Thursday 29 December 2016

Copper triangle

It's been ages since I showed you anything from my silversmithing classes.  I was working on some hollow domes, but I couldn't get them to solder together and gave up.  I will go back to them at a later date, when my head is a bit better.  

I moved on to a different hollow form, I chose a triangle.



This is the copper prototype.  Silver is expensive and it can be worthwhile having a go in copper first, especially as I love copper and wear copper jewellery too.  It started with a long thin piece of copper (5mm thin, about 8cm long) that I had to score very heavily.  I pulled it round and soldered the join.  This was then soldered to piece of sheet copper  which I had run through the rolling mill with a piece of lace to imprint a pattern on it. 



The second side was soldered on - you can see the solder really well in this picture.



The sheet was pierced with a saw close to the edge, then the filing began.  And continued.  And continued.  And then out came the sandpaper... I still have some way to go!

I have now started on the silver version, thinking I'd do some sanding over Christmas, I took some photos to show you the beginning of the process, but they were on my old phone...  I will show you again when both pieces are completed.

4 comments:

Jane said...

that sounds like hard work, look forward to seeing the finished article

Anonymous said...

That is really cool! I wish so much I could pick up my silversmithing again but at the moment time and money and the lack of anything close make it a nonstarter.

Rachel said...

Silversmithing clearly involves at least as much perspiration as inspiration!

Sarah in Stitches said...

This looks really amazing! I'd love to learn how to do it. Copper is a great-looking metal! :D