More Grooves

[LarryS]

Still trying. What completely puzzles me is how in the heck all you folks do this without going totally nuts! I'm a mechanic by trade and have very good finger dexterity, hand/eye coordination. All you must be holding back secrets. Bet you have your spouses 2 hands joining in and then you tell everyone you did it all by yourself!

This is all locally collected jasp-ag.







One cheat I figured out was to buy some forceps from Rio Grande to hold onto the bail while you wrap it. That took care of the 3rd hand required. A vise helped too in curling the bail.





BTW, Parawire is fantastic stuff for us newcomers. Doesn't scratch or show tool marks like the real stuff. We have a bunch more colors ordered and will probably redo these above. Wire-It from Fire Mountain totally stinks.

LarryS

[FrogAndBearCreations]

Beautiful pendants!

what you might try is to start your bail wrap on the two wires from the groove wire up 4 wraps then bend your bail and work back down 5 wraps and cut your bail wires and bail wraps at that point.

that way your bail wires and bail wrap end at the bottom of the bail

I leave my bail wires long as I work the bail then do all the trimming after as you can hold them at the back of the stone while you work the bail

hope you can visualize what I am trying to say

[LarryS]

Thanks Diane! We've been working off the groove tutorial listed on this topic. Think I get the idea what you're talking about. I'll give that a try. Sounds like your idea will make the groove wires even tighter, which is good.

[blr2449]

Thank you for the tip on Parawire and forceps. Looks like you're doing quite well. Those pendants are sure nice.

[FrogAndBearCreations]

Mar 27, 2012 13:23:50 GMT -5 LarryS said:

Thanks Diane! We've been working off the tutorial listed on this topic. Think I get the idea what you're talking about. I'll give that a try. Sounds like your idea will make the groove wires even tighter, which is good.

when your working back down you will be going over the first wraps that you went up with

if I had some grooves ready for wrapping I would demo it for you but don't have any right now

pretend this is a groove wrap











green painters tape can be your friend, this is not the frog tape but the super sticky masking tape

[christopherl1234]

I feel your pain Larry. I have always struggled with this too. What I do is get a couple wraps going until its tight, cut the first few loose wraps and then slide the tight ones down. But it looks to me that Diane's method is better and most likely easier too!! Gonna have to give this a try.

[LarryS]

My Diane uses blue painter's tape. I hold the groove wrapped cab in the vise, wrapped in a dish cloth. Then clamp the bail using the forceps and both hands are free. Just grateful Parawire is so forgiving. Only problem it's not coiled in the package with a flat side of the square out. It's coiled at an angle and have to flatten it out before starting. No big thing.

Your method Diane will keep the 2 main bail wires tight together and neat looking. Plus the fat double bail wrap looks great. If you look at my bail wraps, there are 4 square wires that aren't neatly pressed/stacked together. Plus I'm trying too hard to make the bail loops more rounded like the tutorial instead of elongated like yours.

We see a very important issue in your photos. When you start the bail coil, you leave excess wire. That would make things so much easier. Both of us have been fighting working with the other method of starting out with the "finished" tiny loop and the trying to keep it from twisting. That was 90% of our problem. Your method, you can hold onto the wire and clip it going in the right direction when finished. You make it so easy!

You're a life saver Diane! Thanks!

[FrogAndBearCreations]

hope it works for you!

I don't leave my bails elongated but round them after all is done with the tapered side of my looping pliers. The taper is not stepped but smooth so I can slide it into my bail and give it a rounded look.

[FrogAndBearCreations]

Mar 27, 2012 17:19:37 GMT -5 christopherl1234 said:

I feel your pain Larry. I have always struggled with this too. What I do is get a couple wraps going until its tight, cut the first few loose wraps and then slide the tight ones down. But it looks to me that Diane's method is better and most likely easier too!! Gonna have to give this a try.

I also start my first wraps high and after I go around a few turns I slide them down into place which helps tighten things up for when your coming back down to the finish

[Pat]

I have no experience in doing the groove thing or in wire-wrapping cabs. However, in making wire bails, I hold the top part of the bail with flat nose pliers, then use the fingers of my other hand to wrap around the vertical wires. Hope this helps.

[LarryS]

My Diane actually gave up the idea of wrapping, too many failures. About 20 years ago she had a aneurysm, 2 brain surgeries and a stroke. Shouldn't be alive! Her left hand doesn't do what her brain tells it to do. And I complain about my 2 "working" hands? But I've been putting the pressure on her. Failure is not a option! Even Christopher told her she can do it. We just have to find a easier way and with your help Diane, think we found it. I really want my Diane to learn how to do this so I can get back to more slabbing! It's in her heart and loves this forum. She reads each and every individual post, all topics. I don't. She knows all of you by name and has her mentors.

[roy]

good stuff keep going larry you may inspire me to try one !