Ask the Experts Gemstones Q&A
Q: Are the value and quality of your gemstones comparable to that in jewelry stores that sell finished products?
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Ask the Experts
about Jewelry Making
Ask the Experts Shows Q&A
Q: A friend of mine is a jewelry maker whose style is very different from mine. We both want to sell at the same local arts event, and she suggested we split a booth and sell together to save money. I'm not sure if I should take her up on this offer because of any hard feelings if one of us sells more than the other.
Ask the Experts Solder Q&A
Q: First, how can I solder silver-filled pieces onto copper or brass without the alloys in the silver-filled showing? And for this reason, I'm assuming silver-filled CANNOT be annealed? Second, do some metals take longer to anneal than others? I'm new to jewelry making and will be working with copper, brass and sterling silver. Thank you for your time.
Ask the Experts Jewelry Repair Q&A
Q: Is there a way to remove a crimp bead cover from a finished necklace? I used a 4mm crimp bead cover at the very end of my necklace. But I feel my necklace has little flexibility, and the toggle bar of my clasp does not move freely. I think removing the cover and replacing it with a smaller crimp bead cover might take care of the problem. Any other ideas what I could do without pulling my necklace apart?
Ask the Experts Metal Sheets Q&A
Q: Thank you so much for providing answers to my many questions. I hadn't realized this was an option. I've been fascinated with Argentium, but I can't find much in the way of instructional materials. I have several questions for you, and I thank you in advance for taking time to answer.
Ask the Experts Testimonials Q&A
Q: A customer wrote me a very nice thank-you note recently. When I asked her if I could use it as a testimonial on my website, she said I could, but she only wanted me to use her initials. When I see a testimonial without a full name, it looks fake, but I'd like to post hers with just her initials because it's so positive. What do you suggest?
Ask the Experts Tools Q&A
Q: I understand that tools such as pliers, etc. should be conditioned before use. How do I do this?
Ask the Experts Pearls Q&A
Q: How do I string pearls with silk thread, what size thread do I use and how do I attach a clasp? Also, what type of finding should be used? Thank you.
Ask the Experts Wire Cutting Pliers Q&A
Q: Hi, Wire Cutters—Can you explain the difference between end cutter and flush cutter? Which cutter should I use to cut memory wire? Thank You.
Ask the Experts Polymer Clay Q&A
Q: Can foil leaf be used on raw polyclay and then baked? If so, should it be covered with a thin sheet of translucent clay or glazed after baking? Can it be used in the mokume-gane technique?
Ask the Experts Settings Q&A
Q: I want to put a star sapphire into a ring setting. What needs to be done so that the back won't scratch during wearing?
Ask the Experts Bending Q&A
Q: I would like to know the best method for bending silver tubing. Plumbers and jewelers must have a secret method. What is it?
Ask the Experts Stonesetting Q&A
Q: What tools should I use to stretch the Sterling silver bezel for a cabochon that has fallen out of it's setting? Which tool do I use to get the bezel down around the stone again?
Ask the Experts Oxidizing Wire Q&A
Q: I would like to wirewrap gemstone rondelles and link them together to form a gemstone chain. I would like to use liver of sulfur to oxidize the chain. Is it safer to oxidize the wire before or after wirewrapping the gemstones beads into the chain?
Ask the Experts Wire Q&A
Q: I like to make my own earwires and findings from sterling wire. I've heard of tumbling them to harden them, but is this necessary? If so, how do I go about doing that? What equipment do I need to strengthen sterling findings (without changing their texture)? Thank you!
Ask the Experts Metal Stamping Q&A
Q: I just started metal stamping and am having some difficulties ... the stamps don't seem to be going through well enough to leave a good impression. If I hit it harder, though, it is bending the metal. Is the problem with the stamping blanks I am using, or are they all about the same?
Ask the Experts Work Harden Q&A
Q: I am trying to use argentium wire for wire wrapping--I cannot straighten it--it has a mind of its own--should I anneal it?
Ask the Experts Wire Q&A
Q: We make silverware jewelry. We like to use gemstones in the center of our bracelets. After wearing for awhile, the wire breaks. I have tried different wire, etc. but have not solved the problem. We use the half hard 24-gauge sterling. Another jeweler suggested we try using virgin silver wire and then tumbling our pieces to work-harden. How do you tumble the finished product without damaging the stones? I cannot figure out a way to tumble the piece without the stone set. Is there a product to cover and protect the stones, etc while polishing?
Also, I have tried a few different methods trying to get a gloss on polished gemstones when they are not premium grade. Is there a product that we can use on a Ruby to add luster which will harden and not damage the stone? The last one I tried I thought was the answer, however, after a few weeks the surface seem to soften. Thanks.
Ask the Experts Cutting Wire Q&A
Q: How do I cut soft aluminum wire (16 ga) to get a crisp cut? When I use my wire cutters, the ends get that squashed look, like when I cut cookie dough.
Ask the Experts Cleaning and Polishing Gemstones Q&A
Q: Is there a simple way that I can increase the polished look of the commercial grade stone beads like the sodalite?
Ask the Experts Power Cord Q&A
Q: I made a couple of gemstone chip bracelets on Power cord, but I don't like the way they turned out. The knot area, with a small dab of glue on it, is stiff and brittle. The cord seems to have "warped" and appears to be stretched out of shape. The chips slid on the cord easily so that would not seem to be the reason for this distortion of the cord. Help!
Ask the Experts Cupchain Q&A
Q: I recently purchased "The Bosses Bag." In it was a long chain with crystals in the links. I think it might be called a cup chain. I would love to make tennis bracelets with the chain but I cannot find anything on your site that tells me how to add a clasp to the ends. Please help.
Ask the Experts Two-Part Epoxy Q&A
Q: I use Devcon's two part epoxy 30-min. for my metal jewelry projects. I have had a few customers contact me because their jewelry came apart--esp. during the winter. Does it become brittle? How do I fix this problem?
Ask the Experts Metal Clay Polishing Q&A
Q: I work in bronze clay and I find that after firing the metal is dull even after polishing. I even changed the carbon recently. Can you tell me a solution to this problem?