thomtap
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2007
Posts: 237
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Post by thomtap on May 1, 2012 21:20:18 GMT -5
I have run into a problem getting thick high dome or double dome cabs wrapped to look right. If they look right they don't feel stable in the wrap. If they are stable in the wrap there is too much wire! What do you do different with thick cabs than you do with thinner ones?
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on May 1, 2012 21:38:18 GMT -5
I use more wire or do a groove wrap
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TByrd
fully equipped rock polisher
Have you performed your random act of kindness?
Member since December 2010
Posts: 1,350
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Post by TByrd on May 2, 2012 1:11:43 GMT -5
If you read how the Pro's teach it, you measure the number of wires in your bundle by the thickness of the cab + 1 wire. With it being two sided and high dome you measure the edge and add no wires because the extra wire that you added above was pulled to the back. since there is no back it creates too many wires.
Hope this helps,
Tammy
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Post by upsided0wnducks on May 2, 2012 10:10:18 GMT -5
I think I may have posted a pic of this piece a while ago but I had a customer who wanted a quality piece of Hawk Eye and I searched all my vendors with nothing good enough coming up. Luckily for me I came here and Donnie (Donnie's Rocky Treasures) responded to my plea and made me a beautiful cab, but this baby was thick, and I'd asked for it thick but I had never even seen one this thick! In hindsight I should have asked for not thin lol I didn't want a wimpy little slice I wanted a good domed cab, well I got one, and it turned out perfect too, here are some pictures of the finished piece. With a thicker cab like this I always fan the edges, it looks cool and makes it so you don't just have a blob of wires sitting around.   If you count you can see there are 6 separate wires, meaning 12 loose ends. I only used 4 in decoration and 3 for the bail, and you're right, in pieces like this they often feel overly busy if you use all of those wires. So I snipped all the bail wires at the top, knowing I could swoop in front and no one would ever be the wiser, and I started my design and found the wires at the top that would be most inconspicuous to snip and got rid of 5 top wires all together. So you don't need to use all of them to make a pretty piece. But make sure your wrap is secure before you snip and that you don't leave any edges to be caught or to stick the wearer! I hope that helps! Krista |
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Post by drocknut on May 2, 2012 23:10:43 GMT -5
That looks beautiful Krista. If you hadn't said what you did with those extra wires I would have never known.
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Post by helens on May 2, 2012 23:17:44 GMT -5
Whoa... that's a GORGEOUS piece!!
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Post by upsided0wnducks on May 4, 2012 17:22:50 GMT -5
Thank you, you guys  Krista |
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Don
Cave Dweller 
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on May 4, 2012 17:48:18 GMT -5
I've used as many as 12 strands to wrap a stone, although that was a special case.  on big, high dome cabs (which I prefer) I'll use 6-8 wires.  |
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Post by upsided0wnducks on May 4, 2012 20:37:56 GMT -5
Oh Don, those are _beautiful_!!! Is the first one a diamond?? Sooo pretty!
Krista
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Post by rockjunquie on May 6, 2012 19:21:56 GMT -5
It's true you will need more and/or bigger wires. I have also used wide pattern wire. But, you can also cut wires out. I think the pictured piece is 9 or 10 20g wires thick. This was a very thick side drilled pendant bead. As I bound the wires up, I eliminated pairs of wires and ended up with a manageable bundle at the top.
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Post by rockjunquie on May 6, 2012 19:23:17 GMT -5
oops the picture didn't attach. Attachments:
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