Excitment plus - when Flirt Design posted that they would be getting Charles Lewton-Brain in for classes in November I have been checking back almost daily - when it was posted last night I almost called them at midnight to book
Its a 3 day master class - with THE MASTER Nov 18,19 and 20 - downtown Toronto
at Flirt Designs -
if you have not seen what this man does - check out this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBRnJp8gKys
I have been teaching myself fold forming for a number of years off and on - more off than on - so now I will learn how to do it properly
More Playing with Niobium - sponging method
On the weekend I played more with Niobium - the problem is its over so fast - what takes the longest is preparing your metal for dipping - as with any project its get it to its most final stage before annodizing your metal - with Niobium you cannot solder - I thnk you can spot weld or something but that is not in the current budget to find out as yet . So its basically straight forward single pieces or cold connections such as rivets or tiny tiny screws - which I got from RMS (Reactive Metal Studios)
so I prepared some rounded edge square and some small hearts for earrings - wire -crimped - punched holes and cleaned - but this time dapped them in a wooden dap set I have - I noticed that when metal on metal mashing I get gall or a metal rubbing on metal sort of stain on the metal that is hard to clean up - using the wooden dap set was way better
then I cleaned again and I read that if you want a nice shiny surface put them in the tumbler with some shot - I put in for about 1 hours as that is all you really need - and they came out nice and shinny - which gives it a better reflective surface - I use dish soap - usually the blue Dawn and put a squirt in and just enough water to cover the shot - once out of the shot I rinse and try not to handle too much and put any finger oils onto the piece
Now this time I wanted to try the sponge method - this is having the red anode attached to the piece - using that nifty one I got from RMS that has a niobium tip that locks onto the piece and I put a piece of sea sponge clipped into the black anode ( keeping the rubber sleeve over the clip )
I soaked it in the tsp/water solution (supposed to be distilled water and tsp but I used bottle water or my filtered well water that has no chemicals in - I will buy a bottle this week and try to see if any difference in color application )
Now I got confused - cause it worked - about the stainless steel anode - but I think the stainless steel on the alligator clip may be the secret to it working as I've seen them put the piece on stainless steel to apply - but I held the red with the piece in my hand and dabbed with the black/sponge
I did plain - crimped some and made some crimped earrings using this method -
in the end I ended up dipping the parts at 75 amps to get the nice purple background on both sides (as sponging only colors the side you sponge ) then up to 95 and then to 115 to get some varigation of color - and I love it
in love with this method
Quick Niobium video
So I did a quick video tonight on quickly and I mean quickly anodizing a piece of niobium
I propped up my phone so its not a great video but it gives you an idea just how fast and magical it is
took a long time to upload -
When I said temperature - I meant voltage
of course I really needed fresh dip - just distilled water /I was using bottled or my well water that is filtered and tsp and this can affect how strong your colors are as well
Using a paint brush with Niboium -
I did a quick fix last night just to try using a paint brush with the niobium - I didnt have an extra black anode and putting it on a round feral on the brush it popped off frequently so I grabbed a hammer and flattened the feral and the clip easily went onto the flat piece and did not pop off - was not an expensive brush - but it was a quick fix to play - but I do want to make brushes with the anode fixed to it as I think its safer that way it has a rubber out side holding it place and you wont shock yourself
and painted on some niobium
reactive metals has a cool pdf outlining how to create them along with instructions on page 5
Gotta Blog more - which mean I need to make things to show - Niobium Jewellery
the only thing I got even close to making last weekend was some new niobium pieces for earrings
which I'll wire up possibly this weekend so I can start to accumulate more things for my show
Just playing with basic shapes like rounded squares and circles - the squares I cut from 30 G niobium that I get from Reactive Metals
(same price rio grande sells as well- since they get through RMS) the hole punch tool is really nice from them much sturdier than the one I had before (the old one on same material broke after about 5 uses- I can still get the pieces to fit and repair ) this new one just seams more solid - got from RMS.
Actually anodizing takes such little time and prep time for the metal takes the longest - its so cool to see instant results !
The circles I bought as circles 7/8" from RMS - pumched the holes with the hole punch they sell and then domed them with my dapping block - one of the great things is the chemicals you use are household - tsp - is a soap - and that is the dipping bath - of course there is a sheet of stainless steel in the bath (cathode) attached to the black anode and the plastic sheeting that protects that sheet from you touching your positive pieces and causing and arc can be bought at michaels in the section where they do embroidery - (also check Caswell in the USA and Caswell in Canada for anodizing kits - includes anodizer - good price and comes with everything to start ) so after doming you need to take off any sharp edges with simple small files and sand paper/nail files then clean your pieces - Simple Green is one of the best products to take oils and dirt off - most metal is processed with a thin film of oil for cutting and this cleans it off - once done - if you want to have matching earrings you want to put them in side by side so that the lines of color are at the same level - to do this you must use either niobium or titanium wire to create a hanger (inverted V with little hooks on the end) of course size matters so that the ends fit into the holes you have punched and the red anode is clipped to the center ( rather than the alligator clip I got the cool clips RMS sells a mini grabber (the pushy thing has a niobium wire to clip to ) its smaller than the end of the alligator clip - from there its put on my rubber gloves and within miutes its done - rinse and voila - but its so much fun watching the bubbling action and the change in color is amazing such vibrant blues and purples, pinks and greens - I even tried resists - not great at it yet but getting there - resists is just a piece of plastic laminate - put onto the pice before you dip - just remember that the dolor you choose for your secondary will be at a lower voltage than what you do the rest of the non covered piece e.g the bigger portion was done at 85 or higher volts and the stars were done at 75 volts once I peeled the resist off - so many possibilities
another great site PDF : http://facstaff.swu.ac.th/supinya/anodizing.pdf
both anodizing niobium and aluminum a great read with pictures
which I'll wire up possibly this weekend so I can start to accumulate more things for my show
Just playing with basic shapes like rounded squares and circles - the squares I cut from 30 G niobium that I get from Reactive Metals(same price rio grande sells as well- since they get through RMS) the hole punch tool is really nice from them much sturdier than the one I had before (the old one on same material broke after about 5 uses- I can still get the pieces to fit and repair ) this new one just seams more solid - got from RMS.
