Jewellery advice...

[Kafter244]

Hi, I have an idea for a present for my wife and was hoping someone here can help me please? I would like to make for her a locket, traditional oval shape and size, out of some mahogany I have left over from another project.

I feel confident I can mould and finish the overall shape, but am stuck at finding a workable hinge and clasp for a piece so small. Almost every jewellery site I look into discusses various techniques in metal (usually pin and barrel) and all 'wooden locket' google searches turn up is how to make/buy the locket from the illusionist. :C

The other thing I would like to do is have my daughters' star signs on the front and back (there will be pics of each of them inside). I am currently undecided as to wether to glue on a cabachon, pyrograph a symbol (I have no pyrograpohy burner), or even to inset a symbol in gold or something (like a monogram)...any thoughts on this...is insetting possible for a newbie? I am thinking maybe carving a shape into the face and filling the hole with some melted product that could then be sanded back?

As you may be able to tell, I'm new to this and batting various ideas around, not really knowing what's possible and what's not...any thoughts/comments/advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance! :U

Andy

[dr4g0nfly]

You've lot's of questions and good ideas.

But please excuse me while I make you think through your first one - Mahogany? A soft hardwood, I call it Carcass wood, in this sort of situation it would mark very easily.

I'd suggest if you want to carve, inset or add embellishment, you'd be better of with a much harder wood, and Aus has some of the best woods in the world for this sort of thing.

[Kafter244]

Thanks dr4g0nfly,

I chose mahogany as I made something for our daughters out of it last year so there was an emotional connection and also I had some off cuts left over.

I would however prefer the item to be functional so here's a list of what else I have available before I start tracking down new stuff. Listed in order or preference (ie amount available)

Silky Oak
Dry Red Cedar
Dry Jacaranda
Halva (?)
Spaited (?) tulip
Rose She Oak
Camphor
Black wood



What would you recommend...or should I buy something else specific for this project?

Thanks again for the help.

[dr4g0nfly]

I'll have to hand that advise over to the locals, I recognise some of the names but being from the UK I could not recommend the best.

Having said that, try to scratch them with a finger nail, and pick the hardest few from that, then choose the one with the best grain pattern.

If you want to use the Mahogany (for the emotional connection) you could make the inset with it.