Silver Bee

Silver Bee loves Just Screwing Around (It's about a hammer)

It's about a hammer...really! In particular this hammer from Just Screwing Around. I've mentioned it before when I made up a list of top ten tools. But the value of this hammer has grown. New texture heads were added that were available to order at the 2009 Fraser Valley Bead Show. I was lucky,  Matt gave me one of the few sets that existed at the time. I now had 6 interchangeable heads for the hammer. I love having this hammer available in my toolbox when the design I'm working on requires just a little (or a lot) of  something to make it work.

Like a moth to a flame I couldn't leave the show without going to their booth to see what other goodies they were offering. Of course I found something! I bought another texture head. It was considered a second because it wasn't up to their standards of excellence. After I had that in my hand I spied something else that looked all shiny and new. It was a anvil block that measured 5.5 inches square. I had to have it although I already owned about six smaller ones. I was actually standing there petting it! I'm aware how that must have looked but I didn't care. The guys packaged it up for me along with the leather cushion for underneath and I parted with my money very happily. I have a confession to make: I haven't used the anvil block at all. I just can't bring myself to do anything that would mar the surface. A photo of it wouldn't do it justice because you wouldn't be able to get a sense of its size. So it's a centre piece for me and I don't care. One day I might need something that large to do some work on and I'll be happy I have it. Just like the hammers.

If you have a chance to go to the bead show, stop by their booth, say hi to Matt and Tyler. Their sense of humour and friendliness is worth it alone but when you add in the tools they have...it's a winner! You'll also see samples of all the textures. I heard a rumour that they will have three more textures available plus some new colours for the hammer handles and sand bags.

Guess who will be at their table looking at the new goodies! 

P.S. A disclosure...Matt and Tyler gave me the second set of texture heads but I would still say everything I already have without that. Their work is just that good!

Silver Bee joins the JETT SETT!

JETT SETT, another tool that I've always wondered about. I'm amazed that I've waited this long to work with it and discover the extent of its uses. It's one of those products that I am so excited about I can hardly get the words out.

I should back up a bit though to fill you in on what this new to me miracle product is. First it's not new and has been around for awhile although I don't know for how long exactly. It is a unique combination of  plastic and ceramic compounds that when heated in hot water becomes moldable. It wasn't until I started to see what I could mold it around that I became really excited about its possibilities. JETT SETT can be used to secure stone settings in place so you can finish the job more easily. Use it to create ergonomic handles for gravers and files. The same can be done with pliers so the handles sit more comfortably and secure in your hands. If you want to bend wire without marring  mold some JETT SETT around the jaws of the pliers. It's easily applied and just as easily removed. It's a completely reusable  product which makes the initial investment more economical considering its uses and longevity. 

I was like a mad scientist trying all the possibilities I'd read about or thought of using this product. Unfortunately I didn't think of taking photos until I was just about finished setting a stone into a toggle clasp.  

The photo to the right is JETT SETT pellets straight out of the bag. After putting it in water that has been heated to between 65 - 75 degrees C (145 - 170 degrees F) let it sit for a moment to absorb the heat. The photo on the left (below) is what it looks like when it's had just a few seconds in hot water. Remove it from the hot water (I used a chopstick to pull the mass out) and carefully squeeze the hot water from it. You'll see that it starts to become a solid moldable mass. While it is warm you need to start to molding it. As it cools down it becomes less pliable so you want to work fairly quickly but not with a sense of panic! (I did the first time I used it.) When you've
used it a couple of times you get to know how long it takes to harden. Once it is hard you can hit it with a hammer and you won't damage it. The possibilities seem endless to me 

 
You can make pieces that you will use over and over such as the perfect size dapping punch for your dapping block. Another option for shaping metal would be creating a 2-part mold. Put a flat annealed metal sheet between them and using a leather or plastic mallet hammer the two shapes so they fit together again. The sheet in between takes on that shape. I really could go on and on but I think you get the idea. 

When you are finished using it simply heat it up again and flatten it into a thin sheet. This makes it easier to reheat when the time comes to reuse it. 

Obviously I'm enamoured of this product and I'm sure you will be too when you have the opportunity to join the JETT SETT!

Silver Bee tries liver of sulphur gel.

I recently read a review of Liver of Sulphur Extended Life Gel (LOS) in the January 2010 issue of Art Jewelry. In the past I had used Jax Silver Black for creating a darkened or black patina on silver. I resisted using the lump form of LOS because of the smell but upon reading the review I thought it was time to give it a go.

I followed the suggestions I read and made a weak solution of the LOS and added ammonia to it. Well the smell didn't get any better but the results were spectacular. The greens, purples, blues and reds were amazing. I soon had as many silver items that I could find lined up for dipping. It didn't matter that shiny silver is still my favourite look I wanted to experiment with this new 'toy'. I discovered that the trick to getting the great patinas is the water must be hot and the hotter the better. I had fun and as you can see by the photo the results are colourful. I also discovered that if you don't like the patina then you can heat the piece with your torch, pickle and of course re-tumble for the shine. You can also just decrease the depth of patina by using fine steel wool or a polishing pad.

The first time I wanted to blacken something I bought the lumps of LOS but it turned out it was past its best before date and wouldn't work. This won't happen with the gel. The review stated that even after being left open for a year the results were just as good as when the jar was first opened. That's impressive but why anyone would want to leave a jar open of something that smells like rotten eggs is beyond me. 

So if you have been using the lumps of LOS you might enjoy the gel. Just make sure to stir it carefully so that you mix in the thick stuff at the bottom of the jar. I used an old chopstick for this. I've been using this during the Monday evening class and everyone who has tried it really liked the results. I know there are ways of preserving the patina you've created but I've yet to try that. As soon as I do of course I'll let you know.

Stay safe, use ventilation and gloves. If you have have any questions or anything to add about using this product I would love to hear from you.