My second project is done! I have had this square lilac Chalcedony for a while now, and was just waiting for the right design. I almost didn't make it as busy weekend plans gave me very little time to finish the ring. And I literally almost didn't make it as my top dome exploded while soldering. So here is a lesson. I always teach my students to make a small hole somewhere in a closed dome or bead to help the hot air escape. I didn't want to make a hole under the stone as the stone is clear and would show the shape of the hole. The pressure builds inside a closed area while you are heating it the hot air inside expands, and it needs to go somewhere. So it will either blow open a weak solder join, or literally blow the thinnest part of metal sky high. In unlucky situations it may explode right in your face or eyes. I thought I was safe as the thickness in the metal was almost 1mm. But it did, thank goodness no one else was close by or hurt, except my poor apprentice who h
Novus Design Studio has been teaching students how to manufacture and design jewellery, since 2004. www.novusdesign.co.za.