First questions

[Metalfairy]

I use a book titled Art Clay Silver and Gold.  It is wonderful book for beginners.  Jackie explaines ieverthing very well.  The pictures are very clear and easy to follow.  The first 5 chapters are on clay and how to handle it.  Then you get lots (18) projects to play with.  I feel this book will take care of both your questions.  I got mine from Rings & Things, stock # 62-399 for ร.80.  Good lick, this is addicting and easy.  If you can for awhile, build or work in a polymer clay first then work in the Art Clay Silver, this will help you create at a safe dollar figure until you are comfortable with the ease of the clay.  Remember you can always call Ring & Things and speak with Kurt their Master instructor on staff.  Their phone number is 1-800-366-2156.

[Polly]

I don't have much experience with clays either (beyond the usual Father's Day pencil-holders made in grade school), and so I think that using modelling clay would be a good way to practice some of the more sculptural techniques described in the books.

However, keep in mind ... ACS stuff comes out looking WAY COOLER than the modeling clay does.  Something that looks kind of lame in modeling clay, actually looks very nice in fired, polished silver.

It's surprisingly easy to turn out nice-looking jewelry made with simple ACS techniques.

--Polly

[Pinmonkey]

I thought I would pull together some of the older 'First Questions'. Hope this is helpful - Metalman  '>

Hello.  I'm thinking about getting into jewelry making, more as a hobby than anything else for now.  I would like to make rings mostly, and maybe charms.  It seems like ACS might be what I'm looking for but a couple of things are holding me back.

Number 1.  I really have no idea what ACS entails.  Can you recommend a good source (maybe a book, magazine, videotape, DVD, etc) where someone brand new to jewelry making and the related lingo could learn about techniques and processes before investing a large amount of money?

Number 2.  I have little experience working with clay of any kind.  Do you/would you recommend to someone in my position to try working with say modeling clay before even thinking of trying ACS?

I appreciate your patience with someone so knew to this and thank you in advance for your replies.

[Metalman]

Metalfiary has the details here.  If you can track down a short workshop with the Art Clay  you may find that that will build a bit of confidence for you.  Most importunately for you will be to get started.  You will probably find that you love the stuff.

[Metalman]

Okay - "stone to silver".  What this brings to mind for me is that you plan to fabricate your settings or pieces and then add the stones into the settings - in this scenerio you would be using bezel settings or crown settings or prong settings.  All of these elements  can be fired into the Art Clay Silver, and could be torch fired at that. There are further considerations but since I am guessing here, I won't go into them.
IF - you are going to fire stones in place [this can be done], then you will need to fire with a kiln.  This is also true for most inclusions [porcelin, glass, CZ stones]

With regard to the business question - I have not reached that scale of business myself as of yet but there are some companies out there which may be able to do your fabrication, or a portion of it - It really depends on the scale. To truely make it work, you need to have a high enough volume to be able to order a large number of pieces so that the price per piece is low enough to make it all work and so that the cost of getting 'tooled up' is covered by your volume and moving some product.  It may be that you will use your own shop and/or employees to get to the point that jobbing the work out is worth while.

[Yofaith]

Thaank you for the help
I will be applying stone to silver!

I have another ? for you.

I really expect too do well in this biz-ness,
When the demand for the craft increase I will not be able to create everything by hand is their a mass production Co. that will help?

What do you do in this situation?

[Metalman]

YoFaith,
I answered breifly in bold below, thanks for your questions
How do you use the types of clay to create your own pieces
Step by step,Best start here is to get the 'Art Clay Silver and Gold' book R&T # 62-399.  It has lots of step by step projects with photos.  If you can find an short intro class in your area,  you may find that very helpful to get introduced to thei great material
what is the differance in the clay? The major difference between clay, paste and syringe form ACS is the amount of water in the mix, other wise thay are basically the same material
what's better to use? This really depends on the application.  Are you including silver wire? glass? stones?
Do I have to buy a torch? You have to have some method of firing, this does not have to be a torch. Best to read "Firing: the complete answer" at this link http://www.rings-things.com/cgi-bin....8;t=323 on our discussions board
The paste and the clay how do they work together? paste works as a 'paint' or 'slip' over the clay, good for filling or detailing

Sorry to have so many Questions but I need help.
One more thing Can someone who has started their biz- ness
and may have a tax id # or what ever can you tell me how you went about doing that? check the business discussion on the forum. In general, your state's liscensing department would handle the business number and tax number stuff
Please[/quote]

[Yofaith]

I am starting to create many items, I need to know
How ,what
How do you use the types of clay to create your own pieces
Step by step,
what is the differance in the clay?
what's better to use?
Do I have to buy a torch?
The paste and the clay how do they work together?

Sorry to have somo many Questions but I need help.
One more thing Can someone who has started their biz- ness
and may have a tax id # or what ever can you tell me how you went about doing that?
Please
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