Wrapping odd shaped stones

Billy Z wrote

on Jul 5, 2008 10:01 AM

 Does anyone have a good way to wrap odd shaped stones without it looking tacky? I am trying to wrap some oddball tumbled stones for a friend to put on a charm bracelet and everything that I have tried either looks too gaudy, busy, or just plain tacky. If I make it look nice, then the stones are not very secure, and if I secure them well, then I get the other mess.

 My latest brainstorm was to solder the wire in a 'basket' of sorts and while it looks okay, it's still not what I am looking for. She wants it in silver, and there is no problem with fusing or soldering as I was an Electronic Technician for 25 years and have been N.A.S.A. certified in several soldering techniques. 

 I have already wasted about 2 feet of fine silver wire on this project and it's still not finished so any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 Thanks muchly,

Billy ;o) 

Sheila H wrote

on Jul 6, 2008 7:27 AM

 Billy - I don't do this so I apologize now for any silly questions or suggestions...you have probably tried these things but...

Having said that, I have seen some in the stores were the top and bottom are swirls for lack of a better word but then they have a couple of wires the connect the top and bottom. These actually go around the stone. I don't know it it is possible to do this with one wire or two.

I guess in my mind ( and here the inexperience comes in ) I see a swirl ( almost like a bead cap ) on the bottom and the top. Then a single wire on each side that goes from the top to the bottom but that wire actually goes around the piece. If looking at the piece the single wire goes from the top left to the bottom right and top right to bottom left. That way you really only have two wires to interfer with the main body of the piece, but keep it secure? Depending on how large it is I guess you could do two times around the stone before securing it to the opposite side of the opposite end.

Another thought is that these probably are something that would not fit into pre-formed bead caps but if so, could you use two and string a few pieces of wire from top to bottom to accomplish the same idea.

I apolgize for my ignorance on this and it probably shows. Hopefully someone with experience will give you a good idea...

Good Luck!

Billy Z wrote

on Jul 6, 2008 10:03 AM

The problem is that when I get the stones very secured, there is like too much wire, and when I make it pleasing to the eyes, it's not very secure. Finding this 'happy medium' is the ongoing problem.

 I can sort of picture what you are talking about with the swirls, but I've never tried that, so it is a good option to have. I stopped messing up silver and started playing with some copper that I had in the bottom of 'junk' box. I had not thought about using bead caps either sinse there are no holes in the stones themselves. It might be possible to put a cap on each end and then fuse a couple or three very fine wires to secure the caps to each other. That way, I can put a headpin through the hole in the cap to make a wrapped loop to secure it to the bracelet. Hmmmm, great idea. I have to go get some larger caps to try it, teh largest that I have on hand is 6mm and those won't even begin to co on the end. Thankfully, those come in copper to play with before actually messing up more silver. That can get kind of expensive.

 Thank you for your input, it really helps a lot.

 Billy

Elements-jewelry wrote

on Jul 7, 2008 12:57 PM

Billy,

You probably should cage tumbled rocks.  A simple cage can be made from 5" of wire. Make a spiral on each end of the wire making sure they are opposite when they meet in the middle of the wire.  Bend them over on top of each other. Push up the very center loop in one coil, this will be you loop to attach to the bracelet. Next take a dowel or one side of your round nose pliers and gently stretch out both coils. They will resemble funnels. Put you odd-shaped rock inside. Now you have the choice of tightening up the coils to make a semblance of a bead cap on each end and twisting the wire between to tighten the cage OR

While the spirals are still in the funnel shape slowly loosen them to make a full coverage cage.

I know you wanted to get away from all the wire but if these are tumbled stones you may just have to live with it. You can adjust the size of your spirals to make them barely there. The idea of bead caps is good however you need to consider how you will get the stone inside. Also, copper doesn't fuse. You will have to solder it. You might find it difficult to fuse silver if you plan on putting the stone in before you add the opposite bead cap. Most stones can't handle high temps and typically explode.

Sue

Here is an example of my caged beads:

Billy Z wrote

on Jul 8, 2008 9:25 AM

  That pic shows exactly what I was imagining it would look like. Thanks for the input, it just totally verified what I was afraid of. I actually read this about 2AM and decided to try my hand at it. 5" of wire won't do it on these stones, about 6 1/2" is about the minimum because of their length and width. They are about 1/2" to 5/8" across the narrows and 1" to 1 1/4" on the longs. I made a couple and while they hold pretty good, they still don't look right as they are all kinds of gaps between the stones and the wire. I wish that I had something to hold the stone in the center that would allow me to wrap the wire tightly around them and get rid of the gaps. That would look so much better.

  I was talking about fusing silver wire to silver bead caps, not fusing copper. That part wasn't very well written, was it? *laughz* While I do appreciate the fact that you threw that in there(helping the newbies is first and foremost here), you can trust me when I tell you that I can solder, weld, fuse, and otherwise connect similer and different metals together. I worked VERY hard to get my N.A.S.A. certification and it is still kind of hard to keep it up to date(you have to recertify every 4 years), especially since the hands are starting to fail me.

 I will keep trying things until it looks good or I 'settle' for the way it looks. All of the info is appreciated and will be put to use.

 Thanks again,

 Billy ;o) 

Sheila H wrote

on Jul 8, 2008 12:54 PM

Billy - Sheila the novice again here but something else just occurred to me. Can you use the silver to make the top and bottom but use clear line to string between the top and bottom? Would that still hold it but appear a lot less noticeable? Either clear line or maybe stretchy that is pulled tight enough to form and hold the stone?

In my mind you could string the clear through the bead cap ( whether purchased or made ) and you could knot it underneath then string through another hole to start the strand to the other cap. Does any of this make sense? Or maybe do the amount of wire that you like from the top to the bottom and then use the clear or stretchy to make it more secure?

I am trying to think outside the box but since I don't know the box of which I am thinking this may be completely stupid so I apologize for my ignorance again.

Good Luck!

Billy Z wrote

on Jul 9, 2008 11:27 AM

 Now that's an idea that I haven't thought of already. On my last trip to Micheal's at the beach, I saw some killer filligree/lacey bead caps that had plenty of holes in them. I have some clear spiderwire in my Dad's tackle box. That stuff is damn near impossible to see and it holds a good knot. Thanks, I may give that a try and see what happens.

 I have a doc's appt in the morning on the Island, so I might just shoot on over to the beach side to Earthly Treasure's and Micheal's to see what I can find. I need to get some more Lapis beads anyway. I bought what I though was 10, 8mm Lapis Lazuli beads and when i got home and started working on the piece, I realized that I had 3, 6mm ones in the bunch. I still haven't finished that piece yet. It is a Rosary made from white volcanic rock 6mm beads for the HM's and 8mm Lapis Lazuli for the OF's. I have a sterling silver centerpiece and a 2 1/2" crucifix to go with it. I was going to use sterling eyepins and just make simple loops on the opposite end, but with sterling, it is way soft and under presure, they will pull loose, so I am wrapping both ends with fine silver wire. I am making my own fine silver jump rings so that I can fuse them and won't have to worry about a ring pulling open.

 Wow, talk about going off topic. *laughz* Since I typed it all out, I'm gonna leave it. It's my thread anyway, so we don't necessarily have to stay on topic. *grinz*

 Billy ;o)

Sheila H wrote

on Jul 9, 2008 12:09 PM

I am glad that I may have given you another thought to try. 

I have a tendency to get off topic ( regardless of the topic ) so it doesn't bother me. 

Good luck with the Rosary. I made a necklace that everyone says looks similar to a Rosary. The bottom is a cross with about 4 inches of the following patter: red seed bead, silver twisted bugle, red seed bead, flower spacer, red seed bead, silver twisted bugle, red seed bead, then it splits into two to form the necklace part. It turned out gorgeous and I just sold it but have to put a magnetic clasp on it. I thought it was pretty. I may make another in a different color to see if I like it as well. 

TabithaA wrote

on Jul 9, 2008 12:15 PM

 I have done a bit of wire wrapping odd shaped stones and alot of beach glass.  Check out my site for some inspiration.  With wire wrapping its trial and error for me.  But in the end its worth it.  Practice with plated and once you get good with that go with sterling silver wire.

