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Post by MyNewHobby on Sept 5, 2009 17:46:07 GMT -5
If I remember correctly we were discussing wire wrapping and cussing yesterday. Well .... today is my day and I have invented 4 new words that make no sense whatsoever but they made me feel better if for only a second. I tried to wrap a plume today and got to the top and DAMMIT .... not only cannot get the bail but have completely screwed up the wires so I cannot use them. And after seeing the pictures, I can see that the bindings at the top are not straight. I can also see now that there is clean crack going through the plume. Okay .... YES .... I will have some cheese with my WHINE!!! And .... in the first picture ... you can see my fingerprints!!! Holy crap!! WOOF! And ... It is as if I just got this dam camera ... or the plume is a hard rock to photograph ... I can no longer take pictures.
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Post by tkrueger3 on Sept 5, 2009 17:56:02 GMT -5
Julie - I'm sorry, but I don't see anything wrong, except you need to wipe the stone off, and put a little wrap around the bail. I'm guessing your standards are a LOT higher than mine! Tom
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Post by superioragates on Sept 5, 2009 18:10:39 GMT -5
Holy crap, my thoughts exactly Julie! Have you compared THIS to MINE? You need to look again! This looks pretty darn good....in my opinion. The bail by the way....yeeeaaah, I do a lot of cussing on that one too, never seems to wanna line up straight for me, but I think my problem is the wire I am using. Don't even wanna talk about how much wire I have crimped, reshaped, and pulled on until it is no longer usable for anything!! LOL You did good, heck of a lot better than ANY of mine!! Marie
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Post by frane on Sept 5, 2009 20:51:18 GMT -5
If it helps, keep up the cussing and wrap away! You are doing great so far! Fran
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Post by NatureNut on Sept 5, 2009 21:00:51 GMT -5
Wow, lookin' great there, Julie.
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zip
having dreams about rocks
Member since May 2009
Posts: 65
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Post by zip on Sept 6, 2009 0:35:08 GMT -5
Looks really good to me. But, wadda I know!! Keep on whining and making up those words...zip
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Sept 6, 2009 1:24:23 GMT -5
Looks good to me Julie. Make some more like that now, the swearing is helping.
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Post by sitnwrap on Sept 6, 2009 6:41:49 GMT -5
So, what are the four new cuss words you invented? ? ;D Julie, I figured out a trick that makes the bail wire behave for me. Most here use tape to keep the wires straight and even, but I found that when I am ready to bring the bail wires together, I slide a small piece of matchbook cover in the middle to separate the two sides and then take one of those teeny tiny elestics that young girls use in their hair to make teeny tiny braids and pony tails and I wrap the elastic band around the bundle of wires just below the matchbook cover. O, and you can still use the wires if you have something to twist them with. I have saved more wraps where the bails were all crimped up by twisting the wires. The wrap is worth working at and the stone is beautiful.
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Post by MyNewHobby on Sept 6, 2009 13:15:06 GMT -5
Thanks All!!
Marie .... I dedicated this post to you!!! You gave me permission to start cussing again after I read your post.
SitNWrap .... goodness ... I will have to try that little piece of cardboard/matchbook idea. And maybe the little rubber bands.
My biggest problem is when I get to the top, I have trouble getting the two sides to come together without them not twisting up or bunching. Since I cannot do that ... I cannot get the bail wire started.
As always ... Julie
ps .... what I think I am gonna start doing ... when I screw up a wrap, I am going to try to make little stick figures out of the wire so I am not completely wasting it. I should have a complete family, 5 generations deep by November. ;D
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Post by superioragates on Sept 6, 2009 14:55:09 GMT -5
LOL Julie! Too funny! I posted some that I have played with over the last couple days, and as you can see, still having trouble with that bail binding, still looks messy....but I'll figure it out somehow!! Marie
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aunuts
fully equipped rock polisher
Some days are gold, some are rocks. Either is cool.
Member since March 2006
Posts: 1,110
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Post by aunuts on Sept 7, 2009 14:45:06 GMT -5
Julie, it looks like you may be using round wire? if so, that's probably why your wires twist & bunch. round wires will roll on each other. try using square wire. I find it MUCH easier to do my bails this way. the wire stays where you want it to much better than round. but your wrap looks great. just keep at it & you'll get this little issue worked out, cuss words & all. Jo
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Post by MyNewHobby on Sept 8, 2009 11:39:51 GMT -5
I try to use square or half round.
I learned early on that round can be a great deal more trouble than its worth.
But ... I will try, try, and try again.
As always Julie
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nancyf
has rocks in the head
Wired Cowgirl
Member since April 2007
Posts: 629
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Post by nancyf on Sept 10, 2009 9:19:57 GMT -5
Julie...I think the problem is you are not using enough wire. The side wires should be the width of the cabs height. I usually use at least 4 wires and mostly 5 or 6. This keeps the wires from slipping all over the place when you try to cinch up the wires at the top for the bail wires.
When I have all the sides done and am ready to attack the top for the bail...I gather one side of wires at a time and get them smooth and even...TAPE...then go to the other side and do the same. Then I will grab each side and put them together with my fingers and get them even. Coax and tug till the cab is nicely held in its setting...grab the top wires about 1/4" from where I want the bail wires with some flat nose pliers...gently work my way down towards the cab gently squeezing as I go...when I get to where I want the bail wires and all is setting well...I then TAPE all wires together at the top...anywhere to 1/4" to 1/2" above where the bail wires go. Now all is snug and secure...time to wrap with half-round...form the bail...finish up with the half-round...snip...design the remaining wires...DONE!
I love cabs that are 4mm thick and not more than 6mm thick. Saves on wire and weight of the overall pendant. If they are thick...I usually will just make prongs instead of bending in wires to hold the stone. Prongs are a whole different ball game...be prepared for more unusual words flying out and about! ;D
Practice is how we all learned this addicting art. Good for you for trying and trying again. HUGS!
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