Anytime I try something new there is always a learning curve, sometimes it's more like a huge hill that I can't seem to climb, this newest project has been one of them. I signed up for an online class with Stephanie Lee to learn some of her techniques. The class is called Homesteaders Metalsmithing and until yesterday I have spent a whole lot of time making a mess but yesterday things started making sense. To start the we used brass cut into shapes then we were suppose to flood the brass with solder. After watching the video I thought that doesn't look terribly hard until I tried it over and over and over. I have recorded this painful process for you all as you can see below.
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| This is what happens when you try to use what you have on hand and not what the teacher has called for. |
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| Once I got the right stuff it was still no picnic. |
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| Here is what the brass squares and rectangles are suppose to look like this is called flooded solder. |
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| Here are some bezels I made today from the flooded solder pieces. |
The bezels still need to be antiqued sealed and filled with goodies but I am thrilled with my progress.
More to come...
I'm amazed with all the new things you've been trying lately! You rock!
ReplyDeleteThese are awesome! I am in that class too. I have done the flooding with some success, but haven't tried the bezels yet.
ReplyDeleteThanks Barb.
ReplyDeleteI feel like such a klutz when doing the bezels and I don't see that feeling going away any times soon since I have made about 15 of them and should be over it already.
I just wanted to say that this blog is fantastic. I just ran into it from my daughter Nelly. I am looking forward to seeing what other creations you are doing. Just terrific!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tracy for the kind words you left on my blog. I think you have done an awesome job on your samples with the bezels. I have not had time to try the bezels yet.
ReplyDeleteI do see from your first picture that you were using a charcoal block? I found when I did mine that it got a lot hotter than the fire brick. Did you find that? Keep up the great work.
Cheers,
Stacy
www.sissyandjacks.etsy.com
www.sissyandjacks.blogspot.com
Just curious why you needed to flood the brass with solder? What happens once you flood the brass?? I would have the same pictures to show...lol...good you kept at it! It really paid off~
ReplyDeleteYou flood the brass with solder to get the unique look of seamless metal and to attach the bezel.
ReplyDeleteI just used the charcoal block to show off the solder I wasn't using it to solder on for this project because you are right, it would make everything way to hot.
Thanks Heather, there will be a whole lot more to come :)
Those look fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to catch up with the class later -- I have two shows coming up and can't spare any time. Sigh.
I laughed til I wiped away tears! I took Stephanie's class a few months ago and got stuck with trying trying trying to torch solder. I finally achieved some success, but still find it a challenge. Thank you for sharing your pain!
ReplyDeleteI laughed til I wiped away tears! I took Stephanie's class a few months ago and got stuck trying trying trying to torch solder. I finally achieved some success, but am still working at it. Thanks for sharing your pain!
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