Demo: Make a Sterling Silver & Turquoise Ring
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- čas přidán 20. 07. 2017
- Step-by-Step silversmithing with Molly from Sunwest Silver Co in Albuquerque, NM. Learn to make a beautiful Sterling Silver ring with a cabochon, from start to finish.
All Rights Reserved Sunwest Silver Co Inc
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Sunwest Silver Co Inc is a family owned business that began with Ernest Montoya selling beautiful Native handmade jewelry out of his car on the road, after he came back from the war in Vietnam. By 1970 he had established what we know today as Sunwest Silver Co Inc.
Today, the Montoya family works together every day, still following their passion for Turquoise and beautiful Native American handmade jewelry and arts. As the owner and operator of the Carico Lake, Badger, Falcon, New Lander Turquoise mines in the Southwestern USA, we provide distinctive stone for our jewelry artists, and fulfill our love of mining!
Whether you are an avid collector, producing your own jewelry or new to the Turquoise addiction, we can supply you with the Turquoise of your choice in handmade Native American jewelry, rough, cabochons, beads or chips.
Visit Us
www.SunwestSilver.com
Retail/Wholesale Outlet & Main Office
Sunwest Silver Co. Inc
324 Lomas Blvd NW
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
505.243.3781 or 800.771.3781
505.843.6183 FAX
Info@SunwestSilver.com
/ sunwestsilver
Thanks!!
Oh wow! Never knew about the sawdust!
Congratulations, great job. Thanks for sharing. Greetings straight from Brazil.
Thanks Carlos!
Great work. Would love to see you display it at the end! Thanks
awesome ring
Thank you Molly! Loved this Video!
Thanks so much Janice!
In learned some new techniques for making a ring. Thank you.
That's great, thank you Cat!
Excellent thanks for posting , enjoyed your video!
My most favorite video,great information! Thanks for making them!
Thanks so much!! :)
I would love to learn under you! I learn better hands on. I hope to be able to create pieces of my own soon! Your piece is beautiful, the stone really does steal the show!
Thank you so much Sabrina! :)
I really enjoyed watching you i look forward to watching more thank you
Thanks so much Sheena!
looks AWESOME.. Bless your hands.
and thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much Bentley
Thank you for Sharing your talented skill..
Loved watching you work. Gorgeous ring..
Thanks so much!
Loving your work 😊
Thanks Steven! Have a great week :)
Second time watching this video!!
You are AWESOME!!!!
Thanks so much Cory! :)
Miss molly would love for you to do a dvd on the proper techniques I enjoy your you tube videos but would really love to see a buyable instruction dvd on the how to's and why"s ...Beautiful work by the way!
Thanks Kip! Passing your message on to Molly. We appreciate that!
Thanks, Kip, that's a great idea. Glad you enjoyed my video.
Wow
Great video, you make this not look scary. I'm picking up the tools and hoping to learn silversmithing so that I can enhance my art pieces with silver. I really want to learn jewelry making and hopefully move up to integrating silver into the mixed media art. So much to learn, facing one fear at a time. Thank you for the video!
Keep at it Irene! You will love it! Thanks for writing in.
great job, thanks for sharing XD
Thanks Carlos!
You are awesome! There is nothing arrogant or pretentious about you! I would love to pay you to hang out for a few days in your shop and learn some things. Thank you very much for sharing, Cory
Thanks so much Cory!
You probably dont care at all but does someone know of a tool to get back into an Instagram account?
I somehow forgot the login password. I would love any assistance you can give me!
@Michael Brysen Instablaster :)
@Zev Arlo i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site on google and im waiting for the hacking stuff now.
Takes a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Zev Arlo It did the trick and I now got access to my account again. I'm so happy!
Thanks so much, you really help me out!
White diamond compound is what I use for stropping my swivel knife when I go to tool leather. I have been wanting to learn how to make my own rings as well so this video is helping. Thank you
Thanks Joshua!
You're welcome, what kind of inexpensive metals would be good for a beginner?
Hi Joshua, Brass, and copper are similar to work with and most suppliers carry that material. I prefer Handy Flux and think it's great for beginners.
Thank you for responding. Brass and copper, got it, how would I go about keeping them from turning colors on people's fingers?
