A few weeks ago, I was rummaging around looking for something and stumbled across a pair of pewter dangles that I had made some time ago and just never did anything with. I had cut them using my Pepetools disc cutter, then I ran through the Big Shot embosser inside one of my texture folders to emboss a fun design. Then I painted them blue, buffing the raised design back to silver. They aren’t perfect but are super cute and I don’t know why I sat them aside. They are no longer discarded bits, they are a full pair of earrings and listed in my shop:
https://mieloabelodesigns.com/blue-pewter-and-lapis-lazuli-earrings/
Looking at these and remembering the process reignited my love of working with metal. I have few tools and even less skill, but I get a little thrill experimenting and seeing what I can do with what I have. Plus sometimes it involves fire for an extra bonus.
The torch that I started with is on the less expensive side and actually designed for creme brulee. While there were a few times I got some impressive results, most of the time, I felt like maybe I needed a little more. I looked at different gas options like propane, but I don’t think that’s appropriate for my small, cramped, and disorganized craft room. So I decided to stick with butane.
My research led me to Blazer products. I took the plunge on a Blazer Big Shot. It is massive and very hot, and the first time I tried it, I struggled. I got some fun colors on a couple of pieces, but I was overheating and basically had no control on the flame. Maybe with practice, but I determined that maybe the Big Shot is not good for detailed color on such small pieces. I ended up using my chef’s torch to back some of the color off and finish, which worked, but I still thought I could do better with a hotter torch. I also have found that after glazing, the color seems more muddled and less defined.
So I went shopping again and settled on the Blazer Spitfire. It was that or the pencil torch, which I am still curious about. I have not used this smaller torch yet, but that is plan right now as soon as I publish this blog!
Check back in to see how it goes!