Categories: Products; Jewelry
Word count/read time: 395 words; 2 minutes
Some of my designs incorporate forged elements including hammering, bending,
twisting, or other shaping techniques.
Twisting is simple in principle: Grab each end
and turn in opposite directions. Getting a symmetrical, even
twist is not always the outcome.
For one line of products, two strands of wire (which are really
an elongated very large welded jump ring) are twisted into
a perfect double helix. A few turned out that way but others
just weren't cooperating.
Making large jump rings
is not always done the normal way using a mandrel. Sometimes a wire section is cut
from a roll and the ends aligned for welding.
The ends have to touch intimately under pressure/tension.
When the fusing begins, the tension either
holds the wire ends together for a perfect fuse or shifts them sideways.
Shifting is a fail; the troubled section would have to be excised and
the fresh, clean ends refused.
Another situation occurs with a previously welded ring
that needs a touch-up fuse. If the ring isn't annealed first then
it would cause stress at the molten joint and pop it out of alignment.
It turns out the problem was too much tension...in fine silver.
Winding or manipulating by hand introduces localized hardened spots
that can react sporadically when heated. It's not alive but it
moves about.
Anyway, a section of wire is cut with ultra-flush pliers on both joining
ends. Since the wire needs to be annealed beforehand
it acts like wet spaghetti when lining up the ends.
It is welded and readied for twisting.
This is where issue number whatever can
rear its head. The wire hardens from the elongation process
and it might not twist properly. Any bends or riffraff in the wire should be corrected
now. Anneal it once again.
With twisting well under way, it is important to apply the same pulling force
during the entire process or the wraps will be uneven.
Allowing an "organically" twisted
element in the final product is part of the
creation process provided it isn't a copout.
The weld is particularly stressed, the ultimate
test without equal. As much as I'd like to say beauty is in the eye of the beholder,
it can look fine yet fail at any time. Some welds do and I marvel at how
spectacular they are. What's redoing one more link when there are endless links
to come.
Posted by M: December 10, 2023
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