Silver chamberstick...

…a class with Jens Torp



Two weeks ago I took another silver class with Jens Torp.  This time we were going to make a 12th scale silver chamberstick.  The class would include two techniques which were new to me, turning on a metal lathe and soldering silver.   The photo above shows my finished chamberstick.



This photo shows some of the components of the chamberstick.   The bottom bowl has been cut from a sheet of silver, then shaped and drilled.  The top bowl has also been cut from  sheet of silver, shaped and drilled, and then soldered onto a silver tube which we had turned on a lathe beforehand.  

The soldering was nerve-racking, as in silver soldering the whole piece is heated and it could all melt into a big blob of silver in a split second.  Thankfully Jens was watching us and telling us what to do. 



A short impression of my first try on the lathe.  Jens is standing by with instructions.   I was turning the top part of the tube which the top bowl has to fit onto.  As you can see I have difficulty reading the measurement on the calipers…too many tiny lines too close together!



The tube with top disk attached were then mounted onto the lathe again where some decorative turning had to be done.  At first things were going fine for me, but when I had a few lines on there, I just could not see what I was doing anymore.  Help!  I think I need better light and better glasses.

After turning the decorations a hole had to be cut into the tube which would hold a device for raising or lowering the candle.  Then the bottom bowl was soldered on and the little handle riveted into place.  
Sounds simple enough, doesn't it.  Well I can tell you it isn't!



Well as usual there was a lot more sanding, buffing, polishing etc. to be done before it was finished, but here it is, all finished and looking lovely and shiny...



It resides in the bedroom now, but it could go anywhere really.


Isn't it lovely?  I enjoyed this class.  Learned some new techniques…I should really say I tried some new techniques as there's a lot more learning to do before I master them!

Jens sells these chambersticks, made by himself of course.  And then they're somewhat more delicate than mine…Now how can that be? ;-)


Comments

  1. Ohhh....wonderfull!
    I so much wish that I might attend these workshps...
    Josje, your work is excellent as usual. When it comes to glasses, I think I may help you ;o)
    Best Easter wishes to you and your family.
    Hugs, Ro

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I wish you would and could too Rosanna! Maybe you could think about coming to Tune one summer...It is further away for you than for us, but you could have a little vacation in Denmark perhaps. Jens is teaching there, and Bill Robertson, Jamie, and....well check out the site http://miniatureitune.com/
      There are a lot of us going this summer and I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun!
      Have a wonderful Easter!

      Delete
  2. You did well for a first time on the lathe Josje! Hope I am going to see it in July, it looks really beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Elga. Of course you will see it as you have to come to my house before we leave ;-)))))

      Delete
  3. What a fun class. Your chamber-stick came out beautifully! :-) Do you like working with silver?
    I have a Unimat lathe and all the attachments. When I turn tiny pieces I am sitting eye level with it. There is no way I could do that standing. I also where the same sort of magnifiers Jens had on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes it was fun Catherine. I love working with silver, it is such a wonderful material. Jens tries to include a new technique each time he teaches so by now we've tried quite a number of techniques. Of course we should work at home to improve on them, but that is often difficult as we don't have a lot of the tools needed. I should practise on the lathe but I don't own one... I'm taking a class by Bill Robertson this summer which has a lot of lathe work as well so I will take you advice and try sitting down.
      On the photos I have noticed a small hole in the bottom bowl which I had not noticed before. I do need better glasses or magnifiers! I have no idea what I did to get that in there, but I think I will have to do go back and do some more rubbering to see if I can get that out. This, and the polishing is something I can do at home. And my friend has an ultrasonic cleaner so cleaning isn't a problem either.

      Delete
  4. I am sure you know you can't polish off a hole or a pit. You would have to sand it off then polish it.

    I love the fact you are doing these classes because I really like seeing the posts you do about them.

    Everyone is in Chicago right now. I am so sorry I wasn't able to go this year. I do hope one day you will consider going. They have lots of classes too. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes I know Catherine. I will do some more rubbering with the same thingies (don't know the correct name for them) as in picture three. They're rubber but have an abrasive in them. Great for removing scratches etc. The pit I have may be more problematic though, I don't know if I'll get it out at this stage. After that I'll polish with tripoli and then rouge.

