KNIFE WORKS
I begin my knives with a blank and a pile of mineral slabs. I use many different types of stones with wonderful names such as leopard skin jasper, frogskin jasper, indian blanket, tiffany stone, lapis, kambama stone, zebra jasper, candy mountain jasper, rainforest, utah serpentine, gecko jasper, utah picasso marble, and more.
Tools used include a rock saw, a glass grinder, a Cab King with six grinding wheels, a flat lap, and a flex shaft with multiple attachments to cut, grind, fit and polish each piece. Each knife is carefully designed, and takes six to ten hours to complete. I have made carving sets, fish fillet knives, and letter openers as well.
INLAY CUFFS AND PENDANTS
Cuffs begin with a six inch strip of 18 gauge silver and a 10 gauge square silver wire. I measure, cut, file, heat and solder the wire to create a picture frame. The edges then need filing, and the corners are rounded. The channel is formed by using a mallet and a mandrel ( I use a baseball bat, a Louisville slugger that belonged to my Dad) to help shape each cuff. Stones are chosen then cut on the rock saw and ground on the genie wheels until the perfect size to fit into the frame. I often use strips of silver as well in my cuffs between some of the stones to add pop.
Five minute epoxy, and chalk dust for color, are used to cement the stones into the channel, one at a time. I usually let the piece then sit overnight. Hours of grinding follow to bring the stones to the level of the silver. Polishing and finishing follow, and each cuff can take twelve to fifteen hours to create.
Pendants are created using the same technique to build a picture frame and set stones. I use different gauge silver depending on the size of the piece.
I begin my knives with a blank and a pile of mineral slabs. I use many different types of stones with wonderful names such as leopard skin jasper, frogskin jasper, indian blanket, tiffany stone, lapis, kambama stone, zebra jasper, candy mountain jasper, rainforest, utah serpentine, gecko jasper, utah picasso marble, and more.
Tools used include a rock saw, a glass grinder, a Cab King with six grinding wheels, a flat lap, and a flex shaft with multiple attachments to cut, grind, fit and polish each piece. Each knife is carefully designed, and takes six to ten hours to complete. I have made carving sets, fish fillet knives, and letter openers as well.
INLAY CUFFS AND PENDANTS
Cuffs begin with a six inch strip of 18 gauge silver and a 10 gauge square silver wire. I measure, cut, file, heat and solder the wire to create a picture frame. The edges then need filing, and the corners are rounded. The channel is formed by using a mallet and a mandrel ( I use a baseball bat, a Louisville slugger that belonged to my Dad) to help shape each cuff. Stones are chosen then cut on the rock saw and ground on the genie wheels until the perfect size to fit into the frame. I often use strips of silver as well in my cuffs between some of the stones to add pop.
Five minute epoxy, and chalk dust for color, are used to cement the stones into the channel, one at a time. I usually let the piece then sit overnight. Hours of grinding follow to bring the stones to the level of the silver. Polishing and finishing follow, and each cuff can take twelve to fifteen hours to create.
Pendants are created using the same technique to build a picture frame and set stones. I use different gauge silver depending on the size of the piece.
SILVER AND STONES
Cabachons, cut, formed and polished stones, are chosen for a design. I use plain, scalloped, or serrated silver wire to create a bezel, or sleeve for the stone, on a back sheet of silver to create a cup. The cup can then be set with a bail, on a cuff, sawn even with the stone, or embellished with swirls, silver balls, or silver charms. I can also cut and grind a mineral slab to create a cabachon.
Silver wire, silver sheet, bezel wire, files, saws, pliers, a drill press, hammers, and an acetylene torch with several size tips are just a few of the tools that I use.
Cabachons, cut, formed and polished stones, are chosen for a design. I use plain, scalloped, or serrated silver wire to create a bezel, or sleeve for the stone, on a back sheet of silver to create a cup. The cup can then be set with a bail, on a cuff, sawn even with the stone, or embellished with swirls, silver balls, or silver charms. I can also cut and grind a mineral slab to create a cabachon.
Silver wire, silver sheet, bezel wire, files, saws, pliers, a drill press, hammers, and an acetylene torch with several size tips are just a few of the tools that I use.
