Silver Bee

Silver Bee Talks Tools

I decided that this year it would be nice if everyone could see exactly what those tools are that I keep suggesting you might bring with you to class.

I do have tools to share in the classroom but if you would like to have your own these are what I suggest. Please mark your tools clearly.

If you are planning on purchasing the tools, ask first if the store will give a discount to those taking classes. You will usually require your receipt for this but it never hurts to ask. I work at Capilano Rock and Gem and if you find yourself there purchasing tools they offer a 10% discount on hand tools if you are taking a class.

A few items I strongly suggest you consider bringing:

Good magnification for your eyes. I have a few pairs of "cheaters glasses" on hand but it's always better if you have ones that you know will work for you.

Safety glasses

An apron - for obvious reasons. :-)

Ear plugs if you are particularly sensitive to a lot of loud noise.

The following are the lists of suggested tools for each class:

Stacking Rings

• torch and butane,
• digital calipers,
• round ring mandrel,
• rawhide or plastic mallet,
• ring bending pliers,
• ring clamp and
• #2-cut Flat hand file.

Walk in the Park Bracelet

• apron (plan on getting messy),
• #0 or #00-cut (course) metal file
• metal shears.

Epiphany Bracelet and Charm

• torch & butane,
• 1 or 2 hole punch,
• prong pusher,
• burnishing tool

Trinity Rings

• torch and butane,
• digital calipers,
• round ring mandrel,
• rawhide or plastic mallet,
• ring bending pliers.

Now it's time for the tool parade!

 

Torch and Butane

This is only one of many different types of butane microtorches available. If you are considering purchasing one but are unsure if it right, send me an email.

I have a limited number of these to share and if you would like to reserve one please contact me by email.

 

Digital Calipers

These are especially necessary if you plan on making rings after the class. There are different lengths available, 4" (pictured above) and 6". Both are good and sometimes you can find them on sale in hard ware stores.

 

Rawhide/Plastic Mallets

As you can see they come in many shapes and sizes. The white one at the top of the photo is a weighted plastic hammer, the middle one is plastic and the last one is made of rawhide. All will work although my personal favourite is still the rawhide hammer.

   
Ring Bending Pliers

I took the upright photo of the pliers because it shows clearly that one side of the pliers are half round and the other is flat.

Ring Clamp

This is a tool that might sit in your toolbox for some time but when an occassion arises for it's use you will be glad you had it squirreled away.

#2-Cut 6" Flat Hand File  

The #2-Cut refers to how coarse the file is. You find in class that I primarily use the #2-Cut and #4-Cut (which is finer). Both files are invaluble but if you are only going to purchase one file then let it be a #2-Cut. Files are an expensive purchase but will last you a very long time if looked after properly. Protect them while they are in your tool kit by wrapping them in a cloth and keeping them separate from each other. Files file files. :-) Figure that one out!

Odd Assortment of Files

These files are specifically meant for the Walk in the Park bracelet. If you have a courser file such as a #00 in your tool kit that is great but any file that has a bit of tooth to it will work fine. I have collected odds and sodds of files over the years so please don't go out and purchase one especially for this class.

Sheers

The purpose of these sheers is to cut metal and any one of these styles will do although the larger ones will make it much easier. If you already have a smaller pair of tin snips that will work as well.

 

 

One and Two Hole-Punches

These are for punching holes in the disks you will be using for the bracelet and charm. My favourite and easiet to use is the 1.8mm one-hole punch but the other punch gives you the option of two sizes and is excellent as well.

Prong Pusher

This is one of two tools that you will be using to set the stone on the charm.

 

  
Burnishers

This is the other tool used for setting the stone on the charm. There are many different sizes and shapes of this particular tool. I recommend one where the burnishing part of the tool is short and slightly curved.

I know the description of the tools is not lengthy but that's why you are taking the class, to learn about them! If you do have questions about them please don't hesitate to send me an email, leave a comment, or go to my facebook page for "Silver Bee" and leave a message there. You have to like me first though. :-) 

I look forward to seeing you in class!

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 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.

Smile...you're on candid camera!

Meet my new camera, a Canon PowerShot G10. A bit on the heavy side for a compact digital camera. I won't be dropping this one into my purse for those "just in case" opportunities.  A little under dressed as well...no pretty shiny colour options. It's just...well...all about performance. At this point in my description I should be able to rattle off all sorts of impressive facts, like how many megapixels it's capable of using, the shutter speed, optical zoom, ISO capabilities, functions, and on and on. But I can't because I've learned that it's quite one thing to do all the research and compare feature upon feature with other cameras to come up with an educated decision. Another to actually understand all the features I spent hours pouring over in the reviews I read. Don't misunderstand me, I'm happy with my new camera. I proudly unpacked it, started charging the battery and settled into reading the manual. You know the "Let's get started!" section...page 9 in my book. This should be a snap! I won't even begin to explain what a humbling experience it has been. Needless to say I'm still reading the book. 

