Reflection

Looking through all the blog posts from last year in order to continue writting my research report, I was amazed at how much I did. More than that I was surprised to see the shear load of things I have learned. It makes me excitted for the years to come. The things I've been making over the last term have been a culmination of all these things learned, the tool making to to forging and welding.

How to find the publish date of an undated website

On Friday I had a little melt-down. I could find the publishing date of the many website I need to reference for my Bachelor's degree research report, so I freaked out and cursed my computer. THEN after a time away from my computer I decided to give it another try and I found this video! I'm so relived...think I might cry.

Meeting notes

Yesterday in our Bachelor's degree meeting, my definition of contemporary jewellery was expanded. After discussion and going through some reading material, I came to the realization that "contemporary jewellery" cannot be tied down to one definition such as  "Art jewellery" 

http://deborahreadcom.blogspot.com/2012/07/jewelry-artist-magazine-sept-2012.html

or "Modernist jewellery"

http://www.dwell.com/rewind/article/modernist-jewelry-margaret-de-patta

 or one descriptive definition, they almost seem to overlap. Even though I didn't come to an exact definition of "contemporary jewellery", one thing I didn't come to understand was that contemporary jewellery was set in the "now". Contemporary jewellery deals with current issues of the time, through the use of an array of jewellery techniques and making different styles of jewellery. One could make "narrative jewellery", using mixed /Recycled jewellery" to comment on social steroetypes and myths. So in conclusion the term "contemporary" can be ambiguous and has to be explained more descriptively, not just as "contemporary".

Welding

As I reaching the end of the welding part of constructing my forge. I have taken note of the technique that I have been advised to use and have managed to produce a decent consistent bead. It always seems to happen a the end and mostly the last few welds are looking better. I am still struggling with welding two thicknesses together, it a play of adjusting the amperage and welding rod size that i need to figure out. Over all my welding experience has been a good one and started off with lots of practice. I have burned myself with hot flying flux twice and flashed burned my face ever so slightly. The technique is one of zig-zaging along the join at a steady speed. Slow enough to produce an even bead but not too slow as to melt through the piece unnecessarily. So I am learning a feel for the motion!

Amazing discovery!

When testing my newly flared burner pipes I noticed that the bigger flare (compared to my present burner)on the end of the  burner pipe, makes it easier for the air to get vacuumed into the burner pipe. Meaning that less pressure is needed to produce a blue hot flame compared to my present forge, making it cost effective. We'll see how the cost efficiency of the forge will turn out having two burners.

My Observation

From my observation of last terms work through a reflective report. I discovered that instead of exploring and using black smithing skills and techniques to manufacture jewellery out precious metals. I am more drawn to manufacturing of steel and iron jewellery through exploring black smithing. I realized this when I was busy forging a steel seal ring. The actual process of hot working the metal into a piece of jewellery fascinated me, more than the cold working of precious metal using blacksmithing skill and techniques