markb
Cave Dweller 
Member since May 2022
Posts: 472 
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Post by markb on Dec 11, 2022 1:27:49 GMT -5
Well, it’s nothing to write home about but here’s my first try at a wrap. The stone was tumbled and a bit more wonky in shape than it appears to be in the picture. I learned a LOT in the process like use longer wires than you think you’ll need because you can always cut off what you don’t need, don’t grab the copper so hard with the pliers since it’s Dead Soft and will leave marks easily, always wrap towards yourself when using Half Round wire so you can keep track of the flat side, make sure to have a good light source so you don’t leave spaces by mistake in a wrapped line, and get creative when trying to hide cut wire ends or hide messy areas (still working on that one), etc. Thanks for looking. 😎  |
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Post by liveoak on Dec 11, 2022 7:42:55 GMT -5
That looks pretty nice markb, for your first wrap. A tumbled stone, IMO is a harder way to start.
I do like the way you bent in the wires on the stone, with the plain looking stone the double wires look good.
You left one thing out- always have your optivisor near by (or on)
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 11, 2022 8:42:37 GMT -5
You did a great job!! Tumbles are difficult. I, also, really really like how you did the lock wires. You're on your way! 
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 11, 2022 9:37:37 GMT -5
I think it's a fantastic effort and result for your first wrap. As Patty and Tela have both mentioned...tumbles are super difficult to wrap! I've only done a couple and have yet to be pleased with the results. I think yours is better than what I did!  Glad you picked up on some of the "lessons" while working on this one. There's no way to acquire those tidbits until you actually start working the wire. I'm happy you've ventured down this road! |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 11, 2022 11:00:33 GMT -5
 with what everyone above said. I think you did a smashing job on your first one! 
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Post by susand24224 on Dec 11, 2022 22:12:12 GMT -5
Nice! I've wrapped a few tumbled stones and they are *never* easy, at least not for me. I consider them a success when they don't fall out the first time they are worn (which is what happened with the last one I did). I looked at the lessons you said you learned, and it is obvious from looking at the wrap that you learned them well--your bindings look great, the curves are nice, and it looks quite secure.
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
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Post by khara on Dec 11, 2022 22:39:08 GMT -5
Looks really good. 👍 Is it a 3 wire wrap or is there a 4th wire behind? Yes that half round can very easily twist, and boy I have a really hard time seeing the round side! Hope to see more wraps from you.
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markb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2022
Posts: 472
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Post by markb on Dec 12, 2022 1:12:23 GMT -5
That looks pretty nice markb , for your first wrap. A tumbled stone, IMO is a harder way to start.
I do like the way you bent in the wires on the stone, with the plain looking stone the double wires look good.
You left one thing out- always have your optivisor near by (or on)
Patty
Thanks Patty
Well tumbled stones is all I have at this point, because I don't have a cabbing machine. Plenty of cutouts, but no way to cab them up just yet. This first wrap was pretty wonky all the way around, but I know you gotta jump in and give it a go to have a chance at getting better down the road. I'm still trying to figure out how long to make my wires. I'm thinking if the stone is 2" long, then that's 2" + 2" for the sides, plus however wide it is at the bottom, x 2 maybe?? Does that sound right or should I add 1 or 2 more inches, if I wanted the option to add swirls or something at the top? Any guidelines are welcome. I was actually on the hunt for my optivisor earlier this week, which I found stashed down stairs in a location I'd be sure to remember... but didn't. haha! Luckily my wife found it for me. markb |
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markb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2022
Posts: 472
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Post by markb on Dec 12, 2022 1:16:44 GMT -5
You did a great job!! Tumbles are difficult. I, also, really really like how you did the lock wires. You're on your way! Thanks Tela
But rest assured none of you have any competition to worry about from me for quite awhile if ever-hahaha! |
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markb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2022
Posts: 472
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Post by markb on Dec 12, 2022 1:31:05 GMT -5
I think it's a fantastic effort and result for your first wrap. As Patty and Tela have both mentioned...tumbles are super difficult to wrap! I've only done a couple and have yet to be pleased with the results. I think yours is better than what I did! Glad you picked up on some of the "lessons" while working on this one. There's no way to acquire those tidbits until you actually start working the wire. I'm happy you've ventured down this road! Thanks Jason
Oh I'm sure many more wrapping lessons are on the way for me in the near future too-HA! Like the wire jumbled mess from hell in front of the bail, which I tried to hide the best I could with the swirly thing up there, but ran out of places to stick the wire ends into I didn't want anymore. Yep, it's back to the drawing board with those plans I guess!!! markb |
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markb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2022
Posts: 472
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Post by markb on Dec 12, 2022 1:35:48 GMT -5
