Jeff's Junky Jewelry

[trijeff]

"Junkelry" (Junk Into Jewelry)

I've been so lost down the various GJ rabbit holes for awhile that I forgot to think about posting where it all began for me.

It was about 2008 or thereabouts. I had some tools and was always a hobby tinkerer/upcycler but needed more tools after wanting to create some jewelry from jade I had collected from the Big Sur, CA area.

More about my GJ journey and specifically how/what I have made/am making, but to get started with a photo of one hot of the presses for my mother in law's 65th. This first one is from an old powder coated shower rod (the metal), broken laundry bag holder (the wood) and a forgot-where-I-found stone. Usually my stuff is one-off, but I actually have a "production" set up going for this model - can use different wood/stone combos and placement/size/shape of the stones.

I've probably made a couple hundred pieces at this point, mostly necklaces but also some earrings and bracelets. Still a total novice but hope you enjoy! Comments and your own jewelry endeavors encouraged.

 

[BajaScout]

That is really cool!


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[spam4us]

Very Nice.

How do you fold over the rim of the shower rod?

 

[trijeff]

Thanks guys.

Spam, it is all press fit (Dake 3 ton) ... I just cut with a pipe cutter, deburred with a roundfile and then 3M deburring wheel, finally buffed out.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[trijeff]

Also, willing to take orders if you have both/either a memorable piece of stone and/or wood. Can work together on a design. Can also integrate dried flowers (wedding bouquet, memorial flowers, even ashes, etc.) as the stone. Just PM if interested!

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[trijeff]

Re: "Junkelry" (Junk Into Jewelry)

A couple of older ones. These are all jade or jadeite.

 

[trijeff]

Re: "Junkelry" (Junk Into Jewelry)

A few random stone ones.



Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[trijeff]

Re: "Junkelry" (Junk Into Jewelry)

Two more shower rod ones and the materials used to make them, minus stone (of which I have no idea what kind)

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[MBfreak]

Very nice!!

Ola

 

[gungatim]

Like your work.

just curious, have you ever bent a wrench to make a ring? I wanted one of those rings made from a small chrome ignition wrench I saw on some pop up ad on facebook. tried to make one on the shop press with a spare craftsman chrome polished 1/8" ignition wrench and a die I made. of course it snapped in two. it was obviously hardened (duh).

just curious if you know a way to soften them without discoloring? I know you can buy them but thought it would be cool to make one...

 

[trijeff]

Re: "Junkelry" (Junk Into Jewelry)

Thanks MBfreak and gungatim.

Re: the wrench ring, I haven't made any. But I have seen some where the jeweler actually makes a sterling silver cast of a wrench and then uses that ... obviously way easier to bend but not in the reach of most folks to do (including me).

Here's a pretty straightforward and easy way I found online, she says it takes 20 minutes!

https://www.instructables.com/id/Wrench-Ring/

Post up your method and results once complete, would love to see it!

 

[gungatim]

Re: "Junkelry" (Junk Into Jewelry)

Thanks MBfreak and gungatim.

Re: the wrench ring, I haven't made any. But I have seen some where the jeweler actually makes a sterling silver cast of a wrench and then uses that ... obviously way easier to bend but not in the reach of most folks to do (including me).

Here's a pretty straightforward and easy way I found online, she says it takes 20 minutes!

https://www.instructables.com/id/Wrench-Ring/

Post up your method and results once complete, would love to see it!

cool, thanks for the link.

I also made a few coin rings, those turned out pretty good.

 

[trijeff]

Re: "Junkelry" (Junk Into Jewelry)

Couldn't think of a better time than my 6th wedding anniversary to post my wedding band that I made from one of my old mountain bike titanium handlebars (MBfreak should like this one if I interpreted the username correctly!). A bit worse for the wear and could stand a good bufffing but still going strong. I tell her that hers (typ gold and diamonds) looks great and all, but mine is going to be able zipline us to safety in a real pinch. I'm not sure how exactly but when the time comes it'll pan out for sure

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[BajaScout]

Re: "Junkelry" (Junk Into Jewelry)

Very nice!


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[trijeff]

Re: "Junkelry" (Junk Into Jewelry)

Thanks, Baja! As you can see, it's actually two cuts of the handlebar with a slice cut from the inner one and then pressed together. I had to do it this way because one slice would have made too big of a ring for me. This is actually version 2.0, the original (without the middle cutout relief) was lost on a family vacation, thankfully misplaced by one of my wife's nieces and not me. What's nice is the handlebar is now retired and I can just keep making 'em as I lose 'em

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[BajaScout]

Re: "Junkelry" (Junk Into Jewelry)

I am assuming the handlebar tapers a bit? Or do you need cutout reliefs?


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[trijeff]

Re: "Junkelry" (Junk Into Jewelry)

Yep, does taper just a bit, but side to side cuts off the handlebar don't press right in/together but rather (like you say) take a center relief cut on the inner band in order to fit. I'm sure I could make direct fits (i.e., no center relief cut on inner band) if I cut up the whole bar and didn't take side to side cuts. Shoot, I'm sure a single cut would fit a bunch of guys, but I kinda like having the double so I can do the decorative outer center cut (which basically goes all the way through the second layer just down into the surface of the inner ring).

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[trijeff]

Re: "Junkelry" (Junk Into Jewelry)

Few more from my wife's collection.

First is a belt buckle retainer, unknown wood and jadeite.

Second is a novelty India silver opium pipe bowl and jadeite.

Third is a flattened, shaped bike spoke and jadeite ... looks blackish in this terrible lighting but is actually a beautiful deep green with inclusions.

Fourth is an old family (wife's side) sterling silver spoon, flattened, with a stone I found on a pre-marriage trip (with her and her family) to Monterey, CA.




Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[trijeff]

Re: "Junkelry" (Junk Into Jewelry)

A really similar one from the same belt buckle retainer went to GJ member KMScott's wife for all of his help on my special vise projects.

He sent me a note saying she couldn't wipe the smile from her face and wore it for 18 days straight before taking it off

 

[KMScott]

She loves it. You could not have picked a better piece for my wife. It's like you know her. She wears it all the time. Thanks again Jeff.