Silver/goldsmithing

[dkan 168]

dkan: That's very much true but a professional goldsmith that he say he is should be able to set stones. I'm fairly sure it's part of the ges?ll-test (a goldsmith test that is a proof of your abilities as a goldsmith. To become a goldsmith master in Sweden you have to do that test and pass it.)

He may need to be proficient in setting stones in order to qualify as a master goldsmith, however, it does not necessarily mean he has to be good at it after he qualifies.

One can elect to specialise in a particular aspect of jewellery making. There are specialists who do nothing except to set stones all day in Antwerp.

DK

 

[Mervione]

Sorry I haven?t updated in a very long time. I went to England and therefore missed a lesson, (but it was worth it...) and then I slept through the lesson after it that was the day after I got home from England. Which wasn?t worth it but we all have our bad days...

Yesterday was really funny. He got angry at me this time, everyone looked at me but I?ve learned to just laugh it off, because I know he?s just so silly. The problem this time was that I putted my soldering brick on the sink where he have the acid, and he yelled at me not to do it because there might be acid on the bench. I told him that OK, I`ll move it. Guess what he did?

"Lick your finger! You have to check so you don?t have any acid on you."

"I`d rather not..."

"DO IT!"

So I did. Acid is well, acid... I have a feeling I should have stood up for myself. Ah well.

I asked if I could make a bezel setting and he said sure. I started making the a bezel strip out of a 4x4 mm thick wire piece I had brought with me. Milled it, flattened it and stretched it. I formed it into a ring for the bezel and then soldered it on a silver disc.

I bought some bezel strip in England I fooled around a bit, but I didn?t manage to solder it onto the sheet at all. I did exactly the same at the lesson as I did at home and it worked on the first try. I think it was because it?s hard to solder a really thin strip, and the strip I bought was very very thin.

I also made another spider and picked up my puzzle ring from the thumbler. It looks OK. I`m planning to take some pictures and upload sometime when I have access to a working camera.

The bezel thing was actually very easy. I feel like I might actually be good at this, naturally.

 

[GemGeek]

Keep up the great work. It sounds like you're having fun now.

 

[Mervione]

Wohoo, finally last course day.

I worked more on the bezel setting today, filed it, used emery paper and polished it. He told me that I have to leave a stone setter to set it.

A

--->bezel <---

setting

.

I know I`m inexperienced but I have noticed that all the jewelry making books I`ve read (5.) is teaching you how to make a bezel setting. Even the books that are meant for people that are new to silversmithing. What can I say? I`m glad to have left him behind me.

Well, other teachers are waiting, and I think they will all be better.

Think that?s all for now.

 

[pattye]

Hi Mervione,

Good for you, you have stuck with it, and learned a lot! You are learning about people also, how to evaluate what they teach. Of course there are things you can try on your own, like setting a stone in your lovely new bezel, just remember, safety first!

Well, other teachers are waiting, and I think they will all be better.

That is a positive attitude!!