Posted: 3/18/2016 10:03:21 PM EDT
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anyone on here make jewelry and can pm me?
Thinking of making my own versus buying for the special lady and wanted to pick someones brain before I start ordering stuff. |
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I did, I've been doing 3D animation and using 3D printing for a long time to make stuff. I (with the help of the rest of my family) re-designed and remade my Dads lost wedding ring in a high-detail Wax, then got a local goldsmithing place to cast it out of 10k gold like his original  Easily the coolest thing I've done for my Dad, and well worth the time and effort!  Shapeways is the company that did the 3D printing, if you do computer design you can upload files to them to make, or you can browse anything people have put online... some guys do custom work. |
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Quoted: that looks pretty slick! I haven't ruled out wax casting yet but still researching options. The nice thing about designing a wax piece, is the sky is the limit as to creativity. And wax is a lot cheaper than Gold or silver, so if you order a piece and don't like it in person, it's not a lot of money to change and re-order it. Wax piece was 20 bucks plus shipping (to Canada from NY). Shapeways also does the gold casting themselves, which is pretty cool and they have a pretty good price on new gold, it's not too far above current gold bullion cost. |
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Quoted: sounds good-- thing is I think I'm crazy enough to want to try everything myself. I have a fairly well equipped workshop, plenty of time, and the means to produce something nice. just looking to get started in the right direction If you want to make the ring yourself, using a higher-temp carving wax can be a good idea, you carve the piece yourself and then add a sprue and go to it... cast away with a plaster mold and molten metal. Of course making it out of a metal like Titanium would be cool as well, it scratches easily but is very lightweight and 'feels good' to wear, it's very much inert to the human body and doesn't get too cold or hot. |
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Quoted:
If you want to make the ring yourself, using a higher-temp carving wax can be a good idea, you carve the piece yourself and then add a sprue and go to it... cast away with a plaster mold and molten metal. Of course making it out of a metal like Titanium would be cool as well, it scratches easily but is very lightweight and 'feels good' to wear, it's very much inert to the human body and doesn't get too cold or hot. Quoted:
Quoted:
sounds good-- thing is I think I'm crazy enough to want to try everything myself. I have a fairly well equipped workshop, plenty of time, and the means to produce something nice. just looking to get started in the right direction If you want to make the ring yourself, using a higher-temp carving wax can be a good idea, you carve the piece yourself and then add a sprue and go to it... cast away with a plaster mold and molten metal. Of course making it out of a metal like Titanium would be cool as well, it scratches easily but is very lightweight and 'feels good' to wear, it's very much inert to the human body and doesn't get too cold or hot. yes- I've been reading a little on the wax molding route .But then there are guys casting long rods of gold that they roll out and shape a ring from. |
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There is one big advantage to wax: There's a lot more freedom in carving wax. Have an idea you think you will like, but doesn't work out? Scrap it, start over, or cut parts you like off, and add them to another design base. Slip with a tool? You can repair mistakes with ease. A hot knife is literally all you need to re-flow the wax, and make it disappear. Jewelry that's supposed to last a lifetime isn't a "Hmmm, I'll do it myself on the first try" kind of thing. There's a lot of experience, and skill involved. There are things that can, and can't be done in wax. Extremely fine detail can be an issue. So can thin areas that are supposed to flow into large masses of metal. There's also the question of where to sprue the wax to reduce porosity, and improve the final casting. An experienced eye will be able to point out issues with your design before it's finalized, and make your life easier. Your best bet is to go talk to some jewelers, and find one that will work with you in making a wax. Not some chain store, but a real jeweler who produces their own designs. Small old school guys are going to be your best bet. They will have the contacts and experience you need. In the end, you get the advantage of experience at a lower cost, plus the "Yup, I made it just for you" credit with the lady. I was a jeweler for 10 years, feel free to PM me with any questions you might have. Edit: One more advantage to wax: The basic tools are cheap. Files, sandpaper, saw, ring tube, and an alcohol lamp will set you back less than $50 or so. |
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Quoted:
anyone on here make jewelry and can pm me? Thinking of making my own versus buying for the special lady and wanted to pick someones brain before I start ordering stuff. IM me, I used to make jewelry for a living, both lost wax casting and smithing....including lapidary and faceting of rough precious stones. |
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Cool! |
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This video shows the quick and easy way, but he's drilled/ground out most of the silver. The end result is a ring that will bend easily. Instead of drilling out all the material inside, you can drill a tiny hole in the center and hammer the ring on a tapered mandrel or an appropriate sized drift punch. Takes a lot longer, but the end result is significantly stronger. |
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Those look amazing. You sell them? |
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Quoted:
Those look amazing. You sell them? Quoted:
Those look amazing. You sell them? I usually make up a few and throw them in the EE or on a couple different websites that I frequent. It's no big deal for me to make them to order either--just shoot me a PM with what you might be interested in, and I can let you know feasibility, prices, etc. Thanks for the compliment! |
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I had a jeweler make a custom ring set for my wife. I gave him a sketch he made it happen using wax. He called me in once he had completed the wax to look it over.
The final product didn't cost any more than any of the other ring set from the store or their catalogs and turned out great. |
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that is an effimate fag! failure at being a man |