 with what everyone above said. I think you did a smashing job on your first one!  Thanks Robin
But Mario and his banana friend look way too happy for this wrap-ah hahaha. |
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markb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2022
Posts: 472
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Post by markb on Dec 12, 2022 1:48:41 GMT -5
Nice! I've wrapped a few tumbled stones and they are *never* easy, at least not for me. I consider them a success when they don't fall out the first time they are worn (which is what happened with the last one I did). I looked at the lessons you said you learned, and it is obvious from looking at the wrap that you learned them well--your bindings look great, the curves are nice, and it looks quite secure. Well susand24224, Whatever you do don't blow up the image of the wrap-haha! Or you will see all the imperfections just waiting to jump out at you, like that bottom binding. I thought for sure I had that HR wire lined up on the flat side... but I guess not. lol But you can bet I'll check it more often next time! And since you mentioned it, it was a bit crazy trying to hold the rock in place before I got the wires secured at the top, but in the end it worked out. |
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markb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2022
Posts: 472
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Post by markb on Dec 12, 2022 2:59:51 GMT -5
Looks really good. 👍 Is it a 3 wire wrap or is there a 4th wire behind? Yes that half round can very easily twist, and boy I have a really hard time seeing the round side! Hope to see more wraps from you. Thanks kharaActually, I like to torture myself so it's a "5" square wire wrap!! LOL That's part of the reason I had troubles with the HR wire on the bottom, and because of the stone's face shape not being even across the bottom. I should have extended the bottom wrap further across the bottom, so that when I bent the 5 wires around the stone it may not have spread the bottom wrap apart so far and off center to the right. But since that's how the bottom ended up, off to the right, I decided to bend the top 2 wires to lead the viewers eye in the same direction. You know, the same theory as when doing a painting. I probably should have put a swirl, beads or something down at the bottom to give them something to look at, other than my botched HR wrap line-haha. Also, the loopy thing at the top should have played in better to the flow of the stone too. Time to get out the drawing board for better planning. The 2 outside wires on the front and back secured the stone just fine, like building a cage to contain it in. The wire in the middle that goes around the stones edge is not tight, because of how that part of the stone is shaped and it slips around if touched. Thus, it is probably not needed. I could have crimped it to tighten it up, but it wasn't necessary to secure the stone, so I just left it alone because it looked nicer. Oh and I purposely didn't let anyone look at the back, so you couldn't see my botched job of messing up the attachment of the bail at the bottom and the top of the 5 wires I trimmed but couldn't find a good place to hide them all. Alas, another problem of using 5 wires.  --- Oh my gosh, I just looked at your wrap khara and it's awesome! I can see I'll have to really step things up now. I really like the incorporated beads you put at the top. It dresses it up nicely. Well done overall! markb  |
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
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Post by khara on Dec 12, 2022 4:35:47 GMT -5
markb You have a lot of good ideas and insight about your wrap. You may have already read that I just did a YouTube tutorial from Oxana Crafts to do mine. I’m bummed I haven’t had any time to try again because I really enjoyed it. A little surprised by that because I initially started practicing and was always drawn to metalsmithing. I like that I can do wrapping though at midnight if I have the energy. I always feel bad making so much noise banging or sawing away at my metal bench in the middle of the night.🤣 The instructions for this had me cut 10 inch long frame wires. My stone was 1-3/16” diameter so I’ll probably continue to use 10” since that’s a pretty average stone size. I had plenty of wire to work with for the top curlies and also didn’t feel I was wasting too much. For the half round she suggested to just leave it on the coil and that worked fine. I was really surprised at how mis-aligned my top bail and bottom wrap are. I thought I was holding it straight enough as I connected my top and started wrapping it and it continued to look straight and even as I wrapped but when I was done I realized the bottom wrap is askew from the bail. And not obviously intentionally offset. It doesn’t show much in the photos but when worn it is noticeable. So that’s definitely something I’ll have to figure out how to get better at, or just do an intentional offset like you did. I will have to try a tumble at some point!
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 12, 2022 5:48:57 GMT -5
When I start any wrap, I begin by wrapping some tape around the outside of the stone. I place it on paper, mark the middle and add about 2.5 inches to the ends for the length of wire. Hope that helps.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 12, 2022 9:44:43 GMT -5
When I start any wrap, I begin by wrapping some tape around the outside of the stone. I place it on paper, mark the middle and add about 2.5 inches to the ends for the length of wire. Hope that helps. Yup! Painters tape is your friend! I do the same as Tela. Also use the tape for holding stuff together before it's bound and tight. The top bail wires especially. I use gobs of tape. markb considering you were using a tumble for your first wrap, you did a phenomenal job. My first one did not look anywhere near as good as yours. As a matter of fact, I tore it apart and tried again (maybe a few times). |
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