More Copper Work

As usual I'm slow to add to my blog.  I forget to take the pictures as I start a new project but this time I remembered before I got too far.

Some time ago my Dad worked some copper pipe on his lathe for me to turn into bracelets.  The first couple attempts didn't turn out so good but I kept the rejects figuring I eventually do something with them.  It's eventually. As you can see the pipe was lopsided and dented.  The Knurling was pretty deep and uneven.  

I used my Dad made grinding wheel to knock off as much of the knurling as I could.

 The center was cut too deep for me to get it totally clean but I kept working at it.  After using the grinding wheel I worked at it with files and was able to knock off some more of the texture. I got it as clean as I could and decided to work with the marks that were left.  I annealed it and marked it for forming.

I used my new stakes and hammers to reshape the metal.
 

I used the sharp, straight edge of a jewelers hammer (not shown) to add more directional marks all over the surface of the bracelet. I hammered the edges with the same hammer for added interest.

Then I used my saw to open the tube into a cuff and rounded off the open edges with a file.   I liked what I had.  It was simple but eye catching.

 Once I was happy with the texture and shape I gave it a good polish with a brass brush on my flex shaft.  Then it got a coat of wax.
 

From old plumbing pipe to shinning bracelet.  Then to my mother's arm.  She was very happy.

Another New Year

Some people may think I'm unusual but like so many other people I do use the start of a new year to make good intentioned changes and finish old projects.  Doesn't mean that it always sticks but some things are just tradition. 

I recently inherited a bunch of sewing stuff so in addition to cleaning my work area I had to find room for the new stuff I brought in.  To start I had to clear a space to fit an awesome sewing table built by my Dad.  He's a thoughtful craftsman and built this table with a recess to fit the sewing machine.  It makes a nice 4 foot square work surface.  That gives me plenty of work room and enough extra room for my other two machines.  I can just pull them forward when I want to use them.

Making room for the table, in my usual method, I made a mess on top of the mess I already had.  One thing besides making messes that I'm good at doing is finding room for new things and throwing away things I don't use.
 

 Isn't this a great table?  I did have to have help from my brother and his boys to get it from the upstairs at my fathers to the basement of my home.  Thank you brother and nephews!!

Dad even attached an electrical outlet to the side of the table so I don't have to crawl under it to plug everything in.  In this case my nephew earned that chore (plugging in).

This table was piled high with sewing, soldering and forming supplies.  I did take a before picture but it wasn't in focus.  The hanging bar clock belongs to my oldest son.  I'll be glad when he finally settles somewhere and can take it home with him.

This is another Dad built table.  It's taller than a normal table and wide so I can lay out material.  It also has extra support attached to the underside to stand up to heavy use. It's my everything table.  I cut material, hammer and solder metal, cut glass, paint, work polymer clay, do lampwork and nearly everything else on this table.  

Even though I didn't have to move my jewelers bench I did clean it off.  I find that the more I work the smaller my work space gets until there isn't a clear space left.  This table really needed cleaning.

Here's where I do my beading.  Not very clean and never is.  I usually have several projects going and plunked various areas on the table.  You can see a few strands of beads and a container of mixed beads.  Since I took this picture I did put the book away and finish the necklace I was stringing.  It was a simple necklace, just a lot of mixed seed beads strung on 3 long lines, then braided.  One of those mindless kind of projects.  Next to the beading station you can see a TV.  It's a great place to watch jewelry DVD's and programs such as Project Runway and Project Accessory.  I also really like the DIY home design programs.

That's my start of 2012 story.  Always the hope that the new year will bring inspiration and the time to follow it through.