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Post by garrett on Dec 15, 2013 1:38:08 GMT -5
I love turquoise...smiles always have..... been wanting to make jewelry for years..... as I age I find time is fickle and unpredictable. we all have an unknown amount of punches on our timecards. been chasing the dream. unlike my normal jump on in style...... I am researching....YES RESEARCH! me.... rotfl.......... the internet is a boon for researching.... I want to make large manthing sterling king's pieces.... been looking at grinders...dremels.....soldering equipment....books....how to hobbyist stuff.... as with gardening it is as simple or as complex as one could wish. I would like to hand cut,make my own rings ect....solder polish and finish...... die punching...chasework.......ect I needs a lotta stuff.lol stones equipment....knowledge.....ability///// smiles thinking 4-6 months to get what I need assembled. looking for what I gotta have vs what I needs......
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Post by garrett on Dec 15, 2013 1:41:57 GMT -5
I can't afford what I want....so i'll make it...... hoping it doesn't resemble a drunk shop project...... smiles currently waiting on my books. finally found a 110 electric solderer that will work with the melting points needed for the three types of solder. snooping at stones online..... roughs...specimins and finished. learning about the stones...mines...types... how to stabilize...... new and old techniques....... I believe a fusion of new and old can be done. a benchmade bracelet all by hand...from stone selection...to smelting the raw silver[eventually] to ornamentation and final assembly.
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Post by garrett on Dec 15, 2013 1:48:19 GMT -5
its been funny to observe my left brain side chat with the right. always had an elephant size creative side. now I plan on drafting...... gasp! dunno if I CAN SUPPORT MY NEW JUMP IN THE DREAMSKY... but I aint skairt.lol so many things to tie in.... I believe I will attempt a ring or two first. I think the basis for a lot of the jewelry I want to make is in the mastering of being able to bezel set and solder the cab or cobachon into the mounting.seems like the basis for rings....bracelets...bolos... one can hand file or diecut ornamentation into the band...face ect... of the jewelry..... I find myself drawn to one type of turquoise over and againlol I find I may covet my own rock specimens.lol i'll keep yous guys posted.... anybody with experience? chime on in.well do the dance together..... I would like to eventually make mom a squash blossom necklace... all from scratch...pure....... we'll see....... still gotta ton of snooping to do.....smiles
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Post by marielouise on Dec 15, 2013 9:57:14 GMT -5
Red, there are lots of web sites -- groups-- that have moderators and members that are friendly and very willing to share their knowledge and tips etc with newbies , just like the gardening sites . I belong to a couple but my links are hung up in my aol account which I will try again to access them for addys for you, aol doesn't want to accept my password . One of them had lots of DYI , build it yourself, ideas for the various equipment required and tips on HOW to use it . I don't remember the sites name off the top of my head... like gardening groups some are friendlier than others .. Turquoise is beautiful, like you I love it always have --- raised in New Mexico and Az. so have been a life long rockhound--- before last March I could have shared some with you that I found in New Mexico, as you know turquoise comes in different grades , and I had some of each good bad and indifferent, lol, got a couple places we ""hunt "' out there when we are visiting family and friends out there . Theres also malachite which many people mistake for turquoise but its green rather then blue but it works up beautifully. Not sure what minerals Jim had down at the shop , he was working on building a saw and polisher when the fire happened , which halted our rock crafting til we have a bit more time ... Lost all our cabs to the fire and the rocks-- minerals-- that were in the house . most all of my petrified wood literally turned to ashes , one large chunk that was on the front porch was whole until I reached down to pick it up and it shattered into a jillion tiny pieces , I had found it way back before I was in school and moved it around 5 different states .
Its a very interesting hobby, and the info is out there as you have discovered . I had not made the leap into actual jewelry making , just always had hunted rocks and fossils cause loved them.
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Post by garrett on Dec 15, 2013 19:01:31 GMT -5
thanks ml..... still sorry for ya'lls loss. biggest thing here is expense and finding raw materials. I swear I read somewhere there is a turquoise mine in texas?
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Post by fritzdakat on Dec 15, 2013 19:35:46 GMT -5
I'd grab a copy of the Complete Metalsmith if you havent yet, but as I searched for a link, I found he made a series of videos to go along with it too! www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBaMqaUauEI
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Post by garrett on Dec 15, 2013 19:38:44 GMT -5
thanks fritz! I bought 5-6 books all related to indian methods. and the colonial silversmith. thinking of buying the rio grande to melt my solder. thinking a hand dremel with diamond bits and diff buffs to polish it all. I can find bezel and silver sheets online everywhere. got a cheapo source for turquoise?
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Post by garrett on Dec 15, 2013 19:43:17 GMT -5
an electric solder.gets to over 2000 degrees. don't wanna mess with open flame yet. wanna cut me own stones too.lol
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Post by garrett on Dec 15, 2013 19:44:08 GMT -5
and a smelter eventually so I can lost wax cast.
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Post by garrett on Dec 18, 2013 10:27:35 GMT -5
well I was bidding on some rough turquoise. note I was bidding.lol
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Post by marielouise on Dec 19, 2013 9:13:03 GMT -5
I got on aol and searched all over and they no longer have my old bookmarked list of favorites... or at least I couldn't find it ... did get back into my email ---- duhhhhhh had a bunch of crappy spam and a few messages from a long lost cousin... good luck with your bid!
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