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Post by ladyt on Sept 17, 2006 15:24:25 GMT -5
Well, I'm not excited, but here's the opal in 14 K gold filled wire, square, 20 g. I had it almost done and the ring size was messed up and the stone was real crooked, so I took it apart and did it again. The stone isn't completely right and I chewed up the wire. It's not good enough to give as a present, but I'll keep it for me. It was a practice opal anyhow, so now that I've tried it (both polishing the stone and wrapping) I think I'm ready to try the real thing. Sorry the pics aren't real good either. Just not my day today, to many shakes. LOL   Thanks for looking. Tonja  |
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Post by rockyraccoon on Sept 17, 2006 18:51:03 GMT -5
don't give up! put it aside, work on some other wire projects and come back to this one later. you had that 1st one and you can do it!
kim
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Sept 17, 2006 18:58:25 GMT -5
Tonja,
Don't be hard on yourself...at least you tried and didn't give up. Heck, I don't even have the balls to try half of things I want to. Keep at it and soon you'll be a pro.
Steve
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Post by ladyt on Sept 17, 2006 19:03:38 GMT -5
Thanks Kim. no I'm not going to give up. I enjoyed doing it. I was just disapointed in the final results this time. I think I need to use a smaller wire and also half round instead of square. The directions said square, but the practice wire was round and I liked it better. Doc said to sharpen my tools. My husband sanded them to make sure there wasn't any dings per say in them. They are smooth, but I guess I just sqeeze to hard and sometimes they slip and that marks the wire. I am probably going to buy more wire this week and give it another go. Tonja |
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Post by rockyraccoon on Sept 17, 2006 19:22:45 GMT -5
the square wire has to stay lined up so you might want to try round. that's alot of swirls to keep it lined up. i take masking tape in small pieces, put it 3 thick and wrap all my tools before i start each wrap. i cut off any excess on the backsides. it will last through at least one wrap and you can squeeze away! tool magic works great too but i have to wait on it to dry overnight and i haven't much patience. i don't have to wait on the masking tape lol.
kim
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Post by ladyt on Sept 17, 2006 19:57:57 GMT -5
Thanks for the encouragement Steve. Good idea Kim, Thanks, I'm going to give the tape a try. That would definately soften the metal pliers. I'm going to the store tomorrow for more wire. I have some 22g half round half hard but I don't think it's large enough wire and I don't have enough. It took 5' of square to do the ring. Thanks so much for your help. It's greatly appreciated!!  Tonja |
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Post by gemkoi on Sept 17, 2006 20:40:24 GMT -5
As an artist Tonja, one can be much harder on oneself. But at least your are trying and thats the biggest point. One thing, though im not at all an opal expert. I do know that Opal is not a friendly stone for a ring setting. Only becasue it can chip easy after being worn in such a active place. So when you do get that perfect opal cab, think about that. I would also suspect a wrap to alow more surface of the opal to be open. So even more so i would take allot of caution. For a lesser grade cab, i think it would be OK just becasue it easier to replace the lesser grade than the higher. Nice setting either way.
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Post by docone31 on Sept 17, 2006 21:45:38 GMT -5
Tonja, that opal is going to be difficult in any setting. I cannot tell you how many attempts I made before I made one that I could sell. Even today, I really mess some up. Especially faceted trillion ones. Keep on plugging away, it will come.
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Shelbeeray
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2006
Posts: 688
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Post by Shelbeeray on Sept 17, 2006 22:08:51 GMT -5
Good for you for trying! I wrecked a bunch of wire today and yesterday trying to copy a ring a friend gave me - finally got it right. I made 3 more before I tried my good wire and still mucked up the good wire the first time!
It sure is fun though - when you get it right! You did a great job the first time around and I'm sure you'll accomplish near perfection before long!
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Post by Cher on Sept 18, 2006 10:57:07 GMT -5
You've got more courage than me, keep practicing.
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Post by ladyt on Sept 18, 2006 20:38:14 GMT -5
Well, I went out today and bought more wire. Cher sent me a speacial package of freeform cabs to use for practice, so I sat during my sons baseball practice and wired away! I got one done. I think it looks ok. I'm going to do more then post pics all at one time. I'm not like Kim though, I can only do 1 at a time. LOL Thank you to each of you on your words of encouragement. I surely do appreciate every word. Tonja |
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firewalker45
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2006
Posts: 929
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Post by firewalker45 on Sept 19, 2006 7:52:38 GMT -5
WTG Tonja, practice, practice, Patience. Daniel
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