Ask the Experts Findings Q&A
Q: Do you have a circle earring or pendant with a jump ring inside the circle, so I can hang a bead or charm from it?
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Ask the Experts Wire Q&A
Q: When doing wire weaving, I am having a hard time keeping the base wires straight, so my design comes out a little crooked. I am using either 20- or 18-gauge base wire. What am I doing wrong?
Earrings
Sterling silver ear wires have attached ice-pick bails for quick ‘n’ easy earrings. Add blue dyed fire crackle agate and suspend a world from each ear!
Ask the Experts Findings Q&A
Q: I have been asked to make beaded pull chains for ceiling fans and window shades. I want to rise to this challenge, but how can I make something secure enough to handle the force? I appreciate your advice.
Ask the Experts Findings Q&A
Q: When ordering silver-toned O rings, how can you get the bright silver tone versus the darker silver tone, without buying sterling silver? I have bought many silver-toned O rings, and the majority of them are kind of gray. Thank you.
Ask the Experts Tools Q&A
Q: I have split-ring pliers. They work fine for keyring size, but when you get down to 4mm or 5mm rings, the pliers only open the ring a little, and I can't keep them open wide enough to insert my focal. I've tried sliding the ring up the shaft of the pliers to open it farther, but then the beginning of the ring closes down, and I can't slip my focal in. Any ideas?
Ask the Experts Packaging Q&A
Q: I try to make jewelry look nice in a gift box, but I know that as soon as someone moves the box around, the pieces won't stay the way I arranged them. A long time ago, I think I read about sticky dots or something similar to make the jewelry stay where it should. Do you have any additional information or suggestions to make jewelry stay put? Thanks.
Ask the Experts Shell Q&A
Q: I have two matching huge giant clam shells. They lived outside my parents’ house in Kent in the wind and rain for 50 years and kept the beautiful mother-of-pearl inside. After some years outside here in Bristol, they have lost the mother-of-pearl, except where the rainwater has collected. What might have caused this? Can the mother-of-pearl be restored on the rest of the shell or is it destroyed and lost forever?
Ask the Experts Wire Q&A
Q: I am interested in making mobiles. I have used wire from hardware stores but would like to upgrade. Can you suggest a medium-grade wire for this purpose? I’m also concerned with changing color and rust.
Ask the Experts Jump Rings Q&A
Q: If I have jump rings that say they're made of "iron alloy," can they be soldered?
Ask the Experts Findings Q&A
Q: I noticed there are so many sizes of crimps. Sometimes when I use the crimp that is designated on the various types of wire I have they still pull off or where off and then the item breaks. Why does this happen I always double check it and give it a tug and figure it is fine. What is going wrong?
Ask the Experts Metalsmithing Q&A
Q: If I'm creating a silver pendant for a flat back cabochon and have soldered on a bezel setting to a backplate, how do I set decorative faceted gems around it? I've used flat back smooth round cabs with bezel cups soldered on, but want to use faceted gemstones that have a point at the back, 4mm. Do I put something in the bezel cup, or make a hole in the backplate? Or something else?
Ask the Experts Stringing Q&A
Q: I have 10mm Opal Beads - I'm looking to put a gold spacer bead between them - I want to keep this necklace elegant - What would you suggest to the size of the gold spacer bead to look the best?
Ask the Experts Crystal Q&A
Q: I have a vintage piece of jewelry where a pear shape crystal 15x10mm has most of the foil back removed. I purchased a 14x9mm pear shape from Fire Mountain, but it is too small. Is there any way to replace the foil backing on the original? Did not see where Fire Mountain has the size I need.
Ask the Experts Polishing Q&A
Q: I have a large labradorite bead that lost its glossy finish when I polished the necklace it's set in. Is there any way to restore the shine without taking it to a jeweler? Thanks.
Ask the Experts Bails Q&A
Q: I have a 36-inch gold plate rope chain 2.5mm thick, and I want to attach a 1x2-inch pendant that consists of my initials. A tiny hole is attached to the top center of the pendant. I need some help finding an inexpensive bail that will hold the pendant steady as I wear it. Would appreciate any help! Thanks.
Ask the Experts Glass Beads Q&A
Q: I am making a suncatcher to go outside, hanging on a tree. It will have seed beads (#11 the smallest) as well as large glass beads. What is the strongest wire to use that will go through these beads twice, and will not rust? Do I really need to run the wire through twice?
Ask the Experts Glass Kilns Q&A
Q: Do you have the kiln for fusing glass in a microwave?
Ask the Experts Beading Wire Q&A
Q: Hi! I am trying to make 20-gauge wire hoops but cannot really figure out what hole size beads will fit on the hoops. Do they have to be above 0.8mm in order to fit? Thanks.
Ask the Experts Findings Q&A
Q: I have 3 cookie tins of screwback earrings from my mother’s jewelry collection. There are so many beautiful ones, but I don’t know how to change from screw or clip to pierced.
Ask the Experts Zebra Wire Q&A
Q: I used gold-colored Zebra copper wire 20 gauge and in less than a week my son’s necklace has faded to grey. I'm kind of shocked. I tried cleaning it and polishing to no avail. I'm hoping this doesn't happen to any of the pieces I have sold. Very upsetting.
Ask the Experts Gemstone Beads Q&A
Q: Hi, I have been working with Agate Druzy stones lately and I'm finding that the stones lose the bright color after they have been worn in jewelry up against the skin. Is there a sealant that I can use to keep this from happening? I appreciate any insight you may have! =)
Ask the Experts Beading Q&A
Q: I’m having trouble with my seed bead fringe earrings. I’m always having an issue with curling. How do you keep them soft and flowy? I’m using Fireline 4lbs. Also it’s hard to find a balance between pulling them a little bit on the tighter side or having too much of a gap. Could it be the thread? What is the trick ?
Ask the Experts Crimps Q&A
Q: What are the advantages in a crimp with a heavier wall? Or disadvantages? I have been using a number 3 in sterling on the heavier necklaces I make and wonder if heavier wall would be stronger? Thank you.