Damn it, I thought I was subbed to you a couple of years ago. Iv missed so many great lessons 😔 iv heard lots of great things about Alan Reveres books. I made sure I'm subbed this time so I can see all your vids
@@MelissaMuir oh don't you worry that was already my thinking myself lol.. I started my silversmith journey about 8yeaes ago now so I'm pretty good if I do say so myself but I'm the kind who loves to soak in all the knowledge and tips I can from some of the great ones like yourself. Soham Harrison thought me a hell of lot and not mention Andrew Berry over my side of the Pond.. We can never stop learning new things and think we know it al,l so thats why I really appreciate the work you and others I mentioned do in passing on your wisdom, so thank you so much 🙏🏼.. much love from Ireland Melissa ☺️👋🏼
@@MelissaMuir you are very welcome, and thank you 🙏🏼. Iv been subscribed to you a couple of years but for whatever reason I havnt saw your vids in my feed but now they are appearing again thank God. RU-vid is terrible for that sometimes lol.. take care and all the best ☺️
I love these videos you are doing. Another way to easily divide a ring shank into even segments: Use a compass to draw a one inch circle on paper (I prefer 3x5 cards). At the center point draw crossed lines at evenly spaced angles, dividing the circumference by 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, or 12 using a protractor. Lay the ring on the card, centered over the circle. The lines will show you the even divisions and where to make your reference marks. Laminate these templates so you can reuse them. It will save you some of the trial and error.
Thank you for showing us how you work thru these projects! I know you are an accomplished professional artist, as I can certainly see in your (gorgeous! ^_^)previous work/videos and the years upon years of videos you have up on youtube showcasing not only your expertise but your creativity that has certainly inspired me, and been a joy to watch.... I just wanted to note (as you yourself have stated as well in an older project video? That you yourself may seem to be "stumbling" thru these projects at times [hardly!] because you are also learning along with us...), I REALLY appreciate the fact that you show us those learning curves and/or minor hurdles, or "stumbles" you have to work thru as you follow the projects in his book. Haha ^_^ I guess what I'm trying to say ultimately is... the fact that you do not edit these all out? Thank you. I'm also excited to learn from Alan AND FROM YOU as well, so thank you for sharing your journey with us!!
Melissa, so glad to see you working with more silver in these videos. I would have loved if you included how to measure the wire length for the size of the ring (that includes the metal thickness, etc. ) Such a most important first step. without that, there’s no way to start. And it’s not as easy as it seams. And when you show us the file to clean up the inside, what kind of file are you using? (#) and how are you filing the stock flat, if you’re holding the file on and angle? I assume your holding the stock at an angle, but that seems scary, like I’d file down my size by the time I get it even a n both sides. I was wondering, do you not ever use the little miter cutting vice for filing flat ends? That helps me a lot, but I’m only intermediate.
Sadly, because I do all of the video work and such by myself, sometimes the angles are a little difficult to see in the video. when I file with the file at an angle, the material being filed is held at the same angle. I am attempting to stay as close to the directions in the book as possible during this video series, at the request of Alan Revere. He has told me time and time again "It works if you will just follow the instructions as I have written them. No changes, No adaptations, just follow it." So I agreed that I would do as he requested. Now, that isn't to say that I stick with that all the time when I am not filming the projects for the book. I totally use my miter vise all the time! But like I said, for this particular series, I am following it as it has been written in the book.
Thanks Melissa, your videos help so much. I have such a hard time filling the ends of the metal straight. The ends never match up and I waste a lot of metal trying.
Melissa, if I were wanting to make many of those rings, would it work if I made an ~8" version on half-round stock and use it to make a mold that would yield roped stock in 1/2 size increments for a few rings shanks from each? Your finished ring was gorgeous, but for me, 2 days of work would yield a ring I don't think I can properly price at $25/hr. Most of the design would be cast, with additional filing needed, after soldering, to finish the ring.
Yes, I think that would work nicely. I think it might change the shape of it a little when you curve it around to make the ring, but without trying it out, I am not entirely sure what would happen. Keep in mind, this did take some time, but I had to stop and mom a few times and it also takes longer to make when filming. The more of them you make, the faster and easier it will become. I still think it would take a couple of hours at minimum to make, but perhaps I haven't made enough to really know. I would love to hear your results if you decide to make a mold and such.
Danny, yes, true, Melissa is not showing a high yield production method. I think the point of the exercise is to master the use of your files. If I wanted to make a lot of rings in this design in a hurry for money, I would carve one in wax using burs in a flexshaft, cast a master model, then use that in a rubber mold to make many wax copies. Cast them in a gang, and polish them with a tumbler and finish with tripoli and rouge. You would get the time spent on each down to a much more reasonable, billable increment. Just my humble opinion.
