Notifications
For many artists trying to fit a jewelry studio of tools, machinery, and product into a closet size space, it can be a very daunting experience and limited at most. Not to mention, the disadvantage of not having a slop sink near by.
Stoning
My studio started out with a kiln, a very small foredom polishing machine, tools, torch, alundum stones, a bathroom sink and enamels. Every class in Enameling I took, had a set of corundum stones, and everyone stood near the sink grinding away under running water until their fingers were waterlogged.
The Grinding Machine
It wasn't until some years later, when I studied under Felicia Liban, that I was introduced to a wet grinding machine which she had made for her by the Indian Jewelers Supply. It had a bucket to catch the water and a hose hooked up over the machine connected to a water pipe that fed water onto the sanding belt. Before you began, you put on a plastic apron, turned on the machine and adjusted the nut that opened up the flow of water into the tube that sprayed the wheel. In a matter of seconds, the sanding belt removed the excess glass from the metal and reduced my finishing time in half. When it was over, you turned off the machine, emptied the water tray and bucket, removed your apron and mopped up the floor. It took me a few weeks to get the hang out of lightly touching the enamel to the wheel and not grinding it to death, but I knew I had to have one.
When I moved into a bigger studio with a basement that could take a beating, I ordered one for myself, only I didn't have a water pipe above the machine. My brother came over and hung a bucket from the ceiling and ran a hose down to the machine. I only had to pull the bucket down, fill it with water, then climb up on a ladder and rehang when needed. I won't tell you how many times the bucket tipped water over my head! But, I had my machine and I loved it even when the water sprayed over my plastic apron, and the dew settled over my face, and from time to time, I slipped across the wet floor.
Diamond Sanding Sponges
A few years after, I took a workshop in saw and solder champlevé with Linda Darty at the Revere Academy in San Francisco. There was no wet grinding machine, but in its place she had introduced us to diamond sponges made by 3M. They worked fast, were cheaper than a grinding machine and easy to store in a studio or carry in a bag. We were all zipping through our work with little or no mess, and chatting while we sanded, keeping the sponges wet. Now, the sponges have come to live in my studio, by my sink. There is something very Zen about standing with one in my hand and sanding it methodically back and forth across the enamel. A peacefulness entered my life which replaced the machine noise, the wet face, slippery floor, tipping buckets and soggy fingers.
You can purchase a set of sponges from Enamelwork Supply (Coral Shaffer) #206-525-9271 or any other Enamel supply company. They come in several grits from coarse to fine.
For many artists trying to fit a jewelry studio of tools, machinery, and product into a closet size space, it can be a very daunting experience and limited at most. Not to mention, the disadvantage of not having a slop sink near by.
Stoning
My studio started out with a kiln, a very small foredom polishing machine, tools, torch, alundum stones, a bathroom sink and enamels. Every class in Enameling I took, had a set of corundum stones, and everyone stood near the sink grinding away under running water until their fingers were waterlogged.
The Grinding Machine
It wasn't until some years later, when I studied under Felicia Liban, that I was introduced to a wet grinding machine which she had made for her by the Indian Jewelers Supply. It had a bucket to catch the water and a hose hooked up over the machine connected to a water pipe that fed water onto the sanding belt. Before you began, you put on a plastic apron, turned on the machine and adjusted the nut that opened up the flow of water into the tube that sprayed the wheel. In a matter of seconds, the sanding belt removed the excess glass from the metal and reduced my finishing time in half. When it was over, you turned off the machine, emptied the water tray and bucket, removed your apron and mopped up the floor. It took me a few weeks to get the hang out of lightly touching the enamel to the wheel and not grinding it to death, but I knew I had to have one.
When I moved into a bigger studio with a basement that could take a beating, I ordered one for myself, only I didn't have a water pipe above the machine. My brother came over and hung a bucket from the ceiling and ran a hose down to the machine. I only had to pull the bucket down, fill it with water, then climb up on a ladder and rehang when needed. I won't tell you how many times the bucket tipped water over my head! But, I had my machine and I loved it even when the water sprayed over my plastic apron, and the dew settled over my face, and from time to time, I slipped across the wet floor.
Diamond Sanding Sponges
A few years after, I took a workshop in saw and solder champlevé with Linda Darty at the Revere Academy in San Francisco. There was no wet grinding machine, but in its place she had introduced us to diamond sponges made by 3M. They worked fast, were cheaper than a grinding machine and easy to store in a studio or carry in a bag. We were all zipping through our work with little or no mess, and chatting while we sanded, keeping the sponges wet. Now, the sponges have come to live in my studio, by my sink. There is something very Zen about standing with one in my hand and sanding it methodically back and forth across the enamel. A peacefulness entered my life which replaced the machine noise, the wet face, slippery floor, tipping buckets and soggy fingers.
You can purchase a set of sponges from Enamelwork Supply (Coral Shaffer) #206-525-9271 or any other Enamel supply company. They come in several grits from coarse to fine.