Ask the Experts Setting Q&A
Q: I have a pretty rose cabochon with petals that can't be set in a bezel. Should I wire wrap it—if so, how do I do this? Thank you.
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Ask the Experts
about Jewelry Making
Ask the Experts Soldering Q&A
Q: How do you use liquid solder? Do you have to use a torch? I am an amateur but need to know how to close silver jump rings.
Ask the Experts Jewelry Displays Q&A
Q: I was wondering if you could help me. I want to start selling my jewelry at craft shows but I have no idea what displays to use and how many to order. Do you have any advice for me? I don't even know where to start. Thank you!
Ask the Experts Luster Q&A
Q: Can you bring the shine back to mother of pearl?
Ask the Experts Barrettes Q&A
Q: I make beaded barrettes. I have tried to use glue to hold down the beadwork but eventually the glue doesn't hold. I sew beadwork onto leather/suede, should I sew through the leather/suede and the bottom part of the barrette? What is better to use, Nymo® thread or wire?
Ask the Experts Art Clay® Is Pure Silver Q&A
Q: I am interested in working with metal clay but was wondering if there is a difference between the silver clay and the pure silver that you can buy. Also, if I sold a piece of silver made from the clay, would I have to make a special note of it to the customer or could I just say it is pure silver?
Ask the Experts Ball Style Q&A
Q: I am making a turquoise necklace and want to use the silver ball chain with the turquoise. How do you connect the chain to the turquoise?
Ask the Experts Straightening Q&A
Q: I've been making feather earrings but find the feathers I am buying are curled or twisted and don't lay straight when worn. Is there a special type feather I need or is there some way to straighten the feathers out?
Ask the Experts Disposing of Liver of Sulfur Q&A
Q: After you have used a liver of sulfur bath for a fired metal clay piece, how do you dispose of the liver of sulfur? Thanks for your help.
Ask the Experts Size Q&A
Q: How does the gauge of the head pin coordinate with the size of the head pin?
Ask the Experts Flex-Shaft Q&A
Q: I have been looking at your Rotary tool located in Metalsmithing. I am a new graduate from Jewelry Design and Repair and I'm wondering if this tool can take the place of a Flex Shaft. And if I purchased this rotary tool will it do all of the same jobs done that a flex shaft does or will I still have to purchase a Flex Shaft to do some jobs?
Ask the Experts Gluing a Cabochon Q&A
Q: I have two questions:
1) How do you glue a cabochon into a setting that doesn't have a back? If I glue around the edge, I still have problems with it being too easy for the cabochon to come off.
2) Besides the metal settings that are sold, are there other ways to create a setting that would allow a cabochon to become a pendant without drilling a hole in the cabochon? Thanks.
Ask the Experts Selling Q&A
Q: Pricing: I have read and followed your suggestions on pricing, but am still unsure if I am fair, too low, or too high. I have seen some very nice work on an artist's website and found similar work priced quite low, considering the high end beads and components used. Back to square 1—how else can I determine if I am fair? Thanks for your help.
Ask the Experts Protection Q&A
Q: When I am making simple loops and otherwise finishing jewelry, my thumbnail seems to take the most abuse. Is there anything I can put over my thumbnail to keep it from damage?
Ask the Experts Non-Tarnish Silver Wire Q&A
Q: What is the best silver wire to use that will not tarnish over the years? I am going to be decorating some hair combs for a wedding.
Ask the Experts Beading Patterns Q&A
Q: I have a bracelet that is made with seed beads. I want to learn to do the pattern so I can make my own. Where would you suggest I look for great patterns to learn from? thanks!
Ask the Experts Copyrights Q&A
Q: Sometime ago you had an article about copyright laws concerning bead patterns. I just sold a necklace that I now see the author of the pattern says it has been copyrighted--not to use for sale--I am terrified, please help.
Ask the Experts Setting Stones in Earring Findings Q&A
Q: I just purchased leverback earrings with settings to set stones into. I have both cabochons and faceted stones, which one is appropriate for this type of setting? Also, can you please advise how to set the stones so I'm sure they stay secure?
Ask the Experts Painting Q&A
Q: Could you tell me what paint to use on wooden beads that doesn't chip off? What varnish do you recommend to use after you paint?
Ask the Experts Using Crimp Ends with Accu-Flex® Beading Wire Q&A
Q: I purchased Accu-Flex® beading wire and crimp ends to make bracelets. The crimp ends just fit on the end of the cord; will this be secure enough if I crimp with a crimper, or is there more to be done, maybe a drop of glue?
Ask the Experts Metalsmithing Q&A
Q: I love the look of hand hammered brass washers from the hardware store. Do you have any tricks or tools for texturing both sides?
Ask the Experts Making a Seed Bead Bezel for a Cabochon Q&A
Q: Where can I find instructions on surrounding cabochons with beads? Is there a book that I could get?
Ask the Experts Large-Hole Beads Q&A
Q: Is there any way to make the hole of a moderately sized bead smaller so it will work well on a headpin or Accu-Flex® beading wire?
