Neat hollow body bench trick

Jewelry Discussion
1

I have been playing around with hollow brooches lately and have
found a cool way to keep pickle and water out of the release
hole. I soaked a toothpick in water and jammed it in the little
drill hole. The wood swelled to fill the hole and everything
stayed nice and dry inside. The surface gets clean and the last
soldering shuts the hole with a pinback.

Karen Christians
M E T A L W E R X
416 Main St.
Woburn, MA 01801
781/937-3532
http://www.metalwerx.com/
@metalart

Current Artwork:

2

OK Karen, as you said, “Neat bench trick.” I have two
questions for you:

  1. How did you treat it after the final soldering of the
    pinback? and

  2. If you or someone else ever has cause to repair one of your
    now sealed brooches, will there be any risks of explosion?

Thanks for your thoughts. MP

3

Hopefully it will never have to be repaired, but…if so, I will
drill another small hole first. I realize that I am taking a
chance here, and my next set of designs I plan to pierce a
decorative element into the piece, eliminating this hollow
problem altogether. My soldering skills are fairly solid, and I
can’t see any part breaking off unless you throw my brooches
down a set of stairs.

The final treatment is a brass brush finish. I hope to have
some pictures up soon.

-k
Karen Christians
M E T A L W E R X
416 Main St.
Woburn, MA 01801
781/937-3532
http://www.metalwerx.com/
@metalart

Current Artwork: