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Thread: I have no idea........

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Posts
    79

    Default I have no idea........

    What most of you are talking about. Doesn't stop me from spending hours reading it though! All part of the addiction I guess.

    Quite excited today though as the secretary at work has started fusing dichroic glass and displayed her first attempts as soon as I arrived. Although I only use semi precious stones it looked so pretty I felt I needed to have a go at enhancing it.

    I skived off as soon as I could and rang cooksons to add to the order I had already placed at 6.30 this morning so I could make a bezel setting to accommodate the least favourite piece for practise.

    I've only made two before and they came out not too bad. I want to convince her the only way to go is to set them in silver. I will probably spend hours mucking around, getting frustrated and reaching for a bottle of wine but the challenge is what I'm up for!

    If it works out I'll post a picture, if it doesn't I'll find another challenge!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Posts
    373

    Default

    Sounds good, absolutely adore dichroic glass. I saw some that someone made they looked like photos from nasa - deep purples and weird bluey grey swirls, really beautiful. Really hope you do post some photos =D
    Sian Williamson

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Cardiff
    Posts
    988

    Default

    I have a lady who makes me dichroic glass to order, I seem to get a lot of requests for cufflinks using it - can be absolutely amazing looking, and simple silver settings can really show off the depth of colours - good luck!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Posts
    79

    Default

    It all went horribly wrong! I eventually got a good join with the bezel wire but then tried to solder it to a piece of sheet and realised I should have cut that smaller as the sheet took up too much of the heat so the solder didn't melt well. The bezel solder moved because of this and wasn't level on the sheet so had to abandon the whole thing.

    My biggest problem is getting good joins. I'm missing something in this department, think I might have to do a course!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Posts
    373

    Default

    It happens to us all, even the ones with the training & degrees. Don't despair, keep at it. Can you try to re heat it & quickly pick of the bezel while the solder is wet, file everything back down & have another shot or have parts of it melted? If it's just a matter of soldering not working out it should be salvageable. It's all in the practise =D p.s Binding wire is your friend to stop things shifting out of place, but don't let the wire come in contact with your pickle as it can cause copper flashing
    Last edited by Keia; 24-02-2016 at 09:37 PM. Reason: left out some info
    Sian Williamson

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Posts
    79

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    I really messed up the bezel wire and the sheet, it was like nothing I'd seen before! Spookily I had some binding wire delivered from cooksons today which I haven't tried before so I've asked her to bring a smaller piece of glass tomorrow as I don't want to waste anyone more bezel wire so will try again this weekend.

    Thanks for the advice.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Posts
    373

    Default

    Best of luck with it, don't forget to let us know how you get on =D
    Sian Williamson

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Central London
    Posts
    8,845

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Lynn.D View Post
    as I don't want to waste anyone more bezel wire so will try again this weekend.
    Most of us don't bother with bezel wire. It is flimsy to handle, melts easily and is mostly too wide, so generates offcuts for your scrap pot. We saw a strip from sheet instead.
    I would suggest you get a piece fine silver, about 50x60mm by 0.4mm thick. There will be less waste as you can cut exactly what you need.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Posts
    79

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    Complete and utter failure I'm afraid. I ordered the 0.4mm thick fine silver and must say it's much nicer to work with so will be using that for bezels in the future. As for the dichroic glass pendant the shape was just too much for me. I spent ages making the bezel and it looked great but when I put the stone in due to it's odd shape the corners when all crinkly grrrrrrrrr.
    Someone rang and said can I have a ring with something dangly on it so was pleased to have the distraction otherwise I would have sulked for at least two days.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Finland
    Posts
    724

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Lynn.D View Post
    I spent ages making the bezel and it looked great but when I put the stone in due to it's odd shape the corners when all crinkly grrrrrrrrr.
    Sounds like you need less height.
    If your stone is too low then all the extra metal has nowhere to go & starts folding on itself.

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