bottom of a bezel??

[amazingbabe]

Hi I have only just started to make rings and i was wondering if anybody out there could tell me what silver to buy for the bottom of a bezel guage etc:confused:

[MuranoSilver]

I use 0.7mm but some folks use 0.5 sheet silver
http://www.cooksongold.com/Sheet/
Nic x

[amazingbabe]

Thank you so much for sharing you knowledge with me Murano Silver,,, Your Jewellery is fantastic by the way:D
I don't have a clue what size sheet to buy?? Can you lead me in the right direction please.

My Website
http://www.palacegemshandmadejewellery.com

[MuranoSilver]

You're welcome :)
The sheets size depends what size stones you're setting :)
e.g If was setting a 2cm round stone I'd buy a 3 - 4 cm square piece of sheet.
This allows you something to grasp when you're sawing round the bezel after soldering. (+ I like to have decorative edges sometimes).
It's often worth buying bigger sheets & cutting multiple pieces out of it (more weight = better price breaks)

Nicola x

[amazingbabe]

Thank you so much Nicola, you are a great help on here sharing you expertise;).... I would also like to ask you about bezel wire, I have been told that it is easier to use fine silver as its easier to work with, but is it all the same height?? Or what would be a normal height??

[MuranoSilver]

I always buy fine silver bezel wire as I do find it a lot easier to work with. Normally it's available in a couple of heights.
Cooksons sell two height 3mm and 5mm I use both depending on what I'm settings. Stones like turquoise cabs etc tends to be the 3mm but setting dichroic glass tends to be the 5mm. I also use the 5mm when kiln setting bezels into PMC & Art Clay Silver.
You'll find Cooksons Fine Silver Bezel Strip Here
http://www.cooksongold.com/category_select.jsp?prdsearch=y&category=search&desc=bezel%20strip
Nicola x

[amazingbabe]

Hi there, i have been playing with bezel wire sheet silver etc etc..oh am feeling frustrated,, Have been making a pair of garnet stud, set them into bezels one turned out fine but the other one is loose, i don't know what i did different??? I seem to have too much bezel!! HELP!!!#-o

[sharonb]

Thank you so much Nicola, you are a great help on here sharing you expertise;).... I would also like to ask you about bezel wire, I have been told that it is easier to use fine silver as its easier to work with, but is it all the same height?? Or what would be a normal height??

As Nicola said, cooksons have 2 heights, but you can always 'adjust' the height by sanding off the excess.

[nikki_d72]

Is the extra amount of bezel visible? ie does the amount of stone showing on the loose one seem smaller? if so then it may be that your wire was a wee bit higher, maybe the join wasn't quite so close? If not then it maybe just needs pushed over a little more, maybe you were too tentative with it and workhardened the silver before it was all the way over. Be brave.

If you think there is extra bezel then could you try to run a graver around the edge (very carefully, without scoring the stone) to take off the excess, then try to push it over again. Don't rub around and around though or you'll workharden the top and won't get it over.

It is also possible that your stones were not quite as evenly sized as they appeared - you should always put the stones in and have a good look at the height of the bezel in relation to the stone (then remember which one is which!) before you set it and take off any that is needed at this stage.

Hope you can fix it, this game's damn stressful, innit?