had enough done to make at least a bracelet. Annie, had gotten hooked and had done a bracelet and necklace!!.  So yesterdays session was on using the draw plate and making cone end caps.

A good time was had by all!

Oh, and I have now been asked what I am going to teach next

Double Oh - I am done with PT and my shoulder is doing just fine. I have to still do some exercises but thats easy.

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