new tool

I finally got a GRS Benchmate on Thursday. I used to use one at my old job, I think it's great. I can't believe I waited so long to get one for myself, especially since I love work holding tools so much.

trying to fold the vase

I was pushing out the strips of metal on the vase last week. I made a pusher out of delrin and a file handle.


Pushing the things out went ok.




Folding did not go so well.


There are certain edges I need to trim down a bit so the piece fits together better. I need to cut about 1mm off about half the edges. The piece is not very rigid because it is pierced everywhere, so trimming these edges will take a while. I haven't worked on the piece since this point. I was annoyed about the extra work I will have to do, and I have some other things I need to do, so this vase can wait.

done piercing

I finished the piercing today.


I am going to sand it while its still flat. In this photo I am sanding what will be the inside of the piece. I don't think I will use the palm sander to sand the outside cause even with fine grit sand paper it sometimes leaves little squiggly scratches that are hard to get off and I don't like the way they look. The final finish on the piece will probably be 400 grit sandpaper.

I need to decide on a patina. Maybe a light liver of sulfur patina. That's kind of boring, but I don't know of anything else that I like.

It's been a little while since I last posted. I had been busy with other things, so I didnt have time to work on my copper vase at all till the other day. The piercing is almost finished, I will probably finish piercing Sunday night.

*****

Entries are due July 1st for Lark Books 500 Plastic Jewelry. I don't normally work with plastic, but I think I am going to try to make a piece or two in delrin to enter the book.