Down the Lane

I've had a hand torch for a couple of years. Today I filled it as usual with lighter fluid and left it to settle for an hour before use. When I lit it, it instantly flared a long, ragged, yellow flame which hit my soldering block and ricocheted back towards the torch nozzle. The torch instantly went out. Since then, there is no sound of gas hissing when I turn it on and, of course, it will not light. I'm now regarding it as suspiciously as an unexploded bomb!

I was thinking about getting a full-size jeweller's torch anyway - one that works from the kind of gas tank you use for a cooker - because the hand torch doesn't get hot enough to work larger pieces. It's fine for rings and small pendants but just can't maintain the silver at the right temperature for anything bigger. Now I'm thinking, if I do, I'm just introducing something to the house that will eventually go off with even more of a bang!

On the plus side, my metals arrived this morning, and so I have some things I can be getting on with that don't need soldering. Well, I can when my daughter has finished marbling so I can use the table... She has marbled almost every sheet of white paper in the house already, and seems to have only a few sheets left, so I should be able to get on with it soon.

What do you actually do? You have probably said before missed it.
Sounds interesting. I had a short spell of making silver clay jewellery where a gas canister torch was used. I bought this from the suppliers of the silver clay.

Oooh! Metal clay is next on my list of things to try! (Along with claw setting.)

At the moment I do wire wrap and forming, along with bezel setting. A bit of beading, but I'm not very good at that yet. It's all only at hobby level.

Will see if I can work out how to post pics on here.

It didn't like Facebook. I hope it likes Photobucket!

(I'm not very good at taking pics, so pic quality is a bit rubbish)

Lapis & Blue Goldstone bracelet


Sterling & Blue Mother-of-pearl pendant


Sterling on Black Water Jasper pendant


Sterling & Amber pendant


Sterling ring


Sterling ring


Black Onyx & Oxidised Sterling ring

Aspasia, your jewellry is beautiful, such talent.

I particularly like the amber one

Thank you so much, Spreckly and Mo!

I'm very aware that I still have a lot to learn, but that's what hobbies are for.

Wow, they are lovely

Thank you, Mrs Boodles!

I just need to make a decision on a replacement torch now, so that I can get on with it.

Wow..beautiful ...I love the tree of life pendant....that being said they're all gorgeous.

Thank you, Manda!

What a talent you have. All the work is beautiful and I would find it hard to pick a favourite.

Thank you so much, June!