Metal Smithing

[Mrs Mitchell]

Well, I've been promising myself I'd learn to work with precious metals for years now. I finally got round to enrolling on a course at a local college, starting later today.

We begin with silver and can move on to work with gold and platinum, before deciding what to specialise in (at least, that's my outline understanding of the structure).

I thought it might be interesting to folks here to see how it goes, week by week.

Of course, if I have a talent for this, I'll be posting photos. Otherwise, I'll just give you a glowing description (and you'll know that I really produced an amorphous, odd looking lump of metal with no recognisable features )

I start today, and I'll let you know how it goes!

[oldmancoyote]

Glowing is easy. Just use the torch.

Kidding aside - great idea! Thank you for sharing. I am planning a similar (although shorter) course for next summer, if I can persuade my friend with a goldsmithing shop in Tuscany that I am a worthwhile customer...

[Mrs Mitchell]

Oh yay! We can make a mess and waste some precious metal together! 

Here's hoping we'll both be really good at this. I have a four week taster class, followed by the full session starting in Autumn, but it can really go on for ever, from the sound of it.  I can take qualifications or just use the studio equipment to do my own thing when I get to a level where that's possible (and safe).

[oldmancoyote]

Oh yay! We can make a mess and waste some precious metal together!  

Or even set fire to a workshop or two...

[Mrs Mitchell]

I'm going to try not to. There are some very well respected tutors, and I'm hoping that I won't give myself a showing up on day one.

However, I do realise that there's nothing so simple or so safe that I can't find the potential for injury. Sewing machines and steam mops spring to mind here....

Anyway, I'll do my best. We make a silver ring on day one, so unless it's really very bad indeed, I'll post a pic later today.

[Mrs Mitchell]

Hahahaha!
DH just suggested (gently) that I don't wear any of my rings to class. He knows me well enough to know that they could end up a little bit melted and misshapen...

[cherrypie]

Go for it, Jen and keep us informed as to how it goes.  I've often fancied signing up for the one day summer taster courses to make a silver ring, maybe I'll take the plunge next year!

Carol 

[oldmancoyote]

Hahahaha!
DH just suggested (gently) that I don't wear any of my rings to class. He knows me well enough to know that they could end up a little bit melted and misshapen...

Eminently sensible suggestion. Apart from you could do, remember the power of envy and what one of your classmates may be able to do...

[DiamondsAreForever]

Oh, that sounds like such FUN!!!!!  The closest I ever got to creating anything was taking a class on stained glass work.  I made a window.

Now I have to look and see if there is anything available in my area.

[clgwli]

That sounds awesome!!  I ought to look into that myself.  Let us know how it goes... I hope that you have a lot of fun doing it!

[Mrs Mitchell]

Well, everyone who is thinking about this should take the plunge and sign up! We could have a support group. We could share our successes and um, other outcomes...

We'd do wonders for David's loose stone sales, and probably keep local emergency rooms busy (molten metal being what it is). Or is that just me?!

[jpup]

Oh- how fun!!  I love taking classes like that!  I was into glass for awhile and taught glass fusing for jewelry classes at a local boutique. I've also done precious metal clay and lampworking beads. I decided to sell all my equipment, though, a few years ago when I kept seeing other glass artists getting cancer (and several dying).
 It was just too many people I had met and then become "cyber" friends with. I really felt like it was too coincidental for the glass not to be involved.

But metal working sounds fun!!!!! You can start making some I'll have to check around here to see who offers classes in it! I can't wait to see your progress.

[clgwli]

So far I only found one local class and it is a whole weekend thing during a week I'm busy.  I'll have to look into my local colleges though.

[Mrs Mitchell]

I just had the best time ever. I loved it.

I made a silver band, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow for photos. It looks ok though I say it myself. I don't think the Uber guys have to worry quite yet, but give me a couple more weeks...

[Mrs Mitchell]

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[Mrs Mitchell]

[Mrs Mitchell]

Sorry for the crappy photos, it's dark here.

I'm excited to show off my first attempt.

So, here's what we did:
Measured finger size with a standard ring size gauge,  then marked on a mandrel where the correct sizing band came to. We cut copper wire to size then used that to measure the right length of silver wire (the wire was pre-formed, since it was our first night). Then we cut the length of silver.

