Torch Time with Lizz Barnes: Learn to Soften Metal

This is a great video teaching you how to soften metal with a butane torch!

Watch and learn! :D

Visit our ETSY shop for Supplies
at www.etsy.com/shop/gottagettadeal

Enjoy creating!
Lizz 

Safety Equipment and Metal Stamping Jewelry

 Safety Equipment and Metal Stamping Jewelry, what? why?

Passions, like metal stamping, may ebb and flow, 

but your body will be with you for your entire journey in this life.  

Taking care of it has to be a PRIORITY!

Here's a list of some helpful tips

1 - Safety Glasses - Always protect your eyes.  Jewelry making is close detail work, wearing a shatterproof pair of magnifying glasses is a simple and safe addition.

2 - Work Gloves - A thin pair of grippy gloves will save your hands.

3 - Ear Protection - You may not have thought of this one.  But constant hammering will eventually harm your hearing.  Protect it!

4 - Dust Mask - If you sand, it is best to sand under a trickle of running water.  But.... if you can't, you will want to protect your lungs from floating metal dust.

5 - Rubber Block - Many people don't realize that a RUBBER block under your METAL block deadens the sound of hammering, and relieves the stress on your joints when you hammer.  Be good to yourself add a Rubber Block to your metal stamping routine.

6 - Lighter Hammers or Brass Hammers - Constant hammering will eventually take a toll on your wrist, elbow and shoulder.  An 8 oz hammer has plenty of force for stamping.  Bigger is not better in this situation.
Brass hammers are softer metal than steel and will reduce the stress on your body.  Brass hammers will also reduce the stress on your stamps.

Remember, you've only got one body.  So take care of it!

Happy Stamping!

Lizz Barnes

Ear in the Envelope Inc

Gottagettadeal on ETSY

Create Contrast in Metal Stamped Jewelry

Check out this new video showing you how to CREATE CONTRAST

in your Metal Stamped Jewelry.

Hope this helps!

Enjoy Creating!

Lizz Barnes

Ear in the Envelope Inc

Gottagettadeal on ETSY

Soy Sauce for Jewelry????

I just learned that Soy Sauce is amazing for cleaning copper!!!! 

Your blanks may arrive with a slight bit of tarnish.  A quick solution for tarnished copper and brass blanks is to get a bowl full of soy sauce. I know it sounds weird, but it works.  Let the blanks soak for no more than 5 minutes in a plastic container.  Clean with dish soap and water.  Make sure they are completely dried when you finish so you don't get strange streaking.

Try it and let me know what you think!!!!

Enjoy creating,
Lizz

Textured Cuff Project online at Art Jewelry Magazine

http://art.jewelrymakingmagazines.com/projects/subscriber-projects/2014/01/anodized--distressed-aluminum-cuff

       

Check out the March 2014 issue of Art Jewelry Magazine.  You'll find a project that I had the opportunity to write for the magazine.  Let me know what you think.  And PLEASE send pictures of your finished projects.  I'd love to see how you put your creative twist on this process!!!

Enjoy Creating!!!
Lizz

How to Tumble Aluminum Blanks

Tumbling is a method of polishing metal.
It takes much less effort than hand
sanding and polishing.  Tumbling involves adding 
media to a machine which rotates or vibrates 
to create a polished finish.

It is well worth the time and money
to invest in a LARGE quality tumbler
 if you're serious about metal stamping.

MY FAVORITE TUMBLER

The Thumler Tumbler High Speed Tumbler.  

The best price I've found is through Buffalo Arms.
This model is about $200.

Here's the link:

http://www.buffaloarms.com/Thumblers_Tumbler_it-164290.aspx?TERM=tumbler

SHOT

Shot - stainless steel balls that are added
 to your tumbler to polish your metal.  

You'll want to buy STAINLESS STEEL elipse shot 

(NOT the jewelers mix, it will scratch the aluminum).  

I purchase my shot through Rio Grande Jewelry Supply.  

You'll need 10 pounds of shot for the Thumler Tumbler.

This is around $100.

Here's the link:

http://www.riogrande.com/Product/Stainless-Steel-Shots-5-32-Ellipse/339091?pos=4

H20

Use only COLD water to tumble.   

Warm or hot water will expand with the soap 

and crack the metal welds in the tumbler barrel.  

***Soft water is best if you have it.
Note if you use soft water you will need to reduce the amount of soap.
You'll need to experiment to get the correct amount.

***Fill the barrel about 1/2 of the way full.

Soap

I have tried many different soaps and solutions, but

***Breck 2 in 1 Kids Shampoo seems to get the best results.  

My favorite is the coconut.  It is available at Dollar Tree.  

We use 1/2" cup of this product.

or you can use

EOS Laundry Soap.

We use 1/4 cup of this per load.

www.ecos.com/ecosliquid.html

I found this soap at Costco.

Next you will need

A 1/4" teaspoon of

***Supersunsheen Non-Chelating DeBurring Compound

for each tumbling load.

http://www.riogrande.com/Product/Super-Sunsheen-Non-Chelating-Deburring-Compound/339303?pos=2

This conditions the water

 and also helps the flecks of metal float in the gel,

instead of scratching the metal.

NOTE:  Aluminum is very sensitive to drying.

Harsh antibacterial soaps, like Dawn, 

 will ruin the shiny finish.

How many pieces?

35  or less - small discs or blanks (1" or smaller)

30 - 1/4" cuffs

20 - 3/8" and 1/2" cuffs

Only one - 1" cuff or larger can be tumbled at a time.
Larger pieces tend to scratch each other.

You can experiment with more soap and you may
be able to add more blanks.

How long do I need to tumble?

45 minutes per load with the high speed tumbler is usually enough.

Strain

Use a large strainer to dump the contents of the tumbler
when your load is complete.

We found a very strong Farberware strainer at Target.

RINSE

Rinse the shot with high pressure water.  A kitchen sprayer is fine.  

The tumbling breaks off small flecks of metal which can scratch the blanks.
You'll want to make sure the shot and the blanks are very clean
to prevent scratching from those flecks of metal.

***Use clean water and well rinsed shot for each tumble load.

Dry Quickly

Rinse  and then dry quickly so the metal doesn't get water spots.  

We use old kitchen and bath towels.

HAPPY TUMBLING!!!

Let me know if you need any help or have any more questions.

ENJOY CREATING!

Lizz Barnes :-)

Visit our ETSY store for Food Safe Aluminum Blanks 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/gottagettadeal