Wednesday, 12 November 2014

Metal work induction

Today we had our metal work induction. It was pretty interesting! There are so many different machines we can use. It was also interesting learning about grinders and welding etc as my boyfriend does this everyday.
Theres so many machines I forgot what they are. Theres a jewellery station, a welding station. Everywhere there are p.p.e signs saying what safety equipment you should be wearing. 
To practice with the equipment and metals i made...this faaaabulous ring!!I am actually quite proud of it!

To make this- 
-first i found a spare piece of copper that looked like it would be the right sort of width for a ring. Then I found my ring size by using the proper ring sizers and cut the piece of metal accordingly with some cutters that look like pliers. 
-Next i had to heat up the metal to make it more pliable. here is becky doing this

You have to use a blow torch to heat it until it starts glowing red. The flames that come off the copper turn green its really cool!
-You put the hot copper into water using pliers NOT HANDS and then take it out and its now pliable. 
-Then you put it in acid to clean it
- then i put a pattern on it using the emboss roller thingy where you roll the metal through.
-then put the two ends together using pliers- it doesn't matter about its shape right now
-you use a white cone shape and add water and move it about like pestle and mortar. This creates a white paste that you paint over the gap. this helps the silver stick or something
- then you put the tiny piece of silver on the gap.
-next you use a smaller blow torch not too close up to melt the silver and bind the two ends together
- the ring will be hot at the stage so dip it in the water again. 
-next put it in the acid because it will be all dirty
-then get the tool that looks like the ring sizer and put your ring on it and gently hammer the sides with a paper hammer until it is round.
- next you buff it to make it all shiny and pretty! 
-voila a lovely ring.
-he said to wash it with water and fairy liquid to get rid of the black but i actually quite like the black though I'm sure it will wear off over time.



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