How's It Made?

[e.rose]

Bitter, I loved this!

I have an extremely short attention span and there are very few exceptions... But I stuck around for that whole presentation because it just FASCINATED me. You are such a fantastic artist in so many different ways! :sillysmi:

But since you brought it up in the presentation:

Random question:

On a "married life" forum I was a part of, some girls were once talking about this, but I wasn't sure if it was every case or... what the deal was but...

My engagement ring is white gold... And it used to look WHITE white, like you said in your presentation... I'm assuming from the... R...rho....... plating

And it doesn't look *awful* or anything now but it looks like it has more of a yellow hue than it used to. Is that something I'm supposed to keep up on? Do people get them re-plated? Am I SUPPOSED to get it re-plated? When I look at the ring, the prongs are the color that the whole ring used to be but the band itself has got a tinge of yellow hue, if that makes sense.

I just want to make sure I'm taking care of it... I love my ring. It's terrible simple (It's just a solitaire), but then again I like terribly simple jewelry. My wedding band isn't "real", so taking care of my engagement ring is really important to me, because it *is* real, haha. And of course my husband gave it to me (everybody say "awwwww" :heart. My wedding band was given to me as a gift from someone who makes jewelry at our church. I think it's some really low-grade gold and the diamonds... aren't diamonds, haha. Some day I want to get one of those... what do you call 'em... the things that are bands that have a slit cut into it that you can set the engagement ring into and make a whole new ring out of it... know what I'm talking about?

 

[Rekd]

Photographically that is one of the best how-to's I've seen. Great job. Unfortunately my wife happened to walk by while I was looking at it and now she expected me to make her one... :twak:

And dude, seriously... get some hand lotion!

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

I am glad you all enjoyed this. I wanted to do it, because I have never seen such a detailed "walkthrough" before. This was a sorta practice run, and I will be gearing up to do a proper one with my good camera. I have to make a rig to hold the camera in a good spot, and shoot tethered. I will be doing this for my proper website which should launch in a month +/-. The guys I have doing the site are all about setting me apart from everyone else in the area, and they believe this will be a big part of that.

Yes, yes, lotion...I hate the feel of it on my skin. The other thing is it won't help. Working 12+ hours a day 7 days a week, leaves no time for healing anyway.

@Traveler, a long time ago I hated the jewelry industry, and was looking to go into dental work...it wasn't for me. But pretty much the same processes, which you already know.

@Railphotog, it's often similar detail work that you put into your HO models, but you have that added layer of the realistic detail, weathering, and such. So, your work blows my mind. I also love making miniatures, but I have little time for hobbies, and pursueing the sculptural art side of me. It's all good though.

@E.Rose, I have a short attention span to, and it was painfull doing the coding for the walkthrough, cuz it was boring, tedious work. Ha!

Anyway...Yes, white gold has a yellow tinge to it. White gold is not "natural", it is yellow gold alloyed with nickel (traditionally), so it's never truly white. They have recently come out with a couple new alloys, but they aren't taking well because then I have to stock another type of expensive metal, and parts aren't being made widely in the new metals. So, yes, the Rhodium plating is purely cosmetic, and you can take it to a good jeweller and have the ring polished, and replated. If you pay more than $30-$40 to have it done, you are being ripped off . You should have your ring checked yearly to make sure the stone(s) is tight, and the prongs are "healthy". It's cheaper to have it re-tipped, than it is for a whole new head and reset, if it is worn too far for repair. The new ring you want is called an insert, or guard ring.


Thanks for all the grammar and spelling corrections, I really appreciate that!!!

 

[MWG]

Love your attention to detail...

Also, you explain everything in such a simple way that's really easy to grasp. Very cool.

Keep doing your thing!

 

[The_Traveler]

if you redo any of the text, I would put some times-working in their so people understand how long each creative and physical step takes - so they realize what they're getting for their money.

I imagine you might do a simle rough design sketch. Include this and emphasize the planning part and how that is crucial. THey are paying for talent, experience, creativity not your stubby fingers.

 

[480sparky41 40]

...........Yes, yes, lotion...I hate the feel of it on my skin. The other thing is it won't help. .............

That's because you have so much dead skin on the surface. Lotion does not work on dead skin. What you need to do is get rid of it. Use one of these

to get rid of the dead skin before using lotion. (I have no clue what they're called, but any health & beauty department will have them)

I've also used 240-grit sandpaper to accomplish the same result. It sounds painful, but it really isn't. Once you remove the layer of dead skin, you should see a nice pink color. That's live skin and will make good use of the lotion.

 

[The_Traveler]

...........Yes, yes, lotion...I hate the feel of it on my skin. The other thing is it won't help. .............

That's because you have so much dead skin on the surface.

I've also used 240-grit sandpaper to accomplish the same result. It sounds painful, but it really isn't. Once you remove the layer of dead skin, you should see a nice pink color. That's live skin and will make good use of the lotion.

If that 'nice pink color' starts pooling up and running down your arm, that is a sign that you shouldn't be using a belt sander.

 

[480sparky41 40]

If that 'nice pink color' starts pooling up and running down your arm, that is a sign that you shouldn't be using a belt sander.

My Work Motto is: "If you ain't bleeding, you ain't working!"

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

You guys are so funny.

Now why would I want to remove the tough calloused part, and expose soft tender tissue? Callouses are formed to protect.
I do charge extra for blood, BTW.

Yup Traveler, that's the plan. For the website, I am using one of my own designs, and it will start with the sketch. Good idea about giving time frames for the steps. Thanks!


At job I applied for a long time ago, the old guy didn't care about my resume, he asked to see my fingers. He said, if they are not dirty and all hacked up, you don't work very hard.

 

[480sparky41 40]

............ Callouses are formed to protect............

Calluses form because you're not taking care of your skin properly. It's the body's last-ditch effort to keep you from bleeding out.

 

[Josh66]

(subscribes to thread so I remember to check it out when I get home...)

 

[e.rose]

............ Callouses are formed to protect............

Calluses form because you're not taking care of your skin properly. It's the body's last-ditch effort to keep you from bleeding out.

Guitarists develop small calluses from playing... they play through that pain until the calluses form and it doesn't hurt anymore... would you suggest they sand down their finger tips too?

 

[480sparky41 40]

Guitarists develop small calluses from playing... they play through that pain until the calluses form and it doesn't hurt anymore... would you suggest they sand down their finger tips too?

Only if they want to do a step-by-step PowerPoint presentation using close-up photographs about how to play the instrument.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

............ Callouses are formed to protect............

Calluses form because you're not taking care of your skin properly. It's the body's last-ditch effort to keep you from bleeding out.

Exactly like I said, it's a natural defense for protection. Why remove it? So I am no longer protected against all the harm that could come to them?

I don't understand why the concern over the condition of my fingers?

 

[480sparky41 40]

Exactly like I said, it's a natural defense for protection. Why remove it? So I am no longer protected against all the harm that could come to them?

I don't understand why the concern over the condition of my fingers?

I'm trying to tell you you are not taking care of your skin.... it is reacting to adverse conditions.

If you stab yourself with a knife, you bleed. Bleeding is a reaction to an adverse condition. If you take the same attitude, then you should keep stabbing yourself because bleeding is normal.
If you jump into a lake, you hold your breath. Doing so is a reaction to the condition. So just go jump in a lake and hold your breath.