Bezel set lampwork beads!

[marjenann]

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[alissa]

If your bead is a uniform size, you can purchase bezels from places like Fire Mountain Gems. Otherwise, you actually have to go through the process of taking bezel wire, cutting it to size, soldering together & then to your base (it's a lot harder to bezel set something without a back), then putting your bead in the bezel and using a bezel pusher tool to close the bezel around your bead. Last step: polishing.

I don't have time to make a tut, sorry. But it will take some basic metal working skills & equipment to do. You could check a beginning jewelry metals book out from the library and almost all contain instructions to do it. The hardest part is getting a bead to break evenly in half - I like my fiber blanket for that. lol.

[Cosmo]

If you want to make stuff for bezel setting, just make them on the end of a rod and flatten them, like making a pendant, just without a loop. Then they have a nice flat back.

Here is one I set in PMC (although my PMC skills are nothing to brag about - my girlfriend is the PMC teacher).

[marjenann]

Thanks for the info!!!! Metal clay or metal soldering is definitely in my future.
Chad, I love the pendant you posted. Can you recommend a book to get started in the metal clay???

[Cosmo]

I'll do you one better...

Go to: http://swvajewelryartisans.org/ - that's our artisans' group here in town.

Click on the Lending Library link, and scroll down to the PMC books and videos, and check them out for yourself. They are all pretty good. Out of all those, the Mary Ann Devