Ask the Experts Jewelry-Making Books for Beginners Q&A
Q: Is there one book that would be the best primer for getting started jewelry making?
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Ask the Experts
about Jewelry Making
Ask the Experts Pearl Knotting Q&A
Q: I would like to know the proper way to string pearls.
Ask the Experts Wire Hardening Jump Rings Q&A
Q: I'm learning wirework. Each book leaves out one of the finer points: you can work-harden jump rings with a plastic/rubber mallet. However, do you tap the ring or hit it? How often--1 to 2 or 5 to 6? I'm not able to get to classes, so must teach myself. I appreciate any help you can give.
Ask the Experts Filing Q&A
Q: After wrapping loops, I sometimes need to file the end of the wire smooth. Is there a special file designed for this?
Ask the Experts Beaded Curtain Q&A
Q: I want to make a beaded curtain for a door. What kind of wire should I use considering the large number of beads that go onto one strand? Secondly, what is the best way to attach the strands to a rod? Looking forward to hearing from you.
Ask the Experts Use with Polyester and Nylon Q&A
Q: I'm planning a pearl and mystic topaz necklace and my mystic topaz beads have a tiny hole (.24mm), so I need something very thin for stringing. But I also want it to hold up over time. I thought the thinnest Accu-Flex® wire might be good, but I'm not sure how I'd knot them between the pearls. Can the Bead Knotter™ be used with Accu-Flex® beading wire? Would another stringing material be better? Thank you for your help.
Ask the Experts Sizing Q&A
Q: I would like to start using wire protectors but there are a few sizes, how do I pick the right one?
Ask the Experts Supplies for Resale Q&A
Q: I was wondering if people buy your pendants and supplies and sell them as their own? That wouldn't really be their own design, but they'd still be selling it. Is that still okay?
Ask the Experts Choosing a Bead Tip Q&A
Q: I'm sort of a beginning jewelry maker and wanted to know, how do you know which kind of bead tip to use: bottom vs. side? I'm trying to make a 3-strand (varying lengths) wire necklace.
Ask the Experts Wearing Your Own Designs Q&A
Q: I sell the jewelry that I make, and I love wearing my own pieces. I don't like when people ask to buy what I'm wearing, though. How do I politely tell them it's not for sale?
Ask the Experts Attaching Memory Wire Ends Q&A
Q: I bought some metal beads that go onto the ends of memory wire. The hole doesn't go all the way through. How do I keep that end bead on the memory wire?
Ask the Experts Seed Bead Weaving Q&A
Q: I love working in all kinds of bead weaving stitches. However, no matter what stitch I use the bracelet always stretches or "grows". I use Fire line. I tie knots often. What else can I do to retain size? Thanks in advance.
Ask the Experts Agreement Q&A
Q: I have a formula for pricing my work, but I'm moving into almost exclusively custom work, and I really need to come up with a template contract for clients to read over so they know what they're getting. Is there some place that I can find a generic contract that I could then personalize? Or any ideas as to wording and layout of a contract?
Ask the Experts Designing Q&A
Q: How do you hold the large hole beads on an omega chain bracelet?
Ask the Experts Online Q&A
Q: I've sold some of my handmade jewelry online in the past while I was in high school, but I'm now in college, and I'd like to start again. I'm an Information Systems major, so I've got the skills and am planning to build my own website (though I'll also be attempting to sell some on Etsy). I've also been thinking about doing home parties, but some of my friends who are in different states were interested in hosting parties, which obviously won't really work. Do you have any ideas/tips for doing online jewelry parties so my friends can still host?
Ask the Experts Thread Q&A
Q: What is the best type of seed bead and thread to sew beads onto satin doll clothes?
Ask the Experts Button Converters Q&A
Q: I have some beautiful old glass buttons. How do I make them into pendants? Which size wire and the technique? I just need a picture of the back. Thanks
Ask the Experts Niobium Q&A
Q: Does the color wear off of the niobium jump rings?
Ask the Experts Metal Clay Q&A
Q: I have many large uncalibrated stones. I would like to create my own mounts with Artclay. Will the prongs bend and not be too brittle for setting the stones after firing?
Ask the Experts Forming Q&A
Q: Can I make earwires from niobium? Can I melt a ball on the end of this wire with a torch?
Ask the Experts Zebra Q&A
Q: Is Zebra Wire tempered as Full/Hard, Half/Hard or Dead Soft? Is Zebra Wire suitable for projects that need to be bent and will it stay wrapped?
Ask the Experts Tools Q&A
Q: It has been suggested that I obtain a rock tumbler with steel shot to clean my pieces as I am making them. I have been reading about ultrasonic wave tanks used to clean, and I wonder how they compare to the tumbler in the end result.
Ask the Experts Tumbler Q&A
Q: I'm new to the jewelry scene and was wondering about the tumblers that are available. Does a tumbler work for all metals, including precious metal? What is the difference between a jewelry tumbler and a rock tumbler?
Ask the Experts Zebra Q&A
Q: Can Zebra wire be polished?
Ask the Experts Tools Q&A
Q: How do you remove the protective coating from non-tarnish copper wire? I made a viking knit bracelet from said wire that did not indicate that it was non tarnish. I want to dip it in Liver of sulfur to antique it. Can this coating be removed in some sort of solution? I look forward to your reply.
Ask the Experts Disinfecting Jewelry Q&A
Q: Is there a way to disinfect jewelry when we are selling at our community market that won't damage stones or wire? Customers like to try on pieces to see how they fit, but if they don't buy them, the necklaces/rings/bracelets need to be disinfected before someone else tries them on? How??
Ask the Experts Attaching Clasps to Bulk Chain Q&A
Q: What findings are used for attaching clasps to sterling silver or gold-filled chain sold by the yard? What is the best technique for it?
Ask the Experts Rough Edges Q&A
Q: I use a lot of acrylic beads in my designs, especially "pony" beads. I notice that a lot of them have excess plastic and rough edges left over from the manufacturing process. I was wondering what is the fastest and most effective way to file down these rough spots. Is it possible to use a rock tumbler for greater speed?
Ask the Experts Design Q&A
Q: I have many pairs of cuff links from my father who has passed away. I would like to make earrings out of them for myself and my sisters. Many of them can probably be made into post style earrings and some can be attached to ear wires. I don't have any idea how to go about doing this; any help/ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Ask the Experts Online Q&A
Q: I was thinking of starting to sell jewelry online but I am not sure if I would have to have a business license or any other legal documents to sell? Should I do it myself or go thru a site like Etsy.com? Also are there any other sites besides Etsy that I could try? Thanks!!
Ask the Experts Bead Glass Q&A
Q: Can I use the rock tumbler to make beach glass?
Ask the Experts Remove Foil Back Q&A
Q: How can I remove the foil back from rhinestones?
Ask the Experts Cleaning Q&A
Q: I bought some lovely white agate nugget beads. However, many of them look like their edges are dirty. Can you tell me the best way to clean these beads?
Ask the Experts Cleaning Q&A
Q: How do you safely clean bone beads and antique ivory jewelry?
Ask the Experts Solder Q&A
Q: What flux can you use with solder wire? I'm planning on using 24 ga tarnish resistant copper wire. Thanks.
Ask the Experts Fine Silver Q&A
Q: Can Hill Tribes items be fired with metal clay? This is technically fine silver; but, will it mess up any design?
Ask the Experts Heishi vs. Rondelles Q&A
Q: What is the difference between heishi and rondelles, and how do you determine the hole size?
Ask the Experts Posts Q&A
Q: I would like to take the long earwire off a dangling earring and replace it with a post or something other than the long wire. Can it be done?
Ask the Experts Wire Q&A
Q: I am designing a piece which uses mostly seed beads (11/0) on a fine wire, which has to bend and then double-back through some small gem beads a second time. The wire has to be thin enough to go through 4mm gem beads twice, but still hold the shape to which I bend it. What do you suggest?
Ask the Experts Metal Allergies Q&A
Q: I'm making a necklace with a pendant for a sister-in-law who has metal allergies. The pendant measures 3.5" long. I thought of making the necklace long enough to slip over the head so no metal findings would be used, but with the pendant so long, it would hang too low to look good. How would you finish a shorter necklace (16-17") without using metal findings?
Ask the Experts Scale to Design Q&A
Q: How do I know what size split ring, jump ring and wire to use on a project?
Ask the Experts Measurement Q&A
Q: I have a caliper and I would like to know how to measure an earring finding for a leverback.
Ask the Experts Peyote Stitch Q&A
Q: What is the easiest way to read a peyote stitch pattern without getting lost?
Ask the Experts Multiple Strand Bracelets Q&A
Q: I would like to make a stretch bracelet with three strands, how do I connect them so they stay together? Thank you.
Ask the Experts Bracelet Q&A
Q: What is the best clasp for a bracelet? Magnetic clasps require two hands if they are strong enough for heavier pieces, as do most other clasps. What is the easiest clasp to work with one hand?
Ask the Experts Adjustable Q&A
Q: I want to adapt bracelet designs to make headbands. I want the size to be adjustable to fit a range of head sizes. What kind of fitting or fastener could I use that would enable the wearer to adjust the band to fit and then clip it to that length?
Ask the Experts Findings Q&A
Q: I would like to form my own wire wrapped cones. How do I make these?
Ask the Experts Bead Caps Q&A
Q: I want to make my own bead caps in copper and sterling silver sheet metal using the disc cutters and dapping blocks. What gauge metal do I need?