Feels like as fast as it started it is fast coming to a end.
Nothing like finishing the apprenticeship with wrap around rings. With this we do some more metal forging. Take some half round thick gage wire and hammer it on each side with two different hammer elongating and flatting each side. Once it is hammered comes the trickiness of designing something so small. I mean this is a tiny area to design, let alone engrave. With time I come up with some eagle designs that you will see below.
Measure out my wire then make my cuts with my jewelers saw.
Hammered both sides deflecting material in the direction I want it to go. We use half round because it is comfortable for the customer. After it is hammered I will file both sides getting rid of any sharp edges.
Create my design.
Put my design on gold and cut it out.
Cutting is tricky since it is so small. Notice I only cut the nose out.
Time to file. Next I will do the eye and tail. All my edges will need to be cleaned up. The backs of each piece has to be perfectly flat for soldering.
All cleaned up. Ready to become one with the ring.
Fluxing my ring.
Soldiering on nose, eye and tail.
Record my length. File the rough edges clean.
Form into a ring.
Bending this ring is tough because of the thick gage of Sterling silver, but we I get it done.
Make sure my ring is the size we wanted. Time to polish.
Started this process with silver twice. Ended by doing it with gold I melted down and rolled out my self.
Kinda sad that it is ending as all things do. Looking forward to taking my new skills to use for future projects. I learned so many things in this apprenticeship. Melting down and rolling out my own material. Chasing and reprousse, technique of hammering the metal on both sides giving a three dimensional look. Metal forging like I did with these rings above. Soldering different metals from copper, silver to gold. Pushing my self to design within the area provided, even when they are very very small.
I am so thankful to Greg for taking me on as his apprentice. Greatly enjoyed my time with him pushing my abilities to the next level. Most importantly increasing my friendship with him. Friends are worth their weight in gold. I cherish him in this regard.Thank you Greg.
Would also like to thank Chilkoot Indian Association for giving me this opportunity to improve my abilities and skills for traditional knowledge. My most sincere appreciation for making this happen.
Thank you to all who have followed my blog entries. Hope you follow my journey on social media at the following links below.
Much appreciation
Rob Martin
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