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Making cones from sterling

Jewelry Discussion
#1

Hello there,

It’s been a long time since my last posting at this forum (3 years
ago?), but I’ve been reading your postings every day!

I have a question and couldn’t find the answer in the archieves.

I am making chaines (vicking chaines, from the book from Irene From
Petersen). I want to finish them with cones.

Anyone suggestion on how to make small cones? I’ve tried with my
bezelblock, but the openings were to wide. I want the opening in the
point not more then 2 mm, so I can transport a 1,5 mm wire through
for the eye of the clasp. The other end may vary from 6 to 4 mm.

Thanks for your time on helping me.
Greetings,
Marlein Bong
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
www.bong.nl

#2

To make the silver cones you might try this:

Take a small tapered mandrel which tapers down to less than the two
mm you want for the hole in the tip. I have one that I think I got
from Rio.If you can’t find one with the taper you want, you could
have a machinist cut one for you. That will cost a few bucks, but it
would last forever, Wrap a piece of paper around the mandrel and
draw lines around the circumference of the mandrel at the points
where you want the ends of the cone to be. Draw another line between
these two lines along the axis of the mandrel so that the line is
over the under layer of paper. Tape the two layers of paper
together so they don’m move in relation to each other. Remove the
paper from the mandrel and cut along these lines. You now have a
pattern which you can use to scribe the layout on the metal. I
suggest drawing slightly outside the lines to allow for thickness of
the silver. Make one pattern just the way you want it and use that
for a master to scribe the rest of them. I know there is a
geometrical method to do the same thing but why complicate things
when it’s not necessary? The metal can then be formed over the
mandrel using a rawhide hammer and a wood block. If you’re going to
use a lot of these however, it seems to me it would be a whole lot
easier and more cost effective to buy them from one of the supply
houses who have that sort of thing. Jerry in Kodiak

#3

While making cones shaped forms successfully is very dependant upon
using the right mandrels and tools, starting with the correct shape
sheet will minimise the metal moving requirements. Cone Layout is a
shareware program which might help. It can be found at
http://www.pulserate.com No commercial conflict of interest and I’ve
only used it a few times but well worth the disk space for my older
freeware version. Jeff

Demand Designs
Analog/Digital Modelling & Goldsmithing
http://www.aztec-net.com/~jdemand

#4

Hello Jerry, Long time since Orchid Tucson. I fondly remember both of
you.

The suggestions you made online are rather excellent. I wonder if
the following can also be used?

Knitting needles as a template. I just purchased a book “Knitting
With Wire” after having seen an incredibly beautiful bracelet on Oya
Borahan’s site.

Knitting With Wire
by Nancie M. Wiseman
$11.87
Media: Paperback
ISBN/ASIN : 1931499314
Manufacturer : Interweave Press
Release data : 01 April, 2003

http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books/us/product/1931499314.htm

I had contacted her directly about the technique, and knitting
needles were used.

Yesterday I handled a pair here at home, and after reading your
post, I wondered if the pointed ends could be used to make the
template. They do come in many sizes and I know I see a use there.

Thanks,
Terrie

#5

With regard to making cones in metal, I have used a layout guide
found in Harold O’Connor’s “The Jeweler’s Bench Reference.” You can
make any size or shape. Works for me, anyway.

<edit>
Jewelers Bench Reference
Harold O'Connor
$11.95
Media: Spiral-bound
Dunconor Books
Release data : 01 June, 1977 

http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books/us/product/0918820030.htm

-BK in AK