Blogging for jewelers and metalsmiths made easy! (and for those interested in jewelry and gemstones)

Three Knew Concept Saws in a Row

Last night, I was helping out my friend, Lee Marshall, of Knew Concepts, by photographing his new saws. (For more information, go to www.knewconcepts.com)

As I gathered the saws, and prepared to photograph, I came across some of the earlier prototypes, and found it interesting to observe the how the tools developed.  I thought that other people would find it intriguing, as well.

Here’s the “Back Story”: Several years ago, Lee developed a new saw system for making blanking dies (cutting dies for making multiples of a metal shape).

Knew Concept Precision Saw Guide 2

I found that I REALLY enjoyed the saw that he developed for this system, because of the blade tensioning system.  No more pushing the frame against the work bench with my chest!  Whoopee!

I started using this saw for ALL of my sawing, whether I was making a blanking die, or not.  I liked the “feel” of the saw, even though it had all that extra aluminum at the top, which connects it to the guide-wheel.  I kept telling Lee Marshall that he needed to develop this saw as a “stand-alone” tool.  Finally, he got the message!

Lee started with the 5″ throat hand saw, by lopping off the extra aluminum at the top.  Each new model made the saw lighter and stronger.  The blade tightening and fastening mechanisms, and the handle as well,  were also improved. Here’s the development of the prototypes of the first saws, with the first on the left, progressing to the right (you can click on the photo to enlarge it, and see more detail) :

Development of the 5-inch (throat depth) saw frame---first prototype on left, next prototype in middle, final version on right

Below is the development of the 3-inch-throat saw frame, from left to right.  I find it interesting to note that on this scale, the trapezoid-shaped cut-out in the corners was too flexible, and needed to be changed to a circle.

Development of the 3-inch-throat saw frame first prototype on left, next prototype in middle, final version on right

I feel blessed to have Lee Marshall as a friend and colleague.  It is fun and interesting to work with Lee and Phil Poirier to develop tools for jewelers and metalsmiths.

Cynthia

{ 7 comments }

Today, I had to prepare some silver pieces for an exhibition.  As I pulled the older pieces, which had been made with traditional sterling silver, out of their anti-tarnish bags, and saw the streaks of tarnish, I groaned.  The newer pieces, made of Argentium Sterling, only needed a few swipes with a Goddard’s cloth to brighten the shine.  The Argentium Silver pieces weren’t tarnished—they just were not gleaming.  Several hours later, after going over the older pieces with cleaning compounds, and then waxing them so that they’ll stay good-looking during the exhibition, I felt that I had definitely experienced the difference between these two sterling silver alloys.  Vive Argentium Silver!

Below are images of some of the work.  The silver pieces  will be in an exhibition at the Cahoon Museum, in Cotuit, MA. http://www.cahoonmuseum.org/

I’ll be giving a talk about the work at 11am, October 17, 2009.

Cynthia Eid

Lithic Lights -three sterling silver oil lamps. these needed to be polished and waxed, too....

Veins II Though it had been waxed and stored in a silvercloth bag, inside a sealed plastic bag, this sterling silver seder plate needed a polish and wax

Having a Chat -this set of 3 sterling silver, quartz, and hematite scent containers had to be cleaned and re-waxedPour Cindy: Self Portrait Tea Strainer This sterling silver piece was in pretty good shape, actually. (But I polished and waxed it, anyways.)

This Argentium Silver lidded container, Convergences II, only needed a little shining up with a Goddards Long Shine Cloth

{ 5 comments }

[click to continue…]

Ultimate Spiculum Hammer

I am working on a book with Betty Helen Longhi, Shellforming Techniques for Jewelers and Metalsmiths.  The term shellforming describes a collection of techniques -mostly based on synclasting and anticlasting— through which sheets of metal are given complex, often sinuous form, to make objects of beauty and strength.  The book will be edited by jeweler/author/educator Tim McCreight, and published by Brynmorgen Press, known for high quality publications. Publication date is yet to be determined.

As Betty and I work on the book, we have become aware that many of our favorite tools are one-of-a-kinds that we have made or found.  We want our future readers to be able to have the necessary tools for the techniques in the book, so we have been designing tools, and working with manufacturers to bring them into production. I am really excited about our first tool!  We have teamed up with Bill Fretz to design and produce the Ultimate Spiculum Hammer. The Ultimate Spiculum Hammer has the elegant lines and exquisitely comfortable handle that are trademarks of Fretz hammers.  The hammers are have the Longhi and Eid logos on the handle, and the traditional Fretz logo on the hammer-head.  Around 1980, Betty designed and made a hammer that was based on one that she had watched Heikki Seppa use to make spiculums. Lee Marshall of Bonny Doon Engineering produced a commercial version for Allcraft for many years.  Since Lee’s retirement, Betty has been searching for a new maker, so I approached Bill Fretz about making the spiculum hammer.  The new proportions and weight of the Ultimate Spiculum Hammer afford exquisite control and exceptional accuracy.  Thrilled with this hammer, Betty and I have designed additional hammers to be made by Bill Fretz, to make a set of shell forming hammers. The set is currently in development.  The Ultimate Spiculum Hammer is now available from Allcraft Tools, in New York.

Phone: 800-645-7124        Email: allcrafttools@yahoo.com

A Flared Spiculum---from an exercise in the book in progress

{ 11 comments }

After 3 days of Creatively Fold Forming Argentium Silver at Metalwerx, May 2009

Recently, I had the pleasure of teaching this workshop at Metalwerx, in Waltham, MA.  We had a great time, and I thought I’d share some images from the workshop.  As usual, the group had wonderful variety in ages, experience, and personality.  Some people tried to make a sample of each technique demonstrated—  others focused more on finishing a few new pieces using new knowledge. (You can click on each image to see it larger. Click again to see it even larger.)

Cynthia

{ 0 comments }

Pebble in a Pond-Argentium Silver bowl with 24K Kum Boo

View of Bottom, showing the Kum Boo “pebble” that caused the “ripples” and “waves”

Detail view

{ 4 comments }

Some time ago, there was a discussion on Orchid about how to attach a commercial barrette finding to the back of a hand-made barrette.  I tried to describe my method, but, words are never as good as a picture.  Here are photos of both front and back of a barrette that I recently finished.

Barrette- Forged, with Marriage of Metals

The “frame” of this piece is forged Argentium Silver.  The interior section is marraige of metals made with AS (Argentium Silver) and nugold (also called jewelers’ bronze, or red brass).

Here is the back view:

Barrette finding is attached with wire

[click to continue…]

{ 2 comments }

Recently, I finished a neckpiece, and took it along to a family reunion. 

While showing it to a cousin, another relative came by, and suggested, “Oh, it looks like it could work this way too!”   “Hey, cool!” we think.     It looks good on my cousin both ways! She likes the idea of being able to have two looks with one piece of jewelry, too.   The problem is to make it hang well in both orientations, AND be easy for her arthritic fingers to manage.  Here is what I came up with for the pendant orientation.  It needed a pearl drop as a visual “punctuation mark”, and an M-shaped component which makes it hang correctly, and makes it easier to hook the parts together.  These two items are left at home in the jewelry box when she wants to wear the piece as a choker.

Sea-ish XIV

{ 1 comment }

I just finished teaching a weekend workshop at Metalwerx, and am very pleased at how much everyone learned and accomplished.  We started with how to hold a hammer, and began by making basic forms in bronze.  Participants then could continue to forge in bronze, or work with Argentium  Sterling Silver.  Demonstrations alternated with working time throughout the two days. Here are some images from the discussion at the end of the workshop.

{ 5 comments }