aimeesrockworks
spending too much on rocks
I really do look like my avatar... it kinda freaks me out.
Member since December 2010
Posts: 458
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Post by aimeesrockworks on Feb 8, 2018 19:05:15 GMT -5
I've only soldered about 3 things together successfully (don't ask about the other 'incidents' but they mainly involved hard solder) and this is my first sorta kind actual piece. My goal is setting oddly shaped tiny stones. Been watching video's, reading some books, and can't seem to figure out the answer to my burning question..... now that I've soldered the silver and set the stone (I'm not finished yet, still have some cleaning up to do). How do I make sure the wire is hard enough?? It's 22g and I feel like it still has some give and I've been mushing it around quite a few times. As in, this was NOT the original stone I intended and I cut the wires too short so had to find a smaller stone. (sigh) Do I polish with my hand-dandy Dremel and an appropriate drum/polish thingy? Should the pressing work-harden it enough? Vibe tumbler with magic media? Will I drive myself utterly bonkers trying to set stones that are irregular, slippery and half a centimeter wide? (I know the answer to the last question. I almost drew blood at least twice trying to press the stone in.) -Aimee Attachments:
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Post by Pat on Feb 8, 2018 19:50:41 GMT -5
I put my silver pieces in small vibrating tumbler with Small drop of Dawn liquid dish soap.
Good luck!
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Post by toiv0 on Feb 8, 2018 20:22:31 GMT -5
I don't tumble anything with a stone in it. I would tap with a light hammer (plastic) wiggle them with a pliers. Make sure you file the ends and they are tight to the stone.
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Post by fantastic5 on Feb 8, 2018 21:14:35 GMT -5
Work hardening wire is something I am still learning. All my reading points to tumbling, but before the stone is set.
I've been looking at setting raw stones and crystals lately myself and I must say, I really like those earrings!! Your post has inspired me to give this a try! Please post your solution when you find one, I'll be very interested.
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Post by Pat on Feb 8, 2018 21:17:24 GMT -5
I've put in a lot of Swarovski crystal beads in the small vibrating tumbler. Shines them up. No problem.
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aimeesrockworks
spending too much on rocks
I really do look like my avatar... it kinda freaks me out.
Member since December 2010
Posts: 458
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Post by aimeesrockworks on Feb 8, 2018 22:48:44 GMT -5
I've put in a lot of Swarovski crystal beads in the small vibrating tumbler. Shines them up. No problem. So just toss in a couple with a few drops and some water? I'm used to filling it up (with rocks of course!). That sounds easy-peasy. I like easy-peasy.
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Post by Pat on Feb 8, 2018 22:57:17 GMT -5
Almost. One drop of soap. Add enough water to ALMOST the top of the pile. Contents of barrel:
Stainless steel mixed shot Your goodies One drop of soap Water almost to the surface.
Put lid on. Flip the switch.
Easy-peasy!
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 9, 2018 2:26:57 GMT -5
Bending wire hardens it; bending it back and forth weakens it.
Consider using a sharp file to concentrate where you wish the metal to bend then cut the prongs to length; protect the stone and file to shape and tidy!
Hey presto! Of course it is not 'presto', mainly it comes down to time invested work and attention to detail.
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Post by fernwood on Feb 9, 2018 7:23:38 GMT -5
Those are nice. Yes, I would file the ends of the prongs so they lay flat on the stone.
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Post by Pat on Feb 9, 2018 10:12:42 GMT -5
You could also use a cup bur on the prong ends to smooth and round them.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 9, 2018 11:24:24 GMT -5
It looks like your prongs, prior to setting, formed a cross with the center soldered to the post. Then the prongs were bent up and over to secure the stone.
If that is correct, you can harden such prongs before setting by placing the earring on a hard metal surface with the post standing up. Then lightly tap each prong a few times with a hammer but not enough to noticeably flatten them. Next, holding the post horizontally next to the edge of the hard surface, place a prong onto it and tap it a few times again, then rotate the setting to do the next prong, then the next, and the last. This tapping from two directions should make the prongs fairly stiff before setting.
That second step wouldn't work for 6-prong settings because the the prongs would be less than 90° apart. Although you could if you pushed the adjacent ones out of the way — more work-hardening.
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aimeesrockworks
spending too much on rocks
I really do look like my avatar... it kinda freaks me out.
Member since December 2010
Posts: 458
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Post by aimeesrockworks on Feb 9, 2018 16:37:13 GMT -5
This is all good stuff! Thank you everyone! Now to find the worlds smallest hammer and some steel shot.
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Post by Pat on Feb 9, 2018 17:11:20 GMT -5
Foredom makes a hammer handpiece. Can also get a variety pack of tips.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 9, 2018 20:59:30 GMT -5
Foredom makes a hammer handpiece. Can also get a variety pack of tips. For hardening or pushing prongs down, or both?
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Post by Pat on Feb 9, 2018 21:57:03 GMT -5
Both. Foredom says it closes bezels and heavy prongs. Would automatically work harden the metal.
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Post by fernwood on Feb 10, 2018 7:32:15 GMT -5
I have a very old, very tiny hammer. It also has a removable rubber covering for the head. Plus, I have a couple of spare heads. Total length of hammer is about 5". The head is about dime size. Fairly heavy for overall size, so it works great for flattening metal without leaving marks. Cannot remember when or where I got it from.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 10, 2018 11:41:08 GMT -5
Both. Foredom says it closes bezels and heavy prongs. Would automatically work harden the metal. I use my hammer handpiece for setting faceted stones in bezels, but I much prefer manual hammer-setting for cabs. With manual hammering I have more control and "feel" for when the metal is down and how hard the blows are. I can see some advantage for some very light taps on prongs from a hammer handpiece once the prongs are already pushed over and down on the stone.
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