      Oh I'd love to go to Chicago one day...but with the cost of the flight and the hotel over there I won't have anything left ;-)

      Delete
  5. Hi Josje,
    It looks wonderfull, the class again sounds like great fun.
    I hope you didn't had to work after midnight to finish your project!
    And the video was nice to watch and hear some familiar voices.
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes Jeffry, you know all the people who were in the class ;-) Actually this time we did not work nights at all. We were all on schedule and I wasn't even the last to finish. Hard to believe huh, but true!

      Delete
  6. Wow, Josje, I am SO Impressed! But I shouldn't be, because it is just like you to go take a class with a Master in order to learn how to make the perfect little pieces of silver for your house!!! Your candlestick is Gorgeous!!! and to think that the parts all work and are just like the original ones.... a candle that can be raised!!! Wow! And it looks so beautiful in the bedroom. Lucky you to be able to take that class!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! It was a great class again. And Jens makes sure everyone goes home with a lovely lovely piece, whatever your skill level. The working part is cool, even though it is something I'll never use, the knowledge that it works is wonderful.

      Delete
  7. Really beautiful! Loved watching the video---You've done a great job of it and it looks so nice in the bedroom, very inviting little scene :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Prachtig, ik heb in Apeldoorn ook weer mogen kwijlen bij de spullen van Jens. Moet nu toch echt eens een mail sturen voor de workshops bij Trees. En ooooh ga je naar Denemarken met al die workshops, gaaf!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ja echt doen hoor! Het is zo leuk. Denemarken in juli, leuk hè. Een kleine vakantie. Ik zal natuurlijk uitgebreid verslag doen ;-)

      Delete
  9. Hi
    I found the video fun to watch.
    The candlestick is a beautiful masterpiece from your hand.
    A nice gain at the rest of your beautiful collection.
    I got from "Tine", the web-address of "miniature in Tuna".
    I have viewed the website.
    That's going to be a lot fun for your in July
    I'm still a bit a rookie in the field of the doll's house world, but by the growing contacts at the fair in Apeldoorn for example, more and more I come to know.

    I wish you a very nice week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes, I think we'll have a lot of fun. I'm so looking forward to it.
      Well Alexandra, most of the people I know in the miniatures world are because of my visits to the fairs and the classes. Of course via internet too, but talking face to face with them is great!
      I hope you managed to find some lovely pieces for your house again!

      Delete
  10. Ik vind je kandelaar geweldig mooi geworden Josje.
    Ja en de meester heeft mooier werk, is altijd toch?
    Je leert veel dat is duidelijk.

    Groetjes Thea

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dank je wel Thea. Gelukkig is het werk van de meester veel beter, het zou niet best zijn als dat niet zo was. Maar we leren inderdaad veel hoor!

      Delete
  11. Wat een prachtig stukje werk!
    Ik ben diep onder de indruk.

    Groeten van Paula

    ReplyDelete
  12. Es un trabajo impresionante! se ve tan real y bien hecho! un abrazo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ¡Muchas gracias! Fue muy divertido hacer.

      Delete
  13. Encantador. Felicidades por el trabajo y por haber tenido la oportunidad de asistir a ese taller.
    Un saludo
    Marisa

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Josje, Your attention to the finer details is thrilling to see and the results are worth crowing about!!! :D Your silver candle stick is Perfection and to see this now gracing your already fabulous bedroom, is the cherry on top! You say that you have yet to master this technique but, in my eyes, I think that you have! :))
    Thank you for sharing your fun experience.

    elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Elizabeth. You're very kind :-) Well, under the guidance of Jens we can all produce a nice result, but I still need a lot of practise before I would say I have mastered the techniques involved!

      Delete
  15. That is just beautiful! I wish I could attend one day. I'll have to quit work first though, as Tune is in the week before the end of term and it's practically full as well. Maybe in a few years...

    Hope you have a great time there!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Idske. Pity you have to work in that week. Is the end of term each year around the same date?

      Delete
  16. Beautiful work Josje, and same goes for the tray too :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sarah. There's a short tutorial for the tray on my website, but that's for the butler tray the chamber stick is on. I think maybe you meant the marquetry tray?

      Delete
  17. Simply devine..just gorgeous work, well done!
    All the best,
    Vivian

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment