Vacuum

I got my vacuum pump today and it is sweet! It's super quiet and, so far, it appears to be built very well. We will see if it stands the test of time! The only problem is, I have to go to work tonight and I won't be home for a week so I won't be able to test it yet. I have a super accurate vacuum gauge and I will let you guys know how well it performs when I get home. I also have started building my vacuum machine for vacuuming out the air bubbles in the plaster and vacuuming the molds to help with a good cast.

Stuff I Need To Buy

Need:                                                              Bought So Far:                                    Cost:         

Vacuum Pump                                                  Robinair 15300                                  $151.04

Spru Base

Crucibles
Investment Powder
Wax Injection Machine                                                                           $505.11
Wax Ring Blanks
Intricate Wax Carving Tools                                                                                          $20.00
Book On How To Cast                                       Practical Casting                                $33.19
Materials To Make Vacuum
Casting Machine
Mold Rubber
Casting Flasks
Flask Sleeves
Kiln                                                                                                                               $670.09
Melting Furnace                                                   1 kilo 110v                                        $699.95
Injecting Wax                                                       5 lbs                                                    $43.85

Research

    Today I have scrambled my brains and have done quite a lot of research. Mainly into how the Lost Wax process works because that is kind of what I want to get into so I can make the real professional jewelry and not some home made looking junk. I bought a book on Amazon titled "Practical Casting" by Tim McCreight. I guess a lot of people like the book. When I'm done reading it, I will give it an honest review. I'm still trying to find a website where I can get some good equipment for a reasonable price.

Where to Start

    First, I need to research what kind of jewelry will sell (with the help of Terapeak). Then I need to get the tools and know-how and make the product. After that, I will work on selling it through places like Ebay, Amazon, affiliate marketers and Google AdWords

    What I'm going to do today is try to find some good suppliers of jewelry-making tools and maybe even some instructional material on how to make jewelry. I do have a little experience making jewelry that I gained working with my grandpa, but it doesn't hurt to learn more.
The type of jewelry I would like to start making is anything silver (mainly rings and necklaces).
I will have to find out what I will need to buy in order to work in silver.

           

Making Jewelry for Profit

   

    I have always liked making stuff and making it shine. So, I have decided that I will start a small jewelry making business and sell it on the internet. I'm going to try to document how everything goes for me so that if anybody else wants to do the same thing they will have an idea of what to expect. In short, I am willing to be the Guinea pig.

    If you follow my blog, you will learn everything that I research and you won't have to make the same mistakes that I'm sure I am going to run into.

    First, I would like to tell you a little about my situation, where I'm at in life and why I want to do this. I live in Utah and I am currently employed on a gas drilling rig that drills for natural gas in the oil and gas field near Vernal. I work a week on and get a week off.

    Leaving my wife and newborn baby for a whole week at a time is probably one of the hardest things I have had to deal with in the last year. After working at this job for some time, you would think that I would get used to leaving. I haven't. It just gets harder and harder.

    Now that I have done my complaining, I would like to state that I love my job and I feel very blessed to have work in these trying times. But, I need to take the week that I have off and form a second income so that I have something to fall back on if anything happens to the rig.

    As a father and husband, I truly believe that my duty as such is to provide and protect my family in the best way I know how.

    So, there you have it. My reasons are that I have some time, a little money from my job and the motivation of having a family to start this business. I'm sure everyone has their different reasons and desires and whether they are the same or not doesn't matter. What matters is you need to believe that you can accomplish something and you will. The only thing that holds us back from achieving anything we want is our fears and doubts. Without fear and doubt, you could become the greatest person that ever lived.