Ask the Experts Glass Pearls Q&A
Q: I love to use vintage glass pearls in my pieces, but very often these old pearls have a coating that is flaking off. While it adds to the character of the piece, I worry that, with wear, the coating will come off entirely. Is there some way to seal the pearls to prevent more of the coating coming off? I've seen Designaseal mentioned in many of these articles--is it appropriate for glass pearls, or will it destroy the coating? Thank you!
Ask the Experts Cabochons Q&A
Q: Several cabochon gemstones and paua shells do not exactly fit the settings I purchased for their size. How do I shave down the edges to make them fit?
Ask the Experts Paper Beads Q&A
Q: I am winding paper that is sparkly on one side and smooth on the other and when I go to glue it I can't get it to adhere and the bead becomes unwound. Help!
Ask the Experts Design Q&A
Q: Is there a way to make quick-release drop earrings? In other words, can I buy one pair of earring findings and have a quick way of switching out one drop for another? Kind of like when you buy a watch face with several different colors/styles of bands?
Ask the Experts Plating Q&A
Q: I have silver tone fashion jewelry that with only a few times of wearing it, the silver tone begins to rub off. I know they will not last a lifetime, but I can only wear them a few times before they look old and faded. I know this happens because of the oils on my skin and products I use. My question is the following, is there any type of silver tone or even sterling silver finish liquid or spray or even paint that you can brush on to "refinish" these pieces and make them look new again? Thank you!
Ask the Experts Spacer Bars Q&A
Q: Hi, I am very new to beading and have run into a problem. I made a three strand bracelet and put 3 strand spacer bars (8995MB) into it. The back of the spacer bars look so lonely with the little strands of wire. Is there something I can use for that? Thank You.
Ask the Experts Glue Removal Q&A
Q: I have dried glue on some of my tools. I'd like to know what to use to safely remove it. I'm also ordering your 'stuff' for dipping the tips for wireworking. When I have the tips coated, is that going to interfere with using them for future projects? If so, should I purchase a separate set?
Ask the Experts Steel Wire Q&A
Q: I was surfing through a tool catalog and saw some rust- and corrosion-resistant 20 gauge x 25 foot mechanics wire with a 40 lb. maximum load capacity. It is Zinc-plated steel wire. I suppose the best question is..is it usable for jewelry and, if so, what about allergies. Thanks so much for your help.
Ask the Experts Wire Q&A
Q: What is the difference between German Craft Wire and Artistic Craft Wire and which is better?
Ask the Experts Metal Clay Q&A
Q: After firing metal clay earrings, I decided to try to bend a corner of one of them, and it snapped off! Was it not fired long enough? Is there any way to make a new piece and fire it on the existing earring?
Ask the Experts Clay Q&A
Q: During a recent shopping trip I bought three containers of what was grouped with the metal clay supplies in a local hobby and craft store. The product brand is Pardo, and the company website gives the product as the metal listed combined with beeswax to help hold shape until firing. Firing is supposed to be done in a home or convection oven at 266 degrees Fahrenheit (130 degrees Celsius) for 30 minutes per 1/4-inch thickness. I bought one jar of gold, one jar of silver and one jar of bronze. My questions: How does this product match up to the other metal clay products on the market? Could this product be fired using a torch instead of an oven? And how might this product stand up long-term in items crafted with any of the clays purchased? Thank you.
Ask the Experts Wire Twister Q&A
Q: My wire keeps breaking when I am using my wire twister tool. Sometimes the wire breaks off in the twister and other times the folded end will break in the vice. This can happen after only a few twists. How can I keep my wire from breaking?
Ask the Experts Design Q&A
Q: Hello, I am having a hard time getting my earrings to hang straight. They want to turn either to the right or left. Is it because I'm hand drilling the center of my brass? Thank you.
Ask the Experts Kumihimo Q&A
Q: I'm trying to learn Kumihimo, but I'm not sure what kind of thread I should use. Do you have any suggestions for me?
Ask the Experts Replacing Glued Rhinestones Q&A
Q: I have some pieces that have some rhinestones in them that don't look so good. I want to remove and replace them without damaging the metals, but it seems they are glued in. Is it possible to remove them?
Ask the Experts Polymer Clay Q&A
Q: Can you put sand into polymer clay and bake it? I have someone who wants beads from a Florida trip made with sand.
Ask the Experts Chain Measuring Q&A
Q: Chain tassels and fringe are really popular. I like to create them, but it is a serious pain to count links or measure multiple lengths of chain all the same length, especially tiny chain. Do you have a tip to simplify tassels and fringe?
Ask the Experts Business Q&A
Q: What is a juried craft show?
Ask the Experts Business Q&A
Q: I am fairly new to jewelry making (3 yrs.). I have been learning by making items from magazines and books. These items were gifts for friends and family. I recently started creating my own items. In a recent trip to a bead store, the shop owner liked my bangle bracelet. When I told them it was my own creation, they wanted to buy my instructions and teach it at their shop. Should I do that? If I do, how do I put a value on instructions? What am I giving up by doing that? I don't have a business. I eagerly await your reply. Thanks.
Ask the Experts Resin Q&A
Q: What can be used to color resin? Also, what can be added to resin? What can be added to resin to give it a pearlized effect? Thanks.
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?
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.