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Yep, I know just where your at with the reading glasses !!! I bought the jeweler's glasses... you know the one's with the 2 magnifers built into it and you can put them down and then even use a smaller one on top of that for really close work. They work great... I bought 12 pair... got a good deal on them. Any time I teach a beading class someone wants my jeweler's glasses so I just started having them on hand so they could buy a pair if they wanted them.
I can't even imagine holding the coin while cutting out the "IGWT", I didn't even think about that but it would be tough... do you have carpel tunnel ?
Yes I have a mild case of carpel tunnel syndrome but that doesn't bug me too much, it the finger joint pain that hinders me now. I really like cutting coins with animals especially birds on them. So many coins are made of alloys that are very tough and the stainless steel and pure nickel coins are very hard to cut. Silver and gold cuts like butter ! Best piercing saw blades IMO are Dagger Yellow label.
I have cut some cabochons but I don't have any decent lapidary tools so I just buy machine cut cabs in various colored semi-precious materials. I kind of cheat a bit and use bezel cups to set them in sterling silver wire rings. I use Propane and Oxygen for my "Little Torch".
Mostly I cut out coins like the ones pictured below with a hand piercing saw. I've been coin cutting off and on for about 38 years or so. Those are an American silver half dollar and an American silver dollar.
There is now a new Sterling Silver Called Argentium and it doesn't tarnish quickly like regular Sterling silver. Rio Grande sells it and I think it is a bit harder to work with than the traditional sterling silver.
I have an 1821 silver dollar (my Mom's birth year) that she gave me before she died... that would look awesome cut like that. I have worn it in a coin ring, as a necklace before but that is something I kind of keep in my strong box so I don't loose it... I would hate for anything to happen to it.
I just never thought of a coin cut like that... it is beautiful.
I do jewelry, but no costume stuff --I do fine jewelry design. I hand carve my own masters, do all the casting, finishing, and stone-setting myself. I use gold, silver, platinum, and all varieties of precious stones both faceted and cabochon.
I have always wanted to know how to do that. Where would I start?
Beading or wire jewelry artists... are you out there ?
What do you make and do you sell your jewelry or make it for yourself or as gifts ?
Post a link if you have a site and would like to show off your work.
I have always wanted to know how to do that. Where would I start?
A good place to start would be with your local gem and mineral club. Most members have experience in the lapidary arts and can either teach you or point you in the right direction. Our club holds classes on various skills on a regular basis. There are also community college and college programs usually associated w/ their fine arts departments. There are also "schools". Look up the William Holland School, kinda like a vacation and learning experience in one.
No, I am part of a group of artists that teach for a Florida community college. We have a studio and gallery that we teach in ... this gives us a venue to sell. It is all located in a vintage hotel that is owned by the college and is still used as a hotel and as dorms for the culinary classes for the college. It all works out pretty good.
I've been making beaded jewelry for a few years now. Nothing overly fancy, just sweet and simple things that appeal to a range of age groups. My ArtFire shop is here: CorvaJewels Artisan Studio ArtFire Buy & Sell Handmade
rickers, your work is amazing! I'd love to learn metalsmithing techniques one day, but oh the startup costs!
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