Ask the Experts Crystal Stringing Material Q&A
Q: What type of threads can I use for crystals? Can I use silk thread or only wire?
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Ask the Experts Bamboo Coral Q&A
Q: I have some bamboo rattle snake coral that I ordered elsewhere. It is long jagged pieces and I find it to be very ugly so I have put off working with it. Do you have any suggestions about using this product? What else would go with it? Thank you very much.
Ask the Experts Using a Beading Needle Q&A
Q: How do you thread a beading needle? Do you use a double thread as in regular sewing or a single thread?
Ask the Experts Smoothing Bead Edges Q&A
Q: I recently purchased packets and strings of gemstone beads. Some of them have jagged, rough edges. What can I use to smooth them?
Ask the Experts Firing Q&A
Q: I just bought a new kiln and have tried the time and temperature listed, but my pieces are coming out not completely fired. How do I adjust the time and temperature without ruining more silver and copper clay?
Ask the Experts Hammering Metals Q&A
Q: Please tell me what tool to use for a hammered look on metals like sterling silver and gold-filled?
Ask the Experts Gold-filled Chain Q&A
Q: I recently bought gold-filled chains that I will resell to my customers. How do I explain gold-filled?
Ask the Experts Pinch Bails on Briolettes Q&A
Q: When using a sterling silver pinch bail on a briolette, does pinching it together make a secure attachment, or should I be using some type of glue on the bail?
Ask the Experts Pliers Q&A
Q: Please tell me the difference between "lap joint" and "box joint" pliers?
Ask the Experts Crimp Tubes for Leather Cord Q&A
Q: What size tubes with loops do I use with 1mm and 2mm leather beading cord? I'm confused about the sizes in the catalog.
Ask the Experts Knotting Pearls Q&A
Q: My friend brought me a pearl necklace from China that had a twist-together clasp. I knew right away that continually twisting the necklace would break it, so I was very careful to undo the twist exactly the same number of times and in the opposite direction... it broke anyway right inside the first pearl next to the clasp. There's no way I can fix it! What can I do? I love those pearls.
Ask the Experts Sterling Silver Q&A
Q: Hi, I was wondering if there is a way to tell if a bead is sterling silver or something else. Whatever they are they are solid, nothing scratches off. Thanks
Ask the Experts Lengthening a Choker Q&A
Q: OOPS! Should have tried on the choker I was making before I added the bar/ring toggle, crimped, and cut the wire--it is too tight! Any suggestions for "extending" the length of a necklace without removing the toggle? I'd hate to re-string it as it was a very intricate (time-consuming) project. Next time, I'll measure twice, cut once!
Ask the Experts Knotting Q&A
Q: I am looking to make a necklace where the beads are on the thread but not connected to other beads or spacers. Do I just need to knot around the bead or do I need to do something different to hold it in place?
Ask the Experts Add-a-Bead Chain Q&A
Q: What is "Add-a-bead chain"? What technique secrets apply to this type of chain?
Ask the Experts Mother-of-Pearl Q&A
Q: Can I dye white mother of pearl beads with Rit dye? What do I cover them with to keep the color from transferring? Thanks!
Ask the Experts Tennis Bracelet Stringing Material Q&A
Q: I saw a tennis bracelet pattern in Bead and Button book. I have made quite a few of them for gifts for my family although I used 6mm bicone crystals instead of the 4mm the instructions called for. The best one I've made so far was for myself, it was made using 6mm crystal AB. What I'm asking you is this: The pattern calls for mono filament beading thread. I am wondering if this line is going to get cut using the bicone crystals? Also, the pattern calls for a box clasp, mine keeps coming apart every time I wear it--what else can I use instead?
Ask the Experts Extender/Safety Chain Q&A
Q: What do I need to add to my bracelet designs to keep them from falling off and being lost—my customers are asking and I want to be able to offer them a solution. Thanks.
Ask the Experts The Best Knot for Donuts Q&A
Q: What is the best knot to use for putting a donut onto a cord so it hangs properly?
Ask the Experts Release Q&A
Q: I was wondering if you need any kind of release with the flex molds? I'm thinking for PMC you'd want to oil them, but what about resin?
How to Use the Hot-Fix Heater™ Tool
The Hot-Fix Heater™ rhinestone applicator streamlines the process of applying rhinestuds. Let these clear and concise instructions be your guide.
Ask the Experts Making a Twisted Necklace Q&A
Q: What is the correct technique to make a twisted 3- or 2-strand necklace without unraveling the strands? What is the best beading wire to use? It's driving me nuts trying to figure it out.
Ask the Experts Patina Q&A
Q: Instead of Liver of Sulfur, will using muriatic acid in small amounts to oxidize metal make the metal brittle? I like the gunmetal look I achieved in gold- and silver-plated chains but am unsure how long the patina will last. Thanks.
Ask the Experts Cleaning Q&A
Q: How do I clean my pliers and wire cutters? They have become rusty and old looking.