Hi Friends, I don’t recall ever having seen a thread specifically
along these lines over the years, but thought I would open it up. I’m
trying to improve my productivity to have enough inventory so I can
consider doing a series of shows without having to return to the
studio every week. Typically working on one of a kind pieces, one at a
time, I realize that won’t work. I don’t really want to become a
“production house.”
I have a vibratory tumbler, which is starting to see more use, but
I’m wondering what techniques you folks out there might have picked
up, or developed, that have made a difference in your output. Of
course, working on a dozen of one thing would improve efficiency. For
example, how do you keep a dozen bezels for a dozen different stones
properly “assigned” after having pickled them?
Kind of an open-ended question to see what might pop up in
conversation…
While I’m not taking as much advantage of it in jewelry to date as I
ought, I’ve long seen the benefits of “economies of scale” in other
types of fabrication. Depending on the project, I like to do between
2-5 of an item; it takes maybe twice as long as doing one, depending
on number, and yet isn’t so much like a factory to be unpleasant. I’m
beginning work on some jewelry to which I hope to apply the same
principles now, to start making some money doing hand-fabricated
pieces and not just real production.
When I’m working on a number of projects, I like to keep the bits for
each one in its own separate place, like a jar, a ziplock, etc.
trying to improve my productivity, how do you keep a dozen bezels
for a dozen different stones properly "assigned" after having
pickled them?
Dave, I work in series, usually 12 at a time, often similar shapes,
the same size cabs, etc. I lightly scribe numbers 1 through 12 on the
inside of each bezel before soldering and the matching number on the
backing piece under where the cab will be set and with a fine line
Sharpie on each stone. Saves a lot of time when you get everything set
up to solder and assemble and doesn’t come off in the pickle. If I get
interrupted, I have a bunch of empty Altoid tins and put each set into
one, then put all into a plastic shoe box.
Hi Dave, I usually make a small run of hand made rings and brooch
pins, kind of contemporary Celtic design. I could of course cast them
but that defeats the purpose as I advertise “handwrought.” Usually I
would take my sheet of gold and mark on the designs (10 rings, 10
brooches) then I would chase (repousse) the designs all at the same
time then mark and drill all at the same time then pierce them, etc.,
etc. I bring them all along the steps together even if I have an
order for 4 or five. With response to many different bezels in the
pickle pot. I have plastic compartments that sit into my pickle with
many holes drilled to let the pickle in and out. Ed Dawson
do you keep a dozen bezels for a dozen different stones properly
"assigned" after having pickled them?
When I have a lot of small components, bezels, etc., that may all
look alike, I scratch a Roman numeral on the inside, and put a
similar mark on the stone or label that component on a sketch. This
is a bench tip used by carpenters over 100 years ago. Just look at
the beams and joints in an old house…
Dave: when I have multipul pieces that I am working on and each has a
seperate and unequal piece assigned to it I usually just mark both
matching pieces with a small scratched letter or number. To mark
stones I use a sharpie pen on the back of the stone or keep them in
marked containers. The scratched in numbers are very light and polish
away in the finishing process. I also suggest you check out the
magnetic tumblers and see if they will suit your needs. I use mine on
all my castings and am very pleased with the results. They leave a
really nice burnished finish. Frank Goss
For example, how do you keep a dozen bezels for a dozen different
stones properly "assigned" after having pickled them?
You might try collecting the bezels in the correct sequence on a
length of copper wire before pickling. If some of them a small enough
to slip through the center of others, put the bezel on the wire &
give the wire a twist or two to keep the bezel in place.
Dave, I start anywhere from 5 to 10 pieces at a time. Somewhere on
the piece where it won’t show in the finished work I use an etching
pen to put a number or letter. Then you can mark a bag or box or
paper cup with the same number/letter to keep your stones in. It has
helped me a lot.
Deb Karash (working as fast as I can to get ready for my first
Philadelphia show)
Hi all, I use a crock pot with a plastic lid for pickle. On the top
of the lid I keep a small pyrex beaker for very small parts; rivets
etc. The beaker fits on top of the lid in the raised circle and the
rising heat is sufficient for these small jobs.