After having finished a ring using black mica, and starting on one combining jet and rough diamonds, I started wondering about the use of different types of stones in jewelry, materials that have fallen into disuse (like jet) or never given a serious thought (like mica). I'm talking about stones that are transformed from their natural form by some process (cutting, polishing, ...), but that for some reason have been decided to not be suitable for use in jewelry.
What weird mineralogical finds should be awakened from their Snow White dreams, and dragged into contemporary jewelry?
What weird mineralogical finds should be awakened from their Snow White dreams, and dragged into contemporary jewelry?
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Re: Non-standard materials...
Tue, September 18, 2007 - 6:48 AMive used a stone called pristine to make rings and brooches etc. it is pure refridgerator white and gorgeous. its not very common.
im all for non standard materials in the use of contemporary jewelry. -
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Re: Non-standard materials...
Tue, September 18, 2007 - 10:38 AMI've never heard of it! Is it hard (in other words, can you cut it yourself, like I can in the caese of jet), or do you need pre-cut and polished stones? And most importantly: where can one get some (grin)?
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Re: Non-standard materials...
Tue, September 18, 2007 - 11:21 AMmica was used in moundbuilder stuff. The mica i've worked with was so brittle that it was problematic. I want to make more jewelry using serpentine.
I also like working with mariposite because its pretty and I am from mariposa.
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Re: Non-standard materials...
Thu, September 20, 2007 - 1:09 AMAnother very rare one that Ive yet to see anyone use but I will eventually, is fosalized oyster shell. It looks a lot like crazzy lace aggate and pollishes to a very fine very high gloss....I think it would make an excelent broach or pendant. Possibly a ring if done right. I have a few pieces Ill try to get pictures posted of it. Its a lot softer than aggate but plety hard enough to cut and pollish. I also use a mineral called aragonite to make pendants and such....It is a light brownish orange crystal pretty in the right light....Not real fancy but....It looks nice as an arrow head or small carving....And then of corse there are always shells shells and shells LOL -
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Re: Non-standard materials...
Thu, September 20, 2007 - 2:55 AMI make almost all my jewelry in stainless steel,but am starting to add other materials as well. My Burning Man belt buckles:
people.tribe.net/stephenfi...eb96acfe40
are in laser cut stainless and plasma cut bronze with glass cabazons set in the bronze. I've started setting glass in stainless steel bezels as well. I actually weld the stainless or the bronze while the glass is locked in there. Any body want to take a guess how I can do this without blowing up the glass ? -
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Re: Non-standard materials...
Thu, September 20, 2007 - 9:06 AMunderwater welding? :D -
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Re: Non-standard materials...
Thu, September 20, 2007 - 9:26 AMHeheehe,Hey Jeffz,
No,but damn close....
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Re: Non-standard materials...
Thu, September 20, 2007 - 7:14 PMheating the whole thing up in a kiln? -
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Re: Non-standard materials...
Thu, September 20, 2007 - 10:10 PMNo,
but that's a really good guess too...
Come on people,you guys are really smart.
I'll give 2 hints;
1.Good rule of thumb-the simple solution is usually the best.
2.Think ,LOW TECH,HIGH ART. -
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Re: Non-standard materials...
Thu, September 20, 2007 - 10:31 PMI just reposted in this tribes album with a close-up of the settings.
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Re: Non-standard materials...
Thu, September 20, 2007 - 10:49 PMusing something like clay to shield the glass from the heat?
after that i'm out of ideas -
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Re: Non-standard materials...
Thu, September 20, 2007 - 10:53 PMAnother good idea,
but no.
It requires arc welding as I've said. By this I'm referring to MIG welding which is technically arc welding,but most welders refer to it as wire feed...
But the advantage of this type of welding is that it's VERY FAST...HINT HINT... -
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Re: Non-standard materials...
Fri, September 21, 2007 - 7:10 AMSpin the item real fast and hold the center in place with the air cooling it off, maybe a fine mist spraying it down to keep cool :D -
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Re: Non-standard materials...
Fri, September 21, 2007 - 7:51 AMHeheheh,
that's simple ?LOL
No,no,no.
The answer to this riddle is Simple.
I'll take one more guess from someone that hasn't made one yet ,then I'll spill the beans or you guys will kill me I'm sure.
I've already taken too much of Michaels thread already... -
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This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: Non-standard materials...
Fri, September 21, 2007 - 8:08 AMYeah, go get yer own! (grin)
hmm... let me try: you want something jury-rigged, fast, hot. I'd be thinking of something along the lines of a very exothermic reaction with small amounts of chemicals. Say, lay a line of magnesium or sodium powder around the stainless steel along the juncture, and start the oxidation of the stuff via a wire (current) or a wetting wick? -
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Re: Non-standard materials...
Fri, September 21, 2007 - 8:11 AMOr to take the underwater welding idea a bit further.... drop the thus prepared piece in water; the sodium burns, the water cools. The only question is: do you get enough heat out of it? Do not try this at home, kids! -
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Re: Non-standard materials...
Fri, September 21, 2007 - 8:30 AMYES !!!!!
And the winner is Michael !
Brilliant lad.
That's the only reason it DOES work.
I hold the piece above a 5 gallon bucket of H2O by the ground clamp(left hand),weld it with the right hand and drop it immediately into the soup. The heat never gets to the glass...Actually I had one blow up out of 10 tries...
LEARN from this seekers...
There is ALWAYS a solution that has not been thought of yet ,to solve fabrication challenges.
NEVER believe anyone that says ,"that can't be done". It's only a cop out cause they aren't clever enough to think of a good solution.
And never ever trust anyone that says" there's only one way to do that"...
In Art there are NO RULES... -
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Re: Non-standard materials...
Fri, October 19, 2007 - 2:24 PMStephen, you make absolutly wonderful sculptures!!!! But I couldn't find your jewellery, where is it?
Non standard materials: Sometimes I make cabochon "stones" from wood, iron, shell, copper, than I set them in silver as we do it with real stones. This is the theatre of materials, they can act as they were someone else. Or you can treat them as they were someone else, you can use technics that we normally use for other materials. The result can be special.
p.s: It's a fun to set iron cabochons in silver, I do it with hammer, and if I need it, I can anneal the silver half way (already with the cabochon in it). :)) -
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Re: Non-standard materials...
Fri, October 19, 2007 - 2:28 PMWe're on the same track,
I just use slightly tougher materials than you...
Check this tribes photo Gallery...
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