Jewelry Projects

Occasionally I'll make a run of jewelry for presents and to sell.  Here are a couple of different projects that I've done in the past several years. 

Copper Mug

Some time ago I was asked if I might be able to make a set of Moscow Mule copper mugs.  A quick google search for what that actually meant told me that yeah I would probably be able to handle that.  The actual order for the set fell through, but I figured I might as well make a prototype anyway.

Copper and Steel Floor Lamp

I have been trying to do more lighting recently.  This piece grew out of a desire to use big copper bowl as a lampshade, and a need for a light over my dinner table in my apartment.  I'm really happy with the final product, it was a long build but I learned a lot about wiring, welding, and just how much time it takes to raise a big copper bowl like that.

Process pics after the jump

Copper Kettle

A while back my friend Nate asked if I would be interested in making a sort of copper kettle for him.  He is into the whole slow pour drip coffee scene so he was looking for something to boil water in that would be able to pour a nice gentle trickle of water onto the grounds.  I thought about it for a while, said hey why not, and just kinda dived in head first.  Here's the finished piece, process pics after the jump.

Finished Silverware Set

Finished!  After about a year and a half of work, albeit plenty of hiatuses for other work, this silverware set it done, finished, paid for, and out the door!  

More photos and process shots after the jump.

Copper and Iron Lamp

I had an idea for a sort of bedside lamp kicking around in my head for a while, and one day I found myself at the hardware store for another project and said what the hell lets get some material for this this too.  Stood in front of the plumbing section looking at connections and nipples for about an hour figuring stuff out in my head and got everything I needed (almost- only one return trip to get a different connector).  Also got a "make your own lamp" kit that had pretty much everything else I needed on the lighting side of things.  This is how it turned out.

Silver Ladle

I had some extra silver casting grain laying around from my silverware project so I decided to make a small ladle.  Hey why not.

Process shots after the jump

Polishing Booth

A little while ago I bought myself a polishing motor to step my game up and put that high finish on the work that deserves it, namely jewelry and silverware.  For a while I just had it exposed on a benchtop, but these things kick out a lot of dust, grim, and fine particulate that really just makes a mess everywhere.  Time to build a polishing booth.  Since I'm cheap and thrifty, I just bought a bunch of basic lumber and materials at the hardware store and put it together myself.  

Metalworking Hammers and Stakes

Let's talk hammers.  Hammers are one of the most important tools a metalsmith owns.  You've got forging hammers, raising hammers, riveting hammers, planishing hammers, plastic, wood, and rawhide hammers,  and all sorts of hammers for very specific functions.  You have to keep the faces at a mirror finish so they don't make weird marks of your work, fight rust if you have a lot of moisture in your workspace, and generally take very good care of these all important tools.  Here's a shot of my hammers in a rack I built to hold them.

Never enough hammers