Unusual job on the bench today
Discussion
rhinochopig said:
I hadn't realised you're an ex booty. That makes your transition all the more impressive given the amazing ability of RM to break everything they touch.
I assume you're an armourer or vehicle mechanic or something then? Yeah, I've written off some expensive kit in my time! ecain63 said:
rhinochopig said:
I hadn't realised you're an ex booty. That makes your transition all the more impressive given the amazing ability of RM to break everything they touch.
I assume you're an armourer or vehicle mechanic or something then? Yeah, I've written off some expensive kit in my time! ![biggrin](/inc/images/biggrin.gif)
Back on topic though, please keep posting up the projects as they're fascinating to read - especially the insight you offer into just how you engineer a ring. And I hope the cancer f
![](/inc/images/censored.gif)
Ok sports fans. Here is the second half of the Hogan family crest I am making.
Yesterday we finished the shield part of the job. Today all that is left to do is make the chain / strap fitting for the back and then plate the black colours in place.
First thing is the rear fittings. Start by rolling some more 18ct yellow gold down to form a plate:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_083640_zpsbb409c24.jpg)
Turn the plate to make a tube and then file it to the required profile:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_085709_zps0c78b315.jpg)
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_085717_zpsf87cb210.jpg)
Work out where you want it:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_085753_zps8e61e77d.jpg)
And then solder on:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_093919_zps746bc657.jpg)
You can see that i filed the bottom of the fitting flat so you get a nice surface to solder to the shield plate:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_093925_zps8a77491b.jpg)
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_093934_zpsdf6fbff6.jpg)
Give the whole thing a tidy up and clean:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_120720_zps2174a874.jpg)
And we are ready for plating:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_120728_zpsacc3cfaa.jpg)
This is black rhodium. The same as regular rhodium, but black. It's also quite nasty stuff with cyanide and other cracking chemicals within:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_120744_zpsf8133a9b.jpg)
And this is not for doing my nails! We use nail polish watered down with MEK to mask areas that we don't want to plate:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_121459_zpsed8e6d3c.jpg)
Like so!
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_122858_zps955a8e1c.jpg)
A couple of coats using the plating pen (electrolysis) and the black rhodium solution has taken to the areas we wanted to cover. Its a very dark, almost gunmetal / hematite finish.
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_124329_zps7859df75.jpg)
We then clean the item in neat MEK, give it a few minutes in a hot ultrasonic filled with washing up liquid and water solution and hey presto:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_131931_zpscd72d625.jpg)
And Bobs your mothers brother:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_132030_zpsffb25c4f.jpg)
Eddie
Yesterday we finished the shield part of the job. Today all that is left to do is make the chain / strap fitting for the back and then plate the black colours in place.
First thing is the rear fittings. Start by rolling some more 18ct yellow gold down to form a plate:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_083640_zpsbb409c24.jpg)
Turn the plate to make a tube and then file it to the required profile:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_085709_zps0c78b315.jpg)
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_085717_zpsf87cb210.jpg)
Work out where you want it:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_085753_zps8e61e77d.jpg)
And then solder on:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_093919_zps746bc657.jpg)
You can see that i filed the bottom of the fitting flat so you get a nice surface to solder to the shield plate:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_093925_zps8a77491b.jpg)
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_093934_zpsdf6fbff6.jpg)
Give the whole thing a tidy up and clean:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_120720_zps2174a874.jpg)
And we are ready for plating:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_120728_zpsacc3cfaa.jpg)
This is black rhodium. The same as regular rhodium, but black. It's also quite nasty stuff with cyanide and other cracking chemicals within:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_120744_zpsf8133a9b.jpg)
And this is not for doing my nails! We use nail polish watered down with MEK to mask areas that we don't want to plate:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_121459_zpsed8e6d3c.jpg)
Like so!
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_122858_zps955a8e1c.jpg)
A couple of coats using the plating pen (electrolysis) and the black rhodium solution has taken to the areas we wanted to cover. Its a very dark, almost gunmetal / hematite finish.
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_124329_zps7859df75.jpg)
We then clean the item in neat MEK, give it a few minutes in a hot ultrasonic filled with washing up liquid and water solution and hey presto:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_131931_zpscd72d625.jpg)
And Bobs your mothers brother:
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140220_132030_zpsffb25c4f.jpg)
Eddie
Edited by ecain63 on Thursday 20th February 17:26
speed_monkey said:
I love working with my hands, I've built quite a few things, 500 gallon aquarium stand, hutches equivalent to the playboy mansion etc.
It's that moment you step back, when done, and think "hell yeah! I BUILT that!"
Love it.
First thing i ever made by hand. A miniature whale with calf. Awwwwwwwwww!It's that moment you step back, when done, and think "hell yeah! I BUILT that!"
Love it.
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140221_155224_zps5e1f8278.jpg)
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140221_155304_zps001cdb2a.jpg)
![](http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/niacuk/20140221_155332_zps70ed76ef.jpg)
100% honest answer: its all naked eye stuff. You get used to focusing at very short distance, but it does take time. Same as when I was in the marines i learnt to focuss in fine detail on the really far distance. You can train your eyes quite easily. As I get older no doubt my eyesight will deteriorate and glasses / magnified headsets will come into play.
No idea. Might have just been circumstance. Joe (F-i-L) gave me a piece of gold bar and i just set about it with a file and a few scorpers (used to pick away metal / wood). The whale idea may have come to me as the bar became torpedo shaped. The calf i thought was a nice little addition.
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