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Post by Titania on Feb 14, 2008 8:18:31 GMT -5
Is the # of wires you use in your wraps up to whim or is there some design philosophy behind it? I did my very first wraps last night (pics later). My first used 5 wires, the 2nd 3. I realized only after the fact that the books I have use 2 to wrap cabs. I'm not super excited about how sturdy that would be, but maybe I'm just being paranoid. Finding homes for 10 ends is sure tricky!
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Sparky
starting to spend too much on rocks
Still diggin'...
Member since October 2007
Posts: 147
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Post by Sparky on Feb 14, 2008 15:44:53 GMT -5
For my traditional style wraps, like the wrap in my avatar, I use only 1 or 2 wires.
But with border wraps I use anywhere from 3 to 6 depending on the thickness of the stone. I just finished a border wrap on a cab that had a 1/4" thick girdle and used only 3 wires. IMHO, I wouldn't use only 2 wires on any border wrap for the same reason you mentioned.
I'll post pics of it as soon as I can pry it out of my wife's hands...lol It was part of her Valentine's Day from me.
Hope this helps.
Rus
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Post by akansan on Feb 14, 2008 16:08:35 GMT -5
It partly depends on the thickness of the flat. I like my wires to cover the flat edge completely in the bound spots, and that's normally four wires. You can create a perfectly stable wrap with only two wires. Let me dig through the archives to find some of rockds's wraps - he almost always used 2 wires. Design-sense wise, odd numbers are generally preferable to the eye than even numbers. Think of flower petals - most flowers have an odd number of petals... Additionally, you can always clip extra ends. It's taken me over a year to get to that point (what! clip off perfectly good wire? ), but it is an acceptable, and sometimes preferable, solution.
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Post by akansan on Feb 14, 2008 16:16:33 GMT -5
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Tigger
freely admits to licking rocks
The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers is I'm the Only One!
Member since January 2008
Posts: 896
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Post by Tigger on Feb 14, 2008 16:26:34 GMT -5
Rhonda is right. Also, it depends on the look your going for. I usually use 3 wires. I like the look of wire on the edges. I have used 2 and as many as 4. I too have a hard time finding places to hide the wire ends and the less amount of ends the better.
Tonja
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Post by Cher on Feb 15, 2008 2:09:30 GMT -5
For me, the first thing I consider is the thickness of the stone, second is the shape. Most of the time, I use four wires but have done small pieces with two wires and a few with three. Ends definitely are the pain and unfortunately, I have not reached the point where it's ok to just cut them off. ;D Though I can see where doing that would definitely make things easier for finishing.
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Shelbeeray
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2006
Posts: 688
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Post by Shelbeeray on Feb 15, 2008 2:18:23 GMT -5
Wow. That second wrap of Rockd's is still a class act to me. It's unique. I go along with the others, I like to stack the wires next to the stone and will have as many as the stone looks like it needs. I usually use 3, although now that I like to incorporate crotcheted wire into the frame, I use the wire differently. But on regular wraps, at least 3.
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Post by Titania on Feb 15, 2008 8:20:06 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice, everyone! Those wraps of rock's sure look more sturdy than the design in my book. I really like those!
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Post by akansan on Feb 15, 2008 12:07:35 GMT -5
I just remembered - Blarney's crosses and a couple other of his started out with two wires as well. Cher - I might be at the point where I can snip wire, but that doesn't mean I do it regularly! And I admit- part of the reason I'm okay with it is I anticipate a time soon when I'll be melting my scraps for repurposing.
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