Jewelry Making Resources | Fire Mountain Gems and Beads

Ask the Experts Polishing Q&A

Q: I have a small slab of larimar that I'd like to polish (it's currently matte/raw cut). I do have a rotary polisher, but I'd like to know what kind of polish or rouge to use that won't hurt the soft stone. Can you please suggest something?

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Ask the Experts Stretch Bracelet Sizing Q&A

Q: Is there is a way of working out how many beads you will need for a stretch bracelet if the heads are mixed or have spacers? I have 8mm round beads and 11x8mm rice beads.

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Ask the Experts Fishhook Ear Wire Gauge Q&A

Q: I want to use pre-made fishhook ear wires but am confused over which gauge is best. I have received earrings that have fishhooks that are TOO thick to go into my pierced ears. Can you clarify which gauge is thick vs thin?

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Ask the Experts Split-Ring Pliers Q&A

Q: I have the split-ring pliers. They work fine for keyring size, but when you get down to 4-5mm 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 further, but then the beginning of the ring closes, and I can't slip my focal in. Any ideas?

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Ask the Experts Wire Wrapping Q&A

Q: Do you have a catalog specifically geared towards wire wrapping jewelry? I've been interested in pursuing this beautiful craft. With your catalogs having a few instructional sections, I thought this would be a helpful start for me.

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Ask the Experts Beading Q&A

Q: I use mother-of-pearl shell beads and 14Kt gold-filled 3mm beads to make necklaces. What kind of wire do you recommend that won't bleed onto the beads? I have the same question about the 3mm bead. If it's black inside, it can bleed onto the hole of the mother-of-pearl shell beads. Any advice would be great.

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Ask the Experts Finishing Q&A

Q: I am struggling with finishing a necklace with a delicate single charm. It is strung on a very delicate chain, and I have no earthly idea how to finish the chain so that I can then attach an equally delicate clasp. I am assuming that super glue is out, but what are my other choices? Thanks so very much for your kind assistance!

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Ask the Experts Beading Q&A

Q: What needle would you recommend for a loom project that is about 5 inches (94 columns) wide and uses 11/0 Delica seed beads? I'm having to thread back through just a few columns at a time with my standard #12 needle.

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Ask the Experts Findings Q&A

Q: Would you have a crimp cord that can be used for more than one cord? I am making a leather bracelet using 3 cords and cannot find a big enough crimp for it.

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Ask the Experts Findings Q&A

Q: I usually have difficulty in making crimps grip the stringing material. Recently, I attended a class at which the instructor told us that there are some crimp beads which have grooves scored in the inside of the crimp bead, which allows them to give a better grip to the stringing material. Do you have any information on this type of crimp beads? The ones I used in the class were small, 2x2mm, but they worked better than any others I have at home. Thanks for any info you can give to me!

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Ask the Experts Clasps Q&A

Q: I have a 10Kt gold magnetic clasp and the magnet has fallen out. How do I repair it?

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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?

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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!

Design Idea RH25

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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?

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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?

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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?

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