I thought it would be fun to show a view of me working with Jade, polishing the edge of Meteor Showers. Dan obliged me, taking this photo. I cropped it to show a better look at me dressed in a vinyl apron with rubber gloves. I'm more comfortable staying dry during the process, although I must admit that Jade doesn't really throw that much water as we're working. What this picture shows is I'm holding Meteor Showers, letting it rest on the grinding/polishing disc. Water is fed up through a hole in the center of the disc to keep things cool. Otherwise, thermal shock in the glass could occur due to heat build up and it could/would break. I rotate the piece and go back and forth from the center of the disc to the outside edge as I work my way around the edge. A video of the process would show this much better and I haven't worked out those details...I'll have to ask Dan to shoot a small video at some point so I can post it.
This photo shows how the edge looks after two of the different grinding stages as I'm smoothing out the scratches. I've revealed a few of the trapped air bubbles, but I've been told that's part of the unique hand made process.As of yesterday, I finished 4 phases of the grinding (largest grit disc to smallest grit) and started to work on the final polish last night. In the final polish I use cerium oxide slurry, that I put on the buffing disc, to create the shiney edge.
It will take a few days to get that nice optical polished edged. I'm sure as I get better at it, the process will go faster. Once that is done, then I can do the final firing to slump each of the four pieces I've been working on, in their respective molds.
7 comments:
Well I love your etsy shop. Beautiful jewelry and they are glass not stone or gems, right? What is it you are polishing in this post?
Kathleen, I would love to see that video sometime. Wow, it's so cool to see what you're doing. By the way, I've been getting loads of compliments on my beautiful new earrings!
I'm realy curious to see the finished bowl. I didn't realize how thick it was until I saw it in your hands
I have Tool Envy! And I nominated you for another Lemonade Award!!
Hi Sue. Glad you like my etsy shop...thanks. Yes the jewelry is glass only. In this post, I'm polishing a fused glass 'blank' that I will ultimately slump into a bowl mold. I'll post a picture when its complete.
Hi Janelle! Good, I was thinking a video would be fun...now to figure out how to do that! :) I'm soooo happy you are getting compliments on the earrings; that warms my heart. I have some new ideas for ways to wrap them that came to me this morning, so I want to try that tonight. I jotted down some drawings as the concept came to me this morning. I'm wearing the pair I posted pictures of last month as one of my first attemps.
Hi Sophie! Yes, this piece is really thick, about 1". That was a bit of a miscalculation on my part as I didn't intend for it to come out that thick. Although, I am happy with it...I'll have to be careful when I slump it so I have the right firing schedule and it doesn't crack/break in the process.
Hey Linda! Love it...Tool Envy...boy do I understand that. My next BIG purchase and where I have tool envy is for the Paragon Pearl kiln that I'm calling Black Beauty. Thanks sooooo much for the Lemonade Award. I greatly appreciate it. I've checked your blog and you have placed me in some incredible company. I am truly honored. Can't wait to meet you when you are out this way in July!
This is very very cool... I hope your kind photog can honor us with more shots of you at work soon.
Thanks Shelia. I'm sure he will, he enjoys being behind the camera and working to capture me in different moments. :)
Post a Comment