jintachi
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2018
Posts: 19
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Post by jintachi on Jun 10, 2018 12:59:17 GMT -5
Hello All! I was hoping to get some insight on a wire project I just completed. This is my 4th attempt at doing a wire wrap on a cab (if you count the fact that I redid both of my first 2 attempts). All my previous experience, if you can call it that, was some very basic wraps on some of my tumbled stones; a hobby I lost interest in within a week or so. Now that I’m getting into cabbing, I’m trying my hand at wire wrapping again. The design is my own, which I’m proud of cause my other completed wrap was done off a YouTube video; however, I’m not super pleased with the back, the bail, and the fact that the stone doesn’t quite sit as tight in the setting as I would like. I was hoping I would be able to gain some insight from you all on how I could have cleaned it up and made an overall tighter design. Sorry for the low quality pictures and thanks in advance!    |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 10, 2018 16:17:53 GMT -5
Hi and welcome!
Great wrap! It's a nice design. I did one similar, but it didn't have any weaving. You can lift the stone and tighten it by adding a wire going across the back bottom. After you get a tight wire across, put your flat nose in the middle and make a half a turn to tighten it more. Also, you need to bend those cut bail wires either under or turned into circles to keep them from snagging and poking. File the ends of the wires that poke out and make sure all cut wires face into the stone. That will help with snagging, too. These are all things that should become good habit as you progress.
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Post by fernwood on Jun 10, 2018 20:09:01 GMT -5
I love the woven style bail. Agree with everything rockjunquie said. She is an expert at wrapping cabs.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 11, 2018 7:03:47 GMT -5
I wrote a tutorial for this wrap in 2011. As you can see, there are some similarities. The last picture is the where I would try to get a wire in on yours. Place a flat nose where the arrow is and turn, if you need the wire tighter. Hope that helps. I wouldn't worry abt distorting the wires that connect. It is the back. As long as it is neat looking, it should be ok. Push the stone up before you place the wire. triangle wrap 1:  triangle wrap 2:  triangle wrap 3:  triangle wrap 4:  |
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jintachi
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2018
Posts: 19
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Post by jintachi on Jun 11, 2018 16:25:23 GMT -5
Thank you for your advice and pictures, rockjunquie! That helps a lot. I’m still starting out, so any suggestions are welcome! I’ll try my hand at making those changes to this wrap.
Also, do you have any recommendations on a good wire file? I don’t recall seeing anything like that at my local craft store so I might have to buy one online.
Thanks for your kind words, too, fernwood!
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 11, 2018 17:20:49 GMT -5
Thank you for your advice and pictures, rockjunquie! That helps a lot. I’m still starting out, so any suggestions are welcome! I’ll try my hand at making those changes to this wrap. Also, do you have any recommendations on a good wire file? I don’t recall seeing anything like that at my local craft store so I might have to buy one online. Thanks for your kind words, too, fernwood! I use a regular needle file. You can pick them up anywhere. |
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Post by Pat on Jun 11, 2018 17:48:36 GMT -5
I don’t know anything about wire wrapping, but could you use a cup bur on the wire ends instead of s file?
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 11, 2018 18:19:23 GMT -5
I don’t know anything about wire wrapping, but could you use a cup bur on the wire ends instead of s file? Yes, you can, Pat, but thy aren't always practicable where as a file is. A cup bur is great for the ends of ear ring wires. |
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Jun 11, 2018 22:28:07 GMT -5
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Post by vegasjames on Jun 11, 2018 22:32:45 GMT -5
Love the design. You did a great job.
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Post by drocknut on Jun 19, 2018 16:59:56 GMT -5
Nice design, keep up the wrapping. I can't add to what rockjunquie already said so won't even try.
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jintachi
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2018
Posts: 19
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Post by jintachi on Jul 15, 2018 12:48:59 GMT -5
It’s been awhile since I’ve been on this site (life happened unfortunately), but I wanted to take a quick moment to thank you all for the suggestions and comments! It’s much appreciated!
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Jul 15, 2018 13:02:13 GMT -5
The design is very complex and cool. I am far from a pro at wire wrapping, but my first impression of the piece is that there is an awful lot of wire right near the focal point of the stone hiding the color flashes of the labradorite. The shape of the stone does not give you much in the way of "corners" to work with, but that is something you may want to consider in future pieces. Is the focus of the piece the stone or the wire wrapping?
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jintachi
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2018
Posts: 19
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Post by jintachi on Jul 15, 2018 22:06:28 GMT -5
The design is very complex and cool. I am far from a pro at wire wrapping, but my first impression of the piece is that there is an awful lot of wire right near the focal point of the stone hiding the color flashes of the labradorite. The shape of the stone does not give you much in the way of "corners" to work with, but that is something you may want to consider in future pieces. Is the focus of the piece the stone or the wire wrapping? You know, I didn’t honestly think about that when I initially did this piece. I notice that when I wear it now, the flash of the labradorite pendant does come through in the center between the wrapping...but I can see that it does block it some as well. The cab honestly didn’t have as much flash as others I have seen so i think it worked out ok, but it is something I need to work on for future pieces! I just honestly never thought about it before! |
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