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Thanks John. If I can't find anyone nearer home I will revert to you. Much appreciated.

Gaby

Hi, I wonder if anyone knows where in Glasgow I can get a gemstone cabochon re-shaped. I bought a lovely garnet one to make something for my sister and it chipped at the edges on setting. I have...

Thanks Dennis. Are there any other solutions I could use for this job which are maybe a bit less hazardous?

I want to try etching at home, but I wondered how folk get rid of their used ferric nitrate. Is there some way it can be neutralised before disposal?

George - that did occur to me on thinking about it further. It could well be that I am a little generous with the solder - it's a bit of a pest getting tiny amounts with my cutters, but I will try. ...

I did polish the back plate before I added the decoration, but I still get this kind of halo effect around the addition. It's so annoying! I will try with the burnisher or brush to see if I can...

Can anyone tell me how to get rid of the outline that appears when you solder another metal onto a piece for decorative purposes? I have a couple of items which have this line around them where the...

I think the graver should be okay and I will use some liver of sulphur to enhance the lines. It would be great to try etching, but I don't have the equipment for that at home. I did try once with a...

P.S. I've had a look at Ward's and hopefully have found the stone I need. Thanks.

Thanks for your advice. I do have a nice sharp graver in my box, so I will have a practice with that this evening. Now that I think about it, it will probably be much easier to control than the...

I am making a silver sunflower pendant. I have two minor problems with it in that, firstly, I would like to set a flat cabochon stone for the centre but I am finding it difficult to source an...

So I was right, you DO know what we're like! Thanks for all your help. Gaby.

Now you've made me look tight! You know what us Scots are like... Anyway, that doesn't sound too bad and it may actually make a very nice piece because I'm loving the ring, but I'm just not happy...

Dennis, it could well be that I am using too much solder. I will try to reduce it a bit and see what happens. I usually use my hammer to hide the join on hammered pieces, but I didn't think it...

I like the idea of a piece of gold to contrast, but it's an expensive option unless I search my jewellery box for odds. I will bear it in mind if I am feeling rich! Thanks for your input, it's most...

I have made a few patterned rings. On the ones which I texture with a hammer hiding the join is fairly simply, but I find that it is more difficult to hide the join if I have used the rolling mill. ...

Dennis - Thanks. I will clean everything carefully, lower the current and make sure I have plenty of stop-out (either varnish or sharpie) and see what happens next.

A wart pencil??? Never heard of that one. Anyway, I think the current has been too strong and perhaps the stop out was not thick enough. Back to the drawing board! Thanks for your advice.

It was Roberson Stop-out Varnish. Came off in seconds! Maybe the current was just too strong and fast for it. The pen left an imprint very quickly, which is handy if I don't want too deep an etch....

I wonder if anyone knows why this is happening. My son and I set up a salt water etching bath with a couple of batteries, a piece of copper and a piece of silver which I had coated with stop out...

Lydia,

Thank you. I will try this at the weekend and see how it goes.

Gaby

Belated thanks, as it has been pointed out that you provided the information I was looking for.

Regards,

Gaby

Dennis,

Thanks very much. These would definitely be easier than fabricating them myself, although they look exactly as I envisaged. Appreciate your assistance.

Gaby

I have been asked to make a baby bangle. I am quite happy with the technique for forming the actual bangle, but I can't find anything on forming the loops into which each end passes. I have a fair...

Dennis,

Thank you. I will be extra careful re-marking the lines with my pen and marking them out with whatever tool I choose. Your help is much appreciated. Gaby.