julietom
having dreams about rocks
Member since October 2009
Posts: 57
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Post by julietom on Oct 31, 2009 22:55:35 GMT -5
I started wrapping with a free-hand style, and trying to avoid pliers and such. I start with forming and cinching the bail, with 3 long tails hanging down, and just an inch or so of left over bail wrap for final decorations or tie-in as needed. Then I just form the wraps by working the wire against itself in a series of graduated french curves. No crimps or square wires, just a ton of trial and error wraps. If I mess it up, I just drag the wires over a corner block of wood, to re-straighten them for another go. This actually helps harden the wire for a springy-er wrap. This Opal is done in fairly heavy gauge 14K gold wire, The opal is a 12ct Brazilian that just Rocks in person. the pendant is about 1 3/4" tall, and It's in my wife's collection now.... this is a Coober Pedy Opal with just a band of nice pinfire showing on the face. again this is a freehand wrap, with heavy ga clear coated copper wire, procured from an electronics supply house. It's well coated, and it is 16ga transformer wire, thus the nice clear coating. This pendant is more like 2 inches tall. I haven't done any wrapping since I started gold-smithing back around 1992....
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Post by montanamuskrat on Nov 1, 2009 2:05:45 GMT -5
The first blue opal is beautiful and wrapped to show off more of the stone, the second is very nice also. Debby and Tom
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Post by Toad on Nov 1, 2009 9:44:32 GMT -5
Love both wraps - and the opals too. Is that wire gauge considered bigger than most used for wrappng - just wondering?
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damammy
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2009
Posts: 697
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Post by damammy on Nov 1, 2009 20:02:13 GMT -5
Love your wraps and the opals are beautiful BUT an Opal in Copper, I don't think I have seen that before. Donna
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Post by Bikerrandy on Nov 1, 2009 20:23:14 GMT -5
That's a really cool style of wrapping, great stuff!
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Post by frane on Nov 3, 2009 7:23:18 GMT -5
I just don't know how you do that! Beautiful stones and wraps! Fran
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nancyf
has rocks in the head
Wired Cowgirl
Member since April 2007
Posts: 629
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Post by nancyf on Nov 3, 2009 8:54:48 GMT -5
SWEET!
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bambooprincess
spending too much on rocks
I call him Foo Foo...
Member since April 2009
Posts: 318
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Post by bambooprincess on Nov 5, 2009 21:33:59 GMT -5
You have some serious talent to be able to do that all by hand! Great job!
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swordfishmining
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2009
Posts: 22
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Post by swordfishmining on Nov 29, 2009 19:53:33 GMT -5
Those really flow nicely.
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