Actually anodizing takes such little time and prep time for the metal takes the longest - its so cool to see instant results !
The circles I bought as circles 7/8" from RMS - pumched the holes with the hole punch they sell and then domed them with my dapping block - one of the great things is the chemicals you use are household - tsp - is a soap - and that is the dipping bath - of course there is a sheet of stainless steel in the bath (cathode) attached to the black anode and the plastic sheeting that protects that sheet from you touching your positive pieces and causing and arc can be bought at michaels in the section where they do embroidery - (also check Caswell in the USA and Caswell in Canada for anodizing kits - includes anodizer - good price and comes with everything to start ) so after doming you need to take off any sharp edges with simple small files and sand paper/nail files then clean your pieces - Simple Green is one of the best products to take oils and dirt off - most metal is processed with a thin film of oil for cutting and this cleans it off - once done - if you want to have matching earrings you want to put them in side by side so that the lines of color are at the same level - to do this you must use either niobium or titanium wire to create a hanger (inverted V with little hooks on the end) of course size matters so that the ends fit into the holes you have punched and the red anode is clipped to the center ( rather than the alligator clip I got the cool clips RMS sells a mini grabber (the pushy thing has a niobium wire to clip to ) its smaller than the end of the alligator clip - from there its put on my rubber gloves and within miutes its done - rinse and voila - but its so much fun watching the bubbling action and the change in color is amazing such vibrant blues and purples, pinks and greens - I even tried resists - not great at it yet but getting there - resists is just a piece of plastic laminate - put onto the pice before you dip - just remember that the dolor you choose for your secondary will be at a lower voltage than what you do the rest of the non covered piece e.g the bigger portion was done at 85 or higher volts and the stars were done at 75 volts once I peeled the resist off - so many possibilities
both anodizing niobium and aluminum a great read with pictures
Dear Inspiration - Where are you
It seems that this summer I have lost my muse /inspiration - I sit all day at work and think about what I'll do when I get home and what I want to try - but when I get there - POOF its gone - that push that excitement to rush to the studio to play and I have a big show end of October so it better kick in shortly I need more plates and cheese trays and cut up more dichro pendants - I have a pile to do so need to get on that -
I packed up the glass enamels and pens and sent them off to my class from ottawa - making a custom 3x4" copper plate for someone - will be finished tonight - I hope ...- my fish went to the Painted Perch (where it didnt even place - although I cant feel bad I had fun making and taking a lot of flack to trying and putting dichro in with the tempered - the one I thought would win - didnt place either ) but Ava got a 2nd for her fish so all was great
Now I cant really complain as I've spent a lot of time with my grandkids this summer - I am off every friday and we do things together - made some cool cards with my ava - the youngest last friday (plan to make more this friday ) she is learning all the techniques and anxious to go to the next creative festival to learn more
Mine
ava
ava
mine
ava
living room disaster
the company button biz sells the button backs and things to use with my button maker - and they have software on line that makes it easy to cut and paste what you want into the 2.25" circle - I use the badge-a-minute tools and they both love doing it
I packed up the glass enamels and pens and sent them off to my class from ottawa - making a custom 3x4" copper plate for someone - will be finished tonight - I hope ...- my fish went to the Painted Perch (where it didnt even place - although I cant feel bad I had fun making and taking a lot of flack to trying and putting dichro in with the tempered - the one I thought would win - didnt place either ) but Ava got a 2nd for her fish so all was great
Now I cant really complain as I've spent a lot of time with my grandkids this summer - I am off every friday and we do things together - made some cool cards with my ava - the youngest last friday (plan to make more this friday ) she is learning all the techniques and anxious to go to the next creative festival to learn more
Mine
ava
ava
mine
ava
living room disaster
and my other granddaughter was making buttons
the company button biz sells the button backs and things to use with my button maker - and they have software on line that makes it easy to cut and paste what you want into the 2.25" circle - I use the badge-a-minute tools and they both love doing it Classes in Ottawa !
Had a blast teaching in Ottawa at GSS Flameworking
this studio has room for up to 11 people - and great beginner classes as well - you can rent time if you dont have the space for a lampworking studio in your home or until you do
Great Lampworking supplies and tools - Grace (owner) has some great glass in stock
Grace also has gallery space you can rent by the month - it makes total sense to pay the rent and consign your work there - in most places they take a percentage of your sale here you just keep your rental space filled and if you sell 100.00 you get a 100.00 its a nice clean transaction ! I am definitely going to put my work up there for display - gong to have to get back there again shortly
The whole Ottawa area is lovely to visit and tour through
cant wait to go back
this studio has room for up to 11 people - and great beginner classes as well - you can rent time if you dont have the space for a lampworking studio in your home or until you do
Great Lampworking supplies and tools - Grace (owner) has some great glass in stock
Grace also has gallery space you can rent by the month - it makes total sense to pay the rent and consign your work there - in most places they take a percentage of your sale here you just keep your rental space filled and if you sell 100.00 you get a 100.00 its a nice clean transaction ! I am definitely going to put my work up there for display - gong to have to get back there again shortly
The whole Ottawa area is lovely to visit and tour through
cant wait to go back
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