The moral of this story...I can't remember but I'm sure it has something to do with patience!

Happy New Year.

My vacation photos or top ten tools

It's your lucky day! You know those annoying people that go on a wonderful vacation and then rub your face in it by showing album after album of photos, digital or otherwise. Well that's me except I'm going to show off my favourite tools. I've told you all about them now you get to see them. See I told you...lucky day!

  

 

Now that was short and sweet. Just in case you would like to view them again they'll be posted in the tools album.

Leave a comment with your favourite tool or tools. I know it's almost impossible to pick just one.

Top Ten (or so) Favourite tools

To know me is to know I love tools! If you don’t know me, then I love tools! There that’s settled. I had this idea to write about my favourite tool but favourites are fickle. As I looked over my workbench I kept debating over what is my most loved tool. I couldn’t settle on any one tool. Instead of putting myself through any more this silliness I decided to pick ten favourites. Problem solved. Well sort of. I’m going to start with my tenth favourite and work my way up to the one I feel I can’t do without.

10. Small plastic sieve – I know, sounds weird right? But if you’ve ever struggled with picking up something flat or small from the bottom of a pickle pot you will understand why it’s on my list.

9. Split mandrels – Another very small item but these mandrels can make your life so much easier when you need to sand the inside of a ring shank.

8. Cutting pliers – Specifically, a pair made by Eurotool. Because I work with primarily heavier wire I need something that will cut fairly easily and stay sharp. If you are working with finer wire and doing wire wrapping then I suggest an inexpensive pair of side cutters. I use the ones made by Grobet. They cut beautifully right to the tip and will stay sharp unless you use them on heavy wire as well.

7. Texturing hammer – I mentioned this previously in my post about the Fraser Valley Bead Show. They are made by the guys from Just Screwing Around and they're fantastic. You get three screw-on texture heads. I have to admit they are an expensive item but to me they were worth it because of the number of textures I’m able to create just by changing the angle of the hammer and how hard I hit the metal.

6. Ring Mandrels – Technically this is two items but they are both ring mandrels so I’m counting both as one. My two favourites are a soft square and a modified soft square. Tough to describe but think of a square circle for the soft square and the same shape but squeezed at the bottom and wider at the top for the modified soft square. These ring shapes never fail to attract positive comments.

5. Pepe disk cutter – It’s made from top quality steel and cuts sheet metal up to 20 gauge easily and cleanly. The model I have cuts disks from 3.2 mm – 23.4mm (1/8” – 1”).  The bonus is leftover scraps which provide materials for another project…like water casting. 

4. 6” hand files - #2 and #4 cut – Filing is something like a Zen experience for me. It’s gratifying to see a rough surface slowly change into a finished one. I don’t try to rush the process but instead I let the file do the work – I’m only there to guide it. If I’m in a hurry then invariably I will put too much pressure on one side of the file and create a gouge or uneven surface which creates more work for me. When I travel with them to a workshop or class they are protected from each other. They are files…they will file each other. If I’ve sold you a file or suggested a type of file then you know how I feel about them. Keep them clean! It’s important to the life of your files and to the quality of your filing.

3. Rawhide hammer – Whoever said that size doesn’t count has not used this hammer! It’s 11 ounces of pure bad boy and will smack your silver around like it was nothing. I know, I know…I go from a Zen experience to brute force. Seriously though, when you are working with heavy gauge silver the weight of the hammer makes the process of shaping it much easier.

2. Flexshaft – Other than my torch this is my second-most used tool for me…okay I squeezed the digital calipers in between but picking the top three was tough. When you love tools it’s hard to confine your favourites to just ten but I thought that my top 50 tools would be a bit much.

1a. Digital Calipers – These were number one originally but were bumped to a very close second. I don’t know how I managed without them. It is essential to measure silver precisely to keep ring sizing accurate. I use them to measure stones that I want to set and the bezel wire to set them with. Mine are a small pair, four inches, but for most applications they work great and they are a little less cumbersome than larger ones.

1. Propane torch – It’s not fancy but then looks aren’t everything, right? It solders or melts everything my wonderful butane micro torch doesn’t. It gives me the freedom to choose almost any thickness of silver to work with. It gives me wonderful little puddles of molten silver to pour into water or brooms. It does have its limitations if you need a very tiny pinpoint hot flame but for the most part I love my Shark.

Okay well there you have them, my favourite top 10 or 11 tools. This list may change tomorrow or maybe even later today but for the moment this is it. Perhaps I could sneak in a few more that deserve honourable mention…like my Pepe Jump Ringer. And I love my tumbler!

P.S. Photos of the tools to follow but in the meantime check out the new images I added to the photo albums.

P.P.S. Leave a comment if you have any questions about the tools I've mentioned here and I promise to answer them.