Trying my big hairy hands at Silversmithing Work, first photos of my 4th project

WOW! Looks like them big hairy hands did a fine job.

-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/

Great Mark !

Dave

-- Dave Leitem,Butler,Pa.,http://dlcarver.etsy.com

Is that the secret?... Big hairy hands?... lol… looks like they did another fantastic job!

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

Mark,

I wish you nothing but the best in your “new endeavor”. It generally works out for the best when we stretch ourselves and move away from the zone of comfort to which we have become accustomed. Learning a new skill invariably does involve some discomfort and uncertainty but ultimately it will generate longterm benefits and enable us to continue to grow and develop.

Thanks for the post.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

Very nice, my wife is trying to learn to be a silversmith, she makes a lot wire and bead jewelery and wants to add silver work . trouble is here where we live there are not many people who are willing to teach. so each it is a road of self discovery but some time them are the best roads we travel. good luck with your work and I can’t wait to see more of it.

-- Joey~~Sabina, Ohio http://sleepydogwoodworking.blogspot.com/

Nice Mark:

I take it this is a swaged piece.

Did you know you can cast this stuff with deadly accuracy?

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Good one Marc. Looks like it was poured on and I can’t see a seam. Keeps up with the rustic look.

Got a rifle stock I’m getting ready to inlay with tin solder…thanx to your advice. I’ll be blogging it later.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

This type of silver work is done with sheets of metal, cut to shape with a jeweler’s saw, and then silver soldered into a ring, and then hand hammered to stretch, or shrink the band until it fits the shape of the antler. Then, the bezel silver band is silver-soldered in place, and the whole thing is then reshaped after the heat of the soldering moved it a little.

Casting work does not look like hand-wrought silver work like I was wanting to do. I’m not looking for “easy” ways to do this, but rather the old fashion metal smithing techniques with a fit that only a lot of time and lots of little tap, tap, tap, taps, can give you. Tapping the band to shape was over an hour’s worth of work just in that step.

Some times things come with time and patience, not speed. It is a little hard on the ear drums at times.

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap….....

Thanks for the comments,
M

-- Mark DeCou - Kansas Flinthill's Artisan

Mark, I truly enjoy and respect your approach to your projects. I enjoy woodworking and “I’m not looking for “easy” ways to do this…” sums up how I’m trying to approach my woodworking.

-- ~ www.darrylmasterson.com ~ www.woodworkingdungeon.blogspot.com ~

Very interesting!

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

Mark: I’m glad that you are having Fun. The hobby of the month club is waiting for you membership dues.

It looks great.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

great job. I like how it ‘drips’ down the side.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)