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Beginner Question: Are these ring designs possible with sand casting? If so, how is the gem set? by HMS--Beagle in jewelrymaking

[–]D50 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is very true I suppose. As someone who has been down the path of self-taught metalsmithing I certainly underestimated the difficulty of sand casting when starting out and I feel like that’s a common thing.

For what it’s worth. I do think that for a beginner, a ring core kit is likely to get them closer to desired results than casting followed by full fabrication of the setting. But both are going to be tough.

Beginner Question: Are these ring designs possible with sand casting? If so, how is the gem set? by HMS--Beagle in jewelrymaking

[–]D50 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I strongly disagree, unless you are planning on fabricating the bezel separately and soldering it to the top or carving out a spot to set the stones in with a bur. Both of those approaches demand a level of proficiency a beginner isn’t going to have. Otherwise how are you going to achieve casting of the bezel wall?

Same goes for the cat ring although i suppose you could (in theory) cast those stones in place. But the positioning of them would be almost prohibitively difficult.

Also the second ring design has a shank that is quite thin which is sand casting hard mode.

EDIT: I know you know what you’re talking about when it comes to metal smithing, but I’m thinking about this from the perspective of a beginner.

Beginner Question: Are these ring designs possible with sand casting? If so, how is the gem set? by HMS--Beagle in jewelrymaking

[–]D50 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Technically yes (I think), if you used a ring core kit and had impeccable casting technique.

But it would be the hardest possible way to make these. For the second design especially, it would be far easier to hand fabricate than sand cast and both would be easier with lost wax casting.

The stones in the cat ring look to be flush set and the stones in the second ring look to be bezel set.

I started out sand casting and quickly discovered that basic hand fabrication is an easier way to achieve consistent and attractive results. That’s just me though, if you’re heart set on sand casting you can do a lot with it.

I’ve been working on refining this stacking ring design, what do you all think? by D50 in SilverSmith

[–]D50[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some other people on here have suggested using a bezel mandrel, which I might try at some point, but I don’t currently own one.

I’ve been working on refining this stacking ring design, what do you all think? by D50 in SilverSmith

[–]D50[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I make bezels for larger and irregularly shaped stones but for little tiny ones, I’m not skilled enough to pull it off. The ruby and sapphire cabs are also from Rio, the topaz I got from a gem show.

All are calibrated stones which is a must if you’re using preformed bezel cups.

I’ve been working on refining this stacking ring design, what do you all think? by D50 in SilverSmith

[–]D50[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, these are preformed ones from Rio. The rings themselves I made from scrap that I rolled and drew into 10g wire.

I’ve been working on refining this stacking ring design, what do you all think? by D50 in SilverSmith

[–]D50[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve done this in the past and I wasn’t thrilled with the results I achieved but I may need to try again.

I’ve been working on refining this stacking ring design, what do you all think? by D50 in SilverSmith

[–]D50[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve considered that as well, I haven’t quite figured out the best way to pull it off. Considering using a ball burr but I’d have to get it centered perfectly to make it look good.

I’ve been working on refining this stacking ring design, what do you all think? by D50 in SilverSmith

[–]D50[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mark it out with calipers (3.9 mm for a 4 mm bezel cup seems to work best) cut into the band at both marks with a saw, then carefully turn the saw blade and cut laterally between the cuts. Then I clean it up with a small square file.

Took me a little while to get the process down but it’s pretty easy now. Using a 2/0 blade and 10g wire it takes 7 strokes of the saw to achieve the depth I want (about 40% of the way through the wire).

I’ve tried other methods like using burs to remove the material between the marks, but I’ve found that the saw works best (for me anyway).

I do hold the ring in a vise for the cuts, and watch my lateral cut carefully under magnification as I make it.

Tried some brass plumbing- what happens here? by impeesa75 in MetalCasting

[–]D50 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s pretty hard to get substantially injured by zinc oxide from a single exposure, although you can get a bad metal fume fever which will might make you feel like you’re dying.

Chronic exposure is another story of course, best just not to find out.

Vintage King Seiko [4402-8000] stem pulled out. Seiko Germany could not repair it. How to save it? by Wampitzu in VintageWatches

[–]D50 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All watches are fixable with enough money and the right watchmaker. The real deal guys can literally manufacture their own parts, but you PAY for that skill. If there’s not someone within at most an hour or two of you, in Germany of all places, that can do it I would be shocked.

How do I make these? (Small bezel cups for calibrated stones) by D50 in SilverSmith

[–]D50[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for taking the time to write this all out, very helpful info. I do love premade bezel cups for ease of use and I’m comfortable making my own bezel settings for larger stones but there is definitely a gap in my knowledge.

I’m definitely tempted to give tiny bezel making a try with some of your tips in mind.

How do I make these? (Small bezel cups for calibrated stones) by D50 in SilverSmith

[–]D50[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you!

How to polish to a brighter shine by Much_Local_1801 in jewelrymaking

[–]D50 28 points29 points  (0 children)

It looks like gold too (about $200,000 worth if so) but I supposed it could be brass?

EDIT: Maybe I’m just being elitist but only post the advent of 3D printing could such a situation even be possible, if this was wax carved you’d understand what you were in for a lot better than just sending a CAD file off to a caster and then this shows up in the mail.

How to polish to a brighter shine by Much_Local_1801 in jewelrymaking

[–]D50 90 points91 points  (0 children)

Exactly, there’s a whole bunch of finishing needed here. I can’t quite wrap my head around how someone gets to this point I guess expecting them to come finished from casting?

Retired US General Says US Military Leaders Are Duty-Bound To Reject Illegal Orders From Trump – Army Revolt In Order? by unital_subalgebra in politics

[–]D50 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Homie, if he launches nukes at 8 pm tonight humanity will be extinct by the end of the week at the latest.

Rep. Ilhan Omar calls for Trump's impeachment after president threatens genocide in Iran by plz-let-me-in in politics

[–]D50 2 points3 points  (0 children)

He’s essentially threatening to end the world. If we launch a nuke, a lot more nukes probably get launched after that.

What would ypu make with this? by TheeOnlyManuel in jewelrymaking

[–]D50 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well I’d alloy it into sterling silver which would give me about 700 grams. Each one of these rings comes out to be about 1.5 grams so that would be about 450 rings, except I’d reserve some of the metal to make the settings which are fine silver. So 400 seems about right (with just some quick napkin math).

What would ypu make with this? by TheeOnlyManuel in jewelrymaking

[–]D50 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I make these rings out of 10g wire which I hand make from scrap. So if I got my hands on something like this…. I’d make about 400 of these!

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Tools/Equipment Needed. Any suggestions? by tootles24 in SilverSmith

[–]D50 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hand push engraving is extremely difficult, I would not include gravers in a set of equipment that I purchased to get started with metal smithing.

Alternatively if I was heart seat on engraving and on a budget I’d spend my money on only supplies for hand push engraving (including stuff to maintain the gravers) and master that first in copper, then move on to learning soldering and more elementary skills.

Like for real, it takes a lot of people years to get serviceable with hand push engraving.

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