Crafts
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Crafts
Shells before electroforming process
DIY Shell Jewelry
Shells after electroforming process
by Lily Rose
columns, I've discussed some the latest methods and products Ito nofhelppast you create unique shell jewelry.
in the solution by a piece of thin wire. The current is delivered through a small device called a rectifier, which converts strong AC house current to very low direct current so that the piece does not burn. The rectifier has two metal clips, one which attaches to the anode and the other to the cathode. If the object you are electroforming is already metal, the copper particles will adhere directly to it If th_e object ~s organic and porous (such as a shell or a le~f), 1t must first be completely air dried and then sealed w1th a water-b~sed lacquer so that it doesn't disintegrate in the electroformmg solution. Once the lacquer is thoroughly dry, your shell
Among these have been soldering, UV resin and epoxy clay. But just when I think I'm current on the latest trend, a technique comes along that helps take my jewelry designs to a new leveL My latest jewelry-making obsession is electroforming, the process of adding a layer of metal to an object Electroforming is certainly not new (think bronzed baby shoes). I had avoided this technique in the past because I thought it was complicated, Now, easy-to-use kits are available which make plating objects a breeze. The kit I recently purchased was made specifically for plating with copper and the instructions were quite easy to follow, For design inspiration, you can look for objects to plate in a junk drawer, or better yet, take a walk along Sanibel and Captiva's beaches. A shell, a feather, a twig or pod -just about anything - can be turned into metal jewelry with this process. The science behind electroforming is actually simple: A low electrical current causes copper particles to break off from a piece of copper (the anode), flow through an electrolytic solution and then adhere to your object (the cathode). The object being electroformed is suspended Charm bracelet finished
76th Annual Sanibel Shell Festival- 56
must be coated with a conductive paint so that the copper particles adhere to the painted surface. The longer you leave you r shell in the active electro forming solu tion, the thicker the layer of copper will be. I pull my shells ou t of the solution every 30 minutes to check the thickness of the copper layer. (Because you are working with Electroformed red Abalone necklace electrical current, alw ays unplug the rectifier before pulling your pieces out of the solution to check them.) Once the copper layer reaches my desired thickness, I rinse the shells with distilled water to retain a bright copper finish . Don' t use tap water because the minerals in tap w ater cause the copper to change color. Although you can electroform just Electroformed scallop nec klace about anything, I prefer to work with shells and things from the sea. For example, I added a copper layer to green limpet shells, a red abalone shell, an Irish flat scallop, tusk shells, and urchin shell rings. I even added copper to dry sea S!ars and a tiny, dry sheepshead fish I purchased at a locais hell store. Electroforming kits are not cheap, but the investment is well worth it if you want to add a new, lustrous dimension to your jewelry. I w as instantly hooked on electroforming shells and I know you will be, too. For questions about a technique, email [email protected]. Ji;?'-'
----A
11 0 1 Periwinkle Way
ANIBEL S BEAD THE
•
(across from Dairy Queen) (239) 395- 11so
S H Q P OpenMon. -Sat. 11 -5 p.m.
www.thesanibelbeadshop.com
Drill Your Shells With Our Exclusive Mini Hand Drill! Ideal For Jewelry Making!
$1 0.00* No Batteries Required,
Portable, Easy To Use! Stop By For A D emo!
*Drill Bits Sold Separately
SCCF
Proud to be part of preserving the islands since 1967
i_
'T r
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation 3333 Sanibel-Captiva Road (one mile west of Tarpon Bay RdJ 472-2329 www.sccf.org Mon-Fri 8:30-4
76th Annual Sanibel Shell Festival- 57
~
"
.
~-,' ', ~~~·~::~~'}
'
~
~
t;: ..
-
c
"'
Crafts
Shells before electroforming process
DIY Shell Jewelry
Shells after electroforming process
by Lily Rose
columns, I've discussed some the latest methods and products Ito nofhelppast you create unique shell jewelry.
in the solution by a piece of thin wire. The current is delivered through a small device called a rectifier, which converts strong AC house current to very low direct current so that the piece does not burn. The rectifier has two metal clips, one which attaches to the anode and the other to the cathode. If the object you are electroforming is already metal, the copper particles will adhere directly to it If th_e object ~s organic and porous (such as a shell or a le~f), 1t must first be completely air dried and then sealed w1th a water-b~sed lacquer so that it doesn't disintegrate in the electroformmg solution. Once the lacquer is thoroughly dry, your shell
Among these have been soldering, UV resin and epoxy clay. But just when I think I'm current on the latest trend, a technique comes along that helps take my jewelry designs to a new leveL My latest jewelry-making obsession is electroforming, the process of adding a layer of metal to an object Electroforming is certainly not new (think bronzed baby shoes). I had avoided this technique in the past because I thought it was complicated, Now, easy-to-use kits are available which make plating objects a breeze. The kit I recently purchased was made specifically for plating with copper and the instructions were quite easy to follow, For design inspiration, you can look for objects to plate in a junk drawer, or better yet, take a walk along Sanibel and Captiva's beaches. A shell, a feather, a twig or pod -just about anything - can be turned into metal jewelry with this process. The science behind electroforming is actually simple: A low electrical current causes copper particles to break off from a piece of copper (the anode), flow through an electrolytic solution and then adhere to your object (the cathode). The object being electroformed is suspended Charm bracelet finished
76th Annual Sanibel Shell Festival- 56
must be coated with a conductive paint so that the copper particles adhere to the painted surface. The longer you leave you r shell in the active electro forming solu tion, the thicker the layer of copper will be. I pull my shells ou t of the solution every 30 minutes to check the thickness of the copper layer. (Because you are working with Electroformed red Abalone necklace electrical current, alw ays unplug the rectifier before pulling your pieces out of the solution to check them.) Once the copper layer reaches my desired thickness, I rinse the shells with distilled water to retain a bright copper finish . Don' t use tap water because the minerals in tap w ater cause the copper to change color. Although you can electroform just Electroformed scallop nec klace about anything, I prefer to work with shells and things from the sea. For example, I added a copper layer to green limpet shells, a red abalone shell, an Irish flat scallop, tusk shells, and urchin shell rings. I even added copper to dry sea S!ars and a tiny, dry sheepshead fish I purchased at a locais hell store. Electroforming kits are not cheap, but the investment is well worth it if you want to add a new, lustrous dimension to your jewelry. I w as instantly hooked on electroforming shells and I know you will be, too. For questions about a technique, email [email protected]. Ji;?'-'
----A
11 0 1 Periwinkle Way
ANIBEL S BEAD THE
•
(across from Dairy Queen) (239) 395- 11so
S H Q P OpenMon. -Sat. 11 -5 p.m.
www.thesanibelbeadshop.com
Drill Your Shells With Our Exclusive Mini Hand Drill! Ideal For Jewelry Making!
$1 0.00* No Batteries Required,
Portable, Easy To Use! Stop By For A D emo!
*Drill Bits Sold Separately
SCCF
Proud to be part of preserving the islands since 1967
i_
'T r
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation 3333 Sanibel-Captiva Road (one mile west of Tarpon Bay RdJ 472-2329 www.sccf.org Mon-Fri 8:30-4
76th Annual Sanibel Shell Festival- 57
