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A DIY Revolving Soldering Board And Some New Enamel Earrings


So, it's been a while. My last blog post was the end of August. I decided to take a few weeks off in September to just have a break and to get over the "bangle-burnout" I was suffering from. July and August were very busy in my shops for bangles especially and everything else {ironing mostly} was just not getting done... plus I just felt like a break. 

I had a long list of things I had to do during my break which included doing some decorating, make new stock, make some new silver bangles for hallmarking, do the ironing {!}, tidy kitchen cupboards, clean my shed and varnish my jewellery bench, register on Amazon Handmade, update my website and mourn my sweet cat Tuppence. Hang on! That last bit wasn't part of the plan but sadly old age caught up with her and she was put to sleep on Sept 2nd.


So I spent a couple of days feeling sad and missing a cat who had become my constant companion for the last few years. She liked to sit on my knee when I was at my computer and would stare intently at the screen as I attempted to type and quite often would help me to type too, adding a long line of 0000000000000000's to my text when I least expected it. 

I did get quite a lot of the things on my list done despite feeling a bit down. I made some new stock, including the enamel earrings above, which I'll post about next week plus I came up with a really cheap alternative to the shockingly expensive revolving soldering stand that Cookson Gold sell for £43! Ok, the Cookson Gold stand is made of cast iron and it's a lovely shade of blue. Mine cost me just over £2 and bit of Super Glue.

I bought some lazy susan bearings from qualitybearingsonline.com which are very cheap - £2.19 and free delivery - took an old soldering board and some Super Glue and glued the bearings onto the board.


I was going to screw the bearings onto the board but it just started to crumble when I tried drilling a hole in it so I tried attaching it with the glue and it worked fine.
I then put another soldering board on top and ta da! A revolving soldering board!



The board sits quite safely on top of the bearings and I can raise the height of it if I need to by just sitting it on top of a few more boards. I'm sure a slightly bigger board would work ok on it too. I've used it a couple of times and it's great! It's really useful for the type of bangles I make with a length of wire coiled and twisted round the bangle as I like to solder the wire in place around the bangle.


Being able to turn the soldering board as I pick solder the wire in place makes life a bit easier and I'm all for anything that makes soldering easier :D




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Comments

  1. sasha + max studioFriday, October 02, 2015

    So sorry to hear that Tuppence has passed away. Our kitten companions are an integral part of our lives, and their memories stay with us long after they are gone.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Divya NFriday, October 02, 2015

    Ohh, I am so sorry about Tuppence; she looks so majestic, so beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Miss Val's CreationsFriday, October 02, 2015

    I'm so sorry to hear about your Tuppence. :( It is not easy when you lose pet. Cats are so fascinated by computers and typing.
    I haven't heard of Amazon Handmade. I started a supply shop on Amazon in late spring and it has been very successful!
    Your bangle with the twisted wire detail is gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Cinnamon JewellerySaturday, October 03, 2015

    Thank you! We do tend take out pets for granted then miss them so much when they are gone.

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownTuesday, October 06, 2015

    Oh Tracy, so sorry for your heart break. :'( Nothing can really prepare us even though we know that our pet is old. I have a candle that comes on everyday for my little Cosmo by his ashes. I miss him lots. He was my companion also here at home in the studio and with just my life for the past 16 years. I just realized he helped me meditate every day. Only because I would have to carry him outside and he'd take FOREVER to go to the bathroom. He'd just take his time and I would have to just sit there. LOL! Yesterday was the first time I sat out in the back since he passed back in April. Well...I just wanted to say you are not alone. Lots of hugs and kisses. Xoxoxo. Kalaya

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownTuesday, October 06, 2015

    Your lazy Susan is AWESOME! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cinnamon JewelleryTuesday, October 06, 2015

      Thanks for your comments Kalaya. Tuppence is the 2nd cat I've lost in a year. I still have one left but he's not a cuddly sort of cat so I really miss how Tupper used to sit on my knee ALL the time and cover my clothes with cat hair :D

      Delete

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