posted
I'm trying to make myself a headband that looks like this for Halloween. I've got the gold ribbon and huge flowers, but can't figure out a way to make a nice-looking Oz emblem for the front.
I was wondering if anyone would be willing to make one out of thick gold wire. It probably wouldn't be too complex, but then again, I don't really have any metalworking skills. I'd be willing to pay for the materials and your time and effort. If it's not too expensive, I might also want another one to go atop a scepter.
Is this too silly and unreasonable a request?
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Depends on if you were gonna use your powers for good, or for awesome. I have soldered lead before. Or you could do it on a disc of acrylic with that stuff they make fake stained glass from. Or there is precious metal paste that can be formed and fired.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I suppose I could also make it out of sculpey, but it is of utmost importance that it not look retarded.
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Can you solder gold wire? I've soldered copper before, that was pretty easy... basically all you do is heat up the solder and let it drip onto the things you want to fuse together. Radio shack sells soldering irons and solder for cheap.
It's toxic, though, so you do want to be a little careful with it.
Posts: 1681 | Registered: Jun 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I've thought of about 3 different ways to do this, none of which involve solder. Lemme play around with it a bit...
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
All my soldering stuff if over 1000 miles away.
But for those of you who are curious, solder is made up of two main parts. The outside, the solder itself is made out of a few different materials depending on the type of solder. Tin and lead is perhaps the most popular type of solder, aluminium is occasionaly used as well. Silver solder is a stronger version of lead solder, and less often used. It is key that the solder have a low melting point so that the small soldering irons can melt them and not the material they're adhering to. The other part of the solder is the "flux", typically this flux is in three parts in the solder itself, three cylinders that run through the larger solder cylinder (though the number 3 is not an intregal part of the solder, it's common). The flux is basically just a cleaning agent, it heats up and immeaditly cleans off the surface to which the solder is supposed to adhere. If the surface is not clean the solder will merely spread out over the whole surface without keeping anything together. When the surface is clean the connection becomes pure and the solder balls up and conenct properly (the balling effect of solder is actually now being used to properly align micro-chips due to it's predictable reaction and easy application). Solder can not create a very strong connection due to the necessity of using such soft metals as the soldering agent. Typically solder is used when connecting wires, it creates a clean electrical connection as is strong enough to hold the small wires to each other or a metal plate. For strong connections, ones which will bear actual weight, welding is used, which is a far more complex subject than solder.
Why did I do all this? I wish I could help Annie and I feel guilty about it, so I'm doing the only thing I can in this situation, not really helpful but at least now you know something about solder.
posted
Glad to make you happy Christy. And I think Annie is the one who you'll have to worry about taking that the wrong way, she has a thing for me you see.
posted
The precious metal paste would be way better than sculpey, though being real precious metal, it might be a little pricey for you. A variety of metal finishes are sold for lead solder. Though they tend to be directed at looking old-timey.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Silly and unreasonable request fullfilled -- A headband emblem and a scepter emblem will be ready to ship this weekend. I'll send you pics when they're ready.
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hobbes, you missed a "step" between soldering and welding: brazing (same processing used to assemble steel bike frames). Essentially it's a high temp version of soldering.
This is the process that would make Annie's headband usable w/out being fragile. (assuming you make it out of metal, not plastic or some other material)
Posts: 692 | Registered: Feb 2000
| IP: Logged |
After work I swung by P&P Williams Consulting, also known as Mom & Dad's house. I borrowed some high-density foam left over from Dad's airplane manufacturing days and Mom's skillsaw, and after Daddy Dearest got me started cut out two OZ emblems... one a little bigger than the other, for the scepter.
Dad dug up some gesso to coat them with, to fill the holes in the foam... they need a little sanding, and a few more coats of gesso, and then gold paint and they'll be done.
This way they're thick, like the one in the picture -- I'm not sure how that could have been done with wire and solder -- but they still have nice, clean edges, unlike if you'd have scuplted them. And they are very lightweight, which is good for the headband one.
Anyway, I'll e-mail you a pic so you can tell me if I should finish or not.
posted
I sent Annie an advance pic, she can post if she wants. I won't be going home today, so I can't... details in the allergy thread.
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Annie is on a trip, she was supposed to be back already, but it was her entire class on this trip so they went by bus and the bus has flatted, I'm hoping she get's back soon 9and tonight!) but I wouldn't be surprised if you don't hear from her until tomorrow.
Big thanks from her for all this work though, you're great!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Lemme play around with it a bit...
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