Good luck,

Tabitha Aker

The Jewellery Maker

www.jewellerybytabby.com

Billy Z wrote

on Jul 9, 2008 7:13 PM

You can make some good money on Rosaries if you can get the word out to the Catholic community in your area. This is my second custom order from the same woman and she pays for materials up front and the labor upon delivery. The first one was 8mm rubies for the HM's and 10mm rubies with sterling silver caps for the OF's. It had a 3" crucifix and a custum made centerpiece with a shamrock on it. It was for a relative. I bought $90.00 worth of materials and charged her $100.00 labor. It took me roughly 4-4 1/2 hours. She didn't even blink and asked me to make one for a friend. I let her pick out the crucifix and centerpiece that she wanted and I got the beads from the rock shop at the beach. I have a catalog from the Lewis & Company Rosary Parts Company and it has something for everyone in the way of crucifixes and centerpieces. I get my beads locally or from FMG because theirs are a bit pricey. They have kits and all kinds of stuff. You may want to paruse their inventory just to satisfy your curiosity. Their URL is:

www.rosaryparts.com 

 It never hurts to look and their catalog is free. That's half the deal at twice the price. *grinz*

 Billy ;o)

Billy Z wrote

on Jul 9, 2008 7:27 PM

Tabitha, thanks, that gives me more examples anyway. I actually had a friend bring me about a half of a 1000 yard spool of 18 gage stainless steel wire and I can wrap tehm with that and nothing moves at all. I only have to have one wire from top to bottom and the spiraled cones are holding the top and bottom both very well. Of course, that stuff in that gage is a witch(with a capital B) to work with. My small chain nosed pliers will barely handle it at all and all of my bigger pliers have toothed jaws and even with 4 layers of masking tape, they still mar up the finish with little nicks and cuts. I would just polish up the stainless and use that if not for this little prob. *laughz* As long as it is as shiney as the charm bracelet that she's putting them on, she wouldn't care, and it's a freebie, so it doesn't really matter what I use, juat as long as it is silver colored and very shiney.

Thanks again,

Billy ;o)

Sheila H wrote

on Jul 14, 2008 12:05 PM

Did you ever get a chance to work on these stones again to give us an update yet?

Just curious!

Billy Z wrote

on Jul 15, 2008 8:51 PM

 I finially did her 3 in the stainless although they were must less than what I saw as acceptable, but she loved them. My wife keeps telling me that I am too critical of my own work, maybe she's right? Anyhoo, that will keep her off of my back until I either figure out a different way to do it or just go with the  flow and do the rest just like those. *laughz*

 Thanks for asking, I guess I should have posted an update, but I tend to forget things sometimes almost as soon as they happen. *grinz* I blame my meds. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 Billy ;o)

Sheila H wrote

on Jul 16, 2008 3:38 PM

 I'm so glad that she was happy. I think we are all our own worst critic as they say. Like you said, maybe this will give you some time to work something else out. Then they will be a little different from the others which could give them a completely different look.

Anyway, Thanks for the update! Curious minds and all that...

Billy Z wrote

on Jul 17, 2008 5:32 AM

 I have some friend's inthe construction biz as well as a couple of hardware stores looking for me some smaller gage SS wire in small rolls. Believe it or not, the SS is more expensive than Fine Silver. It is also a LOT sturdier and holds it's shape extremely well. And it will never tarnish either. At worst, it just dulls out a bit and you can brush it up with a piece of steelwool and make it shine like new silver. This may actually lead to me chainging out stainless for sterling/fine silver/silverplate for jump rings and handmade clasps for my beachbumwear. It's a lot more durible and that is half of the battle in this kind of jewelry. People tend to put it on and wear it until it breaks or looks so bad that they don't want to be seen in it anymore. *laughz* The SS will literally last forever. I would be very pleased if the wire were say 22g or smaller, at least more pleased than I am now. *laughz* The wire I have is just freakin' HUGE. Nowutimeen?

 Billy ;o)