[Jewelry making - Article 00012] - Re: [Orchid] Making copper grapes

[Bill Churlik]

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Mike,

    I can think of several ways that might work. 

    1.  Make up a set of oval/oblong shaped dapping punches and solder
    the stamped halves together. Use a wood or lead block for the
    matching half of the punch set. There is a material call "kirksite"
    that was good for this technique. This would be a lot of hard work. 

    2.  Take the plastic grapes and use them as the cores for an
    electroformed surface. 

    3.  Again, use the plastic grapes as a core for a hollow casting in
    silver, bronze, or pewter then electroplate on the copper for the
    patina. I do not think trying to cast in copper would work well. (see
    past copper casting discussions in the archives). Also burning out
    the plastic may be very difficult as well as toxic. Why not use the
    plastic grapes as a form to make a wax shell pattern say 20 Ga thick,
    cast the halves, solder together, then plate? 

    My own inclination would be to make up the punch set and make the
    individual "grapes". I would then electroplate to cover the solder
    seam. The "grapes" could also be put into old pickle with some iron
    wire. This will effectively plate the surface too. Then patina as
    needed. 

    Sounds like fun! 

    Making metal behave is easy, my rolling mill is another story. 

Bill Churlik
wechurlik AT earthlink.net
www.earthspeakarts.com

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