|
|
Post by gmitch067 on Jun 20, 2018 21:52:53 GMT -5
Decided to do a groove wrap. Mahogany Obsidian. I was a bit too heavy handed in cutting the groove and caused the edges to come out rough. I decided to use 3 wires... 20ga SQDS Cu as the groove wire, and 20ga RHH Cu as the outer wires. The wraps were done with 22ga RHH Cu. The rounded wires hide the groove's rough edges from touch. I need a lot more practice with creating wire curls... they are either too tight, or not tight enough and do not match in symmetry. Oh well... that is what practice is all about... (and yes... I did not count the number of top wraps - 6 on the left but 7 on the right... Oooops!)   |
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Jun 20, 2018 21:59:11 GMT -5
Great job for the first one!
|
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Jun 20, 2018 22:45:21 GMT -5
Excellent job on your first one! It's very pretty.
|
|
|
|
Post by gmitch067 on Jun 21, 2018 1:00:21 GMT -5
Maybe I should have viewed the pictures closer before posting them... I see more errors... I got my front of pendant switched around when it came to the top wrap (the ones I goofed up in my counting). I can see that my end cuts for the wrap are on the wrong side!!! Argh! My next lesson is how to cut away the old wrap and start again... maybe after a good night sleep... good thing it was in copper.  |
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Jun 21, 2018 5:11:43 GMT -5
Yes, agree with others. Don't be too hard on yourself.
|
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Jun 21, 2018 6:49:59 GMT -5
Wow! That looks really great!!! Very neat, tight and symmetrical. I think you did an awesome job. I would not cut that apart. It's a keeper.  You go, boy.... er.... man. |
|
icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453 
|
Post by icatz on Jun 22, 2018 9:13:37 GMT -5
Looks beautiful! But I'd use a copper chain to match the wrap.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Jun 22, 2018 10:41:21 GMT -5
I wouldn't scrap it either.
Start a new one, and you'll have this as a point of reference. Not that anyone besides you and the people you point it out to will ever notice the ends.
|
|
adrian65
Cave Dweller 
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,790
|
Post by adrian65 on Jun 23, 2018 23:34:14 GMT -5
Does the middle wire go through the groove all around the cab? I think you can only use the groove on the sides of the cab, while on top and on bottom the binding wires hold the wire outside the groove.
Adrian
|
|
|
|
Post by gmitch067 on Jun 24, 2018 8:11:36 GMT -5
Does the middle wire go through the groove all around the cab? I think you can only use the groove on the sides of the cab, while on top and on bottom the binding wires hold the wire outside the groove. Adrian The groove is cut around the whole cab, but the wire only holds the cab on the sides as you pointed out Adrian adrian65. The bottom and top wrap widths allow the groove wire to bend into the cab's sides to hold the stone more securely. In my picture, you can actually see where the square groove wire starts to curve upward into the groove. The bottom wrap is wrapped firmly, but the top wraps not so tight. This allows me to pull the square wire into a tighter bow (then the bow created by the round wires). I then insert the cab, manipulate the wire frame around the stone, and create the bail. After the bail is secure I use a small wooden cuticle stick to re-position the top wraps toward the bail. |
|
amyk
fully equipped rock polisher
I'm a slabber, I'm a cabber, I'm a midnight wrapper.
Member since January 2010
Posts: 1,331
|
Post by amyk on Jun 25, 2018 12:30:51 GMT -5
I love the 3 wire concept. It looks very simple but not as simple as a traditional groove wrap with only one wire. Very beautiful. I dont see any flaws in it. Great piece. A keeper for sure. Don't scrap it.
|
|
adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,790
|
Post by adrian65 on Jun 25, 2018 23:16:21 GMT -5
The main advantage of the groove wrap is that it can be done with only one wire around. Your design would had held the stone even without any groove, I think, if the side wires would had been more tight.
This is the very reason why I went on the path of groove wraps: too many flaws in the wires in my classic wrapped pendants.
Adrian
|
|
|
|
Post by gmitch067 on Jun 26, 2018 2:06:56 GMT -5
The main advantage of the groove wrap is that it can be done with only one wire around. Your design would had held the stone even without any groove, I think, if the side wires would had been more tight. This is the very reason why I went on the path of groove wraps: too many flaws in the wires in my classic wrapped pendants. Adrian I purchased a Gryphon Gryphette diamond glass grinder to teach myself how to cut the grooves around the cabs... because I like the simplicity and clean looks of the single wire wrap. I like to showcase the stone more than my ability to wrap. The Obsidian cab I used was one of a first batch I used to teach myself. I was too forceful in pushing the cab into the diamond jewelers groove bit and caused the edges to chip. It was very noticeable to the touch. I guess I could have run it another couple days in the Lot-O, but I decided to use it anyway. The outer wires were meant to mask the chips and give the fingers a smooth feel around the cab's edges. AND... it gave me more practice in learning how to form curly-cues in the bail wires with my round nosed pliers. Lol! I had fun. Glenn |
|
You go, boy.... er.... man. 
