ocadgirl
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2012
Posts: 4
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Post by ocadgirl on Jul 24, 2012 8:32:19 GMT -5
I have a collection of polished Lake Superior Agates that I want to make into pendants. I do not know how to wire wrap yet so I am looking for bails that I can glue my agates to without having any pinch bails ... I am not willing to drill holes into my agates!!! I am looking for ones made of sterling silver... not silver plated. I have found a few but they are just bell caps. Anyone know of any ideas for me??? Also I need the proper glue to use for these agates. What is the best to use?? Any help would be appreciated.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jul 24, 2012 16:13:29 GMT -5
I use Hughes 330 epoxy, it's a 2-part glue that you mix 1:1.
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ltpaulbtv
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2010
Posts: 198
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Post by ltpaulbtv on Jul 25, 2012 10:00:08 GMT -5
I use mercury glue! Very strong!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2012 10:25:33 GMT -5
jewelrysupply.com has sterling silver but not sure if they have glue on bails in the sterling. I buy the cheap stuff. lol
Jim
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ocadgirl
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2012
Posts: 4
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Post by ocadgirl on Jul 25, 2012 21:32:51 GMT -5
I took bikerrandy's advice and 330 epoxy is on it's way. I ended up buying some sterling silver 7 prong bell caps to start. I found really nice ones that I really liked but to ship 3 of them from China would have been $23... I do not think so. I have some really nice agates and I want to use sterling with them. I really need to learn how to wire wrap and then I could make pendants as unique as each agate is. I will post pictures of them when I get them done. All 3 of em'.... all I can afford!!!!
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shermlock
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2011
Posts: 612
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Post by shermlock on Jul 25, 2012 21:36:58 GMT -5
If you want to wire wrap, Randy has a great tutorial. You can start with copper wire (cheap) and practice a few until you dive in. That is what I did and I think I did four or five before I felt comfortable. Good luck with the Lakers!
Scott
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herchenx
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jul 25, 2012 21:46:17 GMT -5
Ditto to what Scott said. Also, if any are flat you can epoxy a bail to just the back side and make a very nice pendant with less of the "silver bell cap" look.
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ocadgirl
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2012
Posts: 4
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Post by ocadgirl on Jul 26, 2012 9:03:55 GMT -5
I plan on using Randy's tutorial to try out wire wrapping soon. Thanks for the tip on using copper wire to practice. I have seen the bails that I could use to just glue the backside of the rock but not sure if I like them or not. Has anyone tumbled small agates cut in half in their tumblers? I have a bunch of paint agates that I cut but no machine to polish them on. I imagine the edges round out in a tumbler... do the flat surfaces polish nice???
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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 26, 2012 11:03:21 GMT -5
Don't know about tumbling- just wanted to add about copper...
Buying bulk pure copper is very cost effective and you can do a lot with it. I used to use it just for test pieces, but I love copper for everything now. If you get soft copper round, which is mostly what you see, take a pinvise and twist your wire lengths about 40 times each to harden them. This way you can work with half hard wire, which is way easier, especially for a beginner. If you twist square wire, you'll get a pretty "beaded wire".
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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 26, 2012 11:06:02 GMT -5
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jul 26, 2012 17:10:16 GMT -5
The subject of this thread threw me off. Funny, today I misdialed a phone number, and it was answered by a bail bonds place! (hope it's not an omen...) Jean
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2012 18:19:17 GMT -5
I spent two hours trying to find glue on bails that cost less than $o.44 cents each and finally had to settle for some straight little glue ons that I do not think I will like. Every one that had the little off set in them were expensive. I did order some glue on posts also but I think most women prefer the dangly ones. I may be way wrong though. What are your thoughts on that?
rockjunkie, are people buying copper jewelry now? I could not sell it last year and changed everything to silver.
Jim
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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 26, 2012 19:26:25 GMT -5
Jim, yeah, I'm selling copper.  I think women, in general, prefer dangly. Women mostly like what their men like, so what do you like? Not to be sexist etc, etc, etc but jewelry is a lot like perfume, I think. |
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ocadgirl
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2012
Posts: 4
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Post by ocadgirl on Jul 26, 2012 20:18:11 GMT -5
I agree with Jim.... women prefer the dangly ones... that just sounds wrong but you know what I mean. I did find some on the riogrande site that I am considering. I think it all depends on agate and how you want it to look. Like I have a nice dime size black eye agate with quartz that would look nice on a round glue on bail.... ideas.. ideas... how do I sleep???
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Post by jakesrocks on Jul 26, 2012 22:05:27 GMT -5
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