[Jewelry making - Article 00554] - [Orchid] In-depth Granulation Education

[Connie]

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Hello all,

    I have been bitten by a granulation obsession bug. I have
    successfully done a bit of it but then done more with less success. 

    I would like to find out of any existing written materials on
    granulation methods available. 

    Let me tell you I have already found, and printed, the chapter on it
    from the Orchid tips by Dr. Brepohl edited by Charles L-B, and I
    have also printed Sandra Buchholz' 2-part fine silver granulation
    tutorial. I have the book Metals Technic edited by Tim McCreight and
    I have the first DVD on granulation by Ronda Coryell. 

    I want even more if there exists more in written form. I wish Jean
    Stark, whose incredible granulation work I have seen online courtesy
    of Randy (rocksmyth.com) would write a book or article on
    granulation - unless she has already, in which case please tell me
    the name of it! 

    In the absence of that, I would like to hear of granulation courses
    in the future - excluding this year's Cat.in Motion, which I can't
    make. I live within an hour of San Francisco. 

    Specifically, I wish to troubleshoot: 

    a) the roundness and uniformity of the granules (my charcoal block
    is newly sanded, flat and level. Some granules don't want to roll
    off into the water. Most are not quite spherical.) I intend to use
    tiny jump rings instead of straight wire snippings next time. 

    b) the successful fusion of the granules to the backsheet. They
    seemed to fuse, but all came off. Even a melted-looking larger
    granule came off! It looked melted, so how can that be? Yet I pulled
    the misshapen, spread-out melted granule right off with pliers!
    Maybe the backsheet was too thick? It was certainly clean! And it
    was all glowing! I might need to really calibrate the backsheet
    thickness to the granule thickness better. 

    c) some other way to make granules really spherical. I am sure there
    is another way besides the charcoal powder in the crucible in the
    kiln method. Why am I so sure? Because I want there to be. I don't
    have a big kiln. 

    d) a way to make the finished product - the backsheet - smoother and
    more uniform, less blemished than mine turned out. I was able to
    granulate a pair of fine silver earrings with very tiny granules. 

    A) stories of success and wise ways to begin using gold without
    freaking myself out totally stressing about ruining some beginning
    pieces. I feel like I need a rolling mill, melting apparatus, etc to
    justify working with gold and possible / probable ruining of pieces. 

    Okay that's a lot to ask of you all. I am just obsessed with the
    beauty of granulation right now and have been for quite a while. See
    Carolyn Tyler's work, Kent Raible, Ronda Coryell, Jean Stark, Sandra
    Buchholz. 

    Thanks for any and all tips, and I realize that lots practice will
    be necessary. 

Connie L.
www.papayani.com
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