Then, it was heated and dropped into pickle (an acid bath) to anneal the silver. After that, it was hammered into a round shape on a mandrel. Then, it was heated again and the ends pinched together. When it was hammered and pinched so no daylight showed at the join, we used a little solder. Then it was back on the mandrel and hammered until the finished shape emerged. Because I was working with half round wire, I tried to keep the slightly domed shape of the band and had to recreate that in parts where I'd got it flat by mistake. Other people had flatter, pipe-section style bands, which were textured before they were hammered. Some of them were gorgeous and I'd like to do one like that next week.

 We did final size adjustment at that point, then I began a slightly obsessive programme of filing and hammering to get the join to be less visible. Then, I put a random pattern  / texture onto the band with a little tool and a hammer. That bit was fun. I struggle a little with the concept of random though - I got a little carried away with placing each tool mark in exactly the right position...

The final stage was to use the polishing mops - a rough polish and then a finer polish to get the finish the way we wanted . Then a quick polish with jewellers rouge and it was done!

Not bad for a first attempt, though I say so myself. Next week, I'm going to make a micropave halo ring with a fancy pink radiant centre, pink gold claws and a platinum split shank (no? Ok, I'm going to make a small silver pendant...)

I am going to learn to do some basic repairs / adjustments like sizing -obviously I won't be having at my DBL rings, since they have a lifetime warranty (and please don't try this at home, folks... ) but the skills will be useful for smaller pieces.

So much fun - if you're thinking about this, DO IT!

and one more, with my beloved and much admired DBL halo


That's all folks, same time next week.  

[Diamondsbylauren]

Is it too early to place an order for 100 pieces?

[Mrs Mitchell]

Do you like it??

I had such a great time, it felt like something I could learn to be good at with a bit of work. I'm very excited about this and looking forward to the next class.

Um, sure I could do 100, but I have no idea if even two of them would turn out looking the same.   

[clgwli]

Oh my goodness I love this!!!  I did find a class but unfortunately it's on nights when I have something else to do  I need to keep looking.

So make me one in a size 5.5 if you get a chance.  I love it that much  If you can add some coppery somthing in too I'd be in love

Seriously I am so envious of this class of yours.  Your ring looks so much better than half the crap I see on etsy (where I go for cheapy sterling since not many carry my size in stock)  Really truly it looks that good!!!

[ah2bqat]

Looks and sounds like great fun, Miz M.  Wish you well with it.

I'm having a hard enough time doing electrical soldering, but my hands don't shake as badly as DH's so he hovers while I do things.  Not really a good class order, but I hope to have some basic understanding of what we're trying to accomplish, eventually.   

[Mrs Mitchell]

Thanks clgwli! I have to practice a little before I take orders, I suspect.  I have to say, everyone in the class produced something you could sell on etsy. Some looked better than others (mine was by no means the best) but they were all good. Interesting...

[Mrs Mitchell]

Looks and sounds like great fun, Miz M.  Wish you well with it.

I'm having a hard enough time doing electrical soldering, but my hands don't shake as badly as DH's so he hovers while I do things.  Not really a good class order, but I hope to have some basic understanding of what we're trying to accomplish, eventually.   

What are you working on?  Hovering spouse while doing delicate stuff is less than ideal...

[oldmancoyote]

It sounds fun, I must say. And it seems that the tutors know their stuff and how to teach it. For a first class, it's a fairly impressive result.

[ah2bqat]

It's RC and Autonomous flight aircraft.  They are each scratch built since the purposes differ.  Last one was a short flight (maintaining in line of sight) craft with a 2lb payload capability.  We used that one to test out the autonomous flight options while maintaining GPS positioning and carrying a video camera to show the flight from the airplane's point of view.  

This latest one is for a single battery with a 50 mile flight capability, no payload for this model.  We're trying for autonomous flight that retains control for the entire distance.  We will have to take it into the desert for its test flights.  Somebody has to follow the plane in a vehicle, taking video the entire flight.

DH is trying to find a market niche for some of these specialized craft.  The first is as a demo for shipping meds to hard to reach places on a regular basis, although distance needs to be enhanced.  It also works as a target for ground to air attempts to kill off a drone - which is incredibly difficult to do.  Takes a lazer slicing it to bits before it dies.  Computer run flights just keep the darned thing in the air making compensations during flight.  If we can break into the market with a $3000 model, our nearest competition runs about 10k per plane, but they have the eye of the government and we don't.

...and yeah, it's less than ideal, but hopefully there will come a time where he is confident in my abilities.