That's an on going issue, I've used clear nail polish on the inside and a clear spray. The nail polish worked best. Others think the color change on your skin has some health benefit.
Hi Molly .... one question ... How thick is the flat wire (minute 9:04) that you use for the ring? thank you very much!!!!!!!
Thanks for your quick response...what brand of tourch do you use and what kind of gas?
Hi Steve, I use this torch www.riogrande.com/product/smith-silver-smith-acetylene-and-air-torch-kit-without-tank/500105 and a "B" acetylene tank. The regulator mixes in air from the enviroment. Hope this helps, Steve and happy soldering.
Could one not file the bezel to the proper level for the stone first so as not to need the sawdust? Won't polishing after patina (LOS) take it off (too much)? Beautiful ring!! Thank you for sharing.
Hi Gabby, sure you can file the bezel down to accept the stone at it's height but sometimes a higher set stone is part of the esthetics. Also using sawdust under the stone does give a cushion in case of impact. Different people use different methods to raise or lower the stone in the setting so you certainly have license do what works best for you. This is just one method. Thanks for taking the time to contact me.
Yes, you certianly can, it does leave a jagged edge, though.
Sorry so late I missed your question
Hello! What happens if moisture gets into the sawdust? Or is that not an issue? Also, when you used zam, you said, “this helps protect the stone”. What did you mean? Lovely ring!
The saw dust helps protect the stone by absorbing impact. Clening your pieces carfully so as not to get the saw dust too wet. I hope this is helpful.
hey Molly love the video ! Could you please tell me what torch you are you using and who carries them I have been looking for some time .I am guessing it is a propane air but cant seem to find one anywhere other than the Orca / EZ torch
The torch I use is a Smith® Silversmith™ .
www.riogrande.com/product/smith-silversmith-acetylene-and-air-torch-kit-without-tank/500105
This comes with a #00 tip which is very small, I prefer the #1 tip
www.riogrande.com/product/smith-silversmith-acetylene-and-air-soldering-tip-1/500157
I've also used a Presto Light which works well, but I'm not sure if they're still available.
I hope this helps.
www.riogrande.com/product/smith-silversmith-acetylene-and-air-torch-kit-without-tank/500105
Sorry for the late reply
Hi Thank you for the video ! I have a question : I don't understand what are you using at 15:00 ? Do you let this powder under the turquoise ?
Thank you
Hi Laurent, I am using a sifted hardwood saw dust. It helps to adjust the height of the stone and also protects the stone if impacted. I get it from a custom door shop and sift it through regular screen. Hope this helps.
Thank you ;-)
what gauge did you use for the bezel and backing material?
The bezel was 28 gauge and the back plate was 26.
You do great work. Can you tell me what type and brand of flux you're using? Thanks in advance, I appreciate your help.
I use Handy Flux by LucasMilhaupt, I've used it since I began silversmithing in highschool. I think it works great,
you can use a yellow orchre applied where you don't want solder to flow on more intricate pieces. Hope this helps and keep on smithing.
@@mollymcgrane4343 Thanks for your quick reply, and for taking the time Molly!
That’s my home and I moved there in 1969...I moved away 1978...I worked at Presbyterian Hospital as a ER Tech...did u come across the Zachary’s? We use to sit in there front room and string Squash blossom necklaces...I think he was the go-between, the Native Americans, (which I am from northern NM, Pueblo), and the tourist market. I have so much Hopi and Navajo jewelry...do u take special custom orders?
Hello Mike, thank you for writing in. My name is Jaimee, I work for Sunwest. That's a great story to hear about the Zachary family. They are well-known, very respected in the industry and long time friends of the owners of Sunwest. I will give you a number here to call about special orders. 1-800-771-3781. Thank you very much for writing in!
I have a piece of cripple Creek turquoise that needs to be set in a ring . Can you send me the information to contact your company to have a blank ring made so the stone can be set ? Thank you hard finding a silver Smith .. ty an nice work
Hi there! We don't necessary do that kind of custom work but you can check with Molly on that. Email her at Info@SunwestSilver.com. Thanks so much!
@@SunwestSilverCoInc awna! I spoke with Michael yesterday I called . Very professional enjoyed my chat. Yes I'll be calling Monday 9 am your time to get Molly's info . I greatly appreciate this . An I'll shop with sunset , you guys are the first to be this professional! Thank you and have a wonderful weekend !
@@truthstartshere.9214 Thank you so much! That is great to hear. You have a great weekend too :) Jaimee
My silver is flowing up onto the bezel instead of attaching to the back on the piece I'm soldering it to. Help!!
Heather, the bezel is getting hot before the plate silver, try lifting and edge of the plate silver and heating it from underneath. You can also get a screen that help heat everthing evenly. www.riogrande.com/product/steel-heavy-duty-heating-screen/502010
You need to heat the plate up more and keep your torch moving, I hope this answer isn't too late, sorry.
I'm struggling with my soldering. I watch these and do all I'm supposed to and end up melting something or nothing come together etc. I need to find someone to go in and get better training.
I appreciate your effort you put into this tutorial but i have some big question marks at some points! When people who are new to silversmithing will look this, they will make some huge mistakes: dropping your metal pliers into your pickle( at 7:28) will copper plate your next pieces you will put into the pickle.
I quench my hot silver pieces in water first to cool it down, dropping hot pieces in pickle will cause it to splash and we do not want pickle solution on our skin or in our eyes (new silver smithes are looking close to everything they do...)
Please do not use gloves when using power tools like polishing machines, even not with disposable gloves, it can cost you some fingers!
Please do not touch your torch at the tip every time before you fire it up, it can still be too hot to touch, did you wanna burn your fingers?
Hi Diana,
Thank you for taking the time to respond to our post. I've been a silversmith for over 40 years and have become very comfortable with the torch so some of my methods may be for a more seasoned smith.
I did want to address your issues one at a time.
At 7:28 I did dip my tweezers in the pickle but this was quick and this won't effect the acid adversely or cause your next piece to be copper plated although, leaving the tweezers in the pickle will defiantly do that. Also, I find that sliding a piece into the acid hot makes the process of removing the flux much quicker while annealing the piece, there was sizzling but no splashing.. The gloves I use with the polishing machine were rubber gloves that release, rip and tear off easily, the gloves are not clothe so there is no risk of finger lose. I don't recall touching my torch tip but again, forty years later I have yet to burn myself with the torch tip. I appreciate your input and will keep in mind that the beginners out there are keeping a close eye.
Thanks!
Molly
For this exact reason, I agree with Diana. Beginners may not know they should not dip their fingers in the acid, solder with loose hair or know about higher standards in finishing a bezel. While you have generously offered your time in preparing the video, it is rather worrying to offer it to beginners.
Hi,
Great video! I first got involved in silversmithing in High school... I spend 10 years doing other jobs but finally came back to it.
I wanted to caution you on your use of gloves while polishing.
I am originally a welder by trade, and I understand that polishing is dirty. You may want to keep the compound away from your hands, and you think because the gloves are just thin rubber gloves you are safe from it being grabbed.
You are very wrong though... I lost the front knuckle of my index finger when a hydraulic flywheel I had welded up a crack in grabbed my rubber glove, and pulled my hand in.
If you want to continue smithin your way that is fine, but when you make a video directed at beginners you need to make sure you are above par when it comes to safety. Dropping things in pickle, wearing gloves around machinery, and not wearing safety glasses are all behaviors that we need to teach the beginner.
Did she not solder the braided wire to the silver? I didn't see her use solder
Hi Heather, I did use a small amount of wire solder and solder flows in the direction of the heat so what actually happened was the solder from the bezel flowed to complete the joint. Wire solder at 6.19
@@mollymcgrane4343thank you!! So the solder flowed twice for the second wire?
What is the caliber of your material ?
I'm using 26 gauge silver sheet and 30 gauge fine silver bezel, hope that helps. I also used a #5 low dome for the shank.
@@mollymcgrane4343
Thank you very much, you are a wonderful artist and teacher
My respects
Can't see what your doing and your going too fast
Thanks for your input Andrea. :)
Frustrating to watch as Molly is off-camera at critical junctures.
We'll keep that in mind going forward, thanks Elaine
Are there particular off camera moments I could recreate for you?