Unusual job on the bench today
Discussion
Something different from the workshop this time. You're all used to my gold and platinum builds, but every so often I do get involved in silversmithing....... reluctantly. Not because it's below me or anything like that, but because it's often much harder graft than it looks..... and you can't charge for blood, sweat and tears.
ecain63 senior retired a couple of years ago and has since acquired a liking for quality whiskeys. I can't stand the stuff, but I guess, like I didn't appreciate a good Malbec when I was 18 it's probably an age thing. I'm hoping this makes for a good Christmas gift.
The thing about silver and foods / drinks is that it doesn't tarnish the flavour. It's also antiseptic / antibacterial so doesn't transport nasties. Whisky drinkers (seasoned ones) also use things called whiskey stones instead of ice. By freezing the stones (usually granite or stainless steel) they replace the ice normally used to cool the liquid in the glass. Ice dilutes the liquid as it melts and also tarnishes the flavour so I've gone on to make a set of 4 stones (35g each) with 2 of them doubling as dice should he fancy a throw.
The tumbler weighs in at 270g of solid silver so it's a proper heavy duty set. Feels lovely though
I've not got too many pics to share, but the stones are cast from an actual game dice and the tumbler is hand beaten from plate using a hammer and plenty of heat. No pics of my battered fingers though
ecain63 senior retired a couple of years ago and has since acquired a liking for quality whiskeys. I can't stand the stuff, but I guess, like I didn't appreciate a good Malbec when I was 18 it's probably an age thing. I'm hoping this makes for a good Christmas gift.
The thing about silver and foods / drinks is that it doesn't tarnish the flavour. It's also antiseptic / antibacterial so doesn't transport nasties. Whisky drinkers (seasoned ones) also use things called whiskey stones instead of ice. By freezing the stones (usually granite or stainless steel) they replace the ice normally used to cool the liquid in the glass. Ice dilutes the liquid as it melts and also tarnishes the flavour so I've gone on to make a set of 4 stones (35g each) with 2 of them doubling as dice should he fancy a throw.
The tumbler weighs in at 270g of solid silver so it's a proper heavy duty set. Feels lovely though
I've not got too many pics to share, but the stones are cast from an actual game dice and the tumbler is hand beaten from plate using a hammer and plenty of heat. No pics of my battered fingers though
Edited by ecain63 on Tuesday 3rd December 20:22
Edited by ecain63 on Tuesday 3rd December 22:01
Just a small clarification 8Ace, I am aware that ecain has his old carpet taken away and gets money for the metal in it, I am not involved in any way, nor would I be able to, I was making a comment as to how much filing had been done in the previous post.
My metal filing skills are nothing like ecains, respect!
My metal filing skills are nothing like ecains, respect!
Peanut Gallery said:
Just a small clarification 8Ace, I am aware that ecain has his old carpet taken away and gets money for the metal in it, I am not involved in any way, nor would I be able to, I was making a comment as to how much filing had been done in the previous post.
My metal filing skills are nothing like ecains, respect!
That's fine - I was just interested. Take the rose gold ruby ring for example, ecain started with a tiny amount but he must lose c. 10% at least of the volume of each work piece - with gold / platinum it doesn't take much before it's worth recovering. My metal filing skills are nothing like ecains, respect!
I love watching people work on this sort of stuff - watchmaking too. Getting something so tiny, and so perfectly made is mesmerising to watch
Fas1975 said:
Eddie, have been following this thread since the beginning and am in awe of your work. Have emailed you directly on the address in your profile to reach out for a commission for me. Let me know if you don't get it or if you have an alternative contact method
Fas
Email received. I'll get back to you tomorrow if that's ok Fas
|https://thumbsnap.com/9T9RMViF[/url]
Happy new year all, I hope it was a good one.
Photobucket has been playing silly beggars of late so I do apologise for the lack of content. Now it's back online (still full of snags) I have a build for you.
Brief: Our customer had been ring browsing over the autumn and had seen a design he liked. The difference between this design and what he wanted was that his one was to incorporate an oval diamond and stone set shoulders..... and it had to be handmade
Here's the pic he sent me:
And the build so far:
The ring will no go for hallmarking and assuming it all passes assay ok we'll set the shoulder stones in a couple of weeks
Photobucket has been playing silly beggars of late so I do apologise for the lack of content. Now it's back online (still full of snags) I have a build for you.
Brief: Our customer had been ring browsing over the autumn and had seen a design he liked. The difference between this design and what he wanted was that his one was to incorporate an oval diamond and stone set shoulders..... and it had to be handmade
Here's the pic he sent me:
And the build so far:
The ring will no go for hallmarking and assuming it all passes assay ok we'll set the shoulder stones in a couple of weeks
NDA said:
That's a lovely one....
Do you ever have any 'incidents' with the getting the claws to grip correctly?
Not these days, no. I never really measure anything either. Muscle memory and experience.... and sometimes luck Do you ever have any 'incidents' with the getting the claws to grip correctly?
The centre stone should be an easy one to set so long as you have sufficient strength in the wire before notching and filing. Many jewellers will take too much away before the stones go in and then have the issue of reduced leeway if the setting needs adjusting. It's all experience gained in cocking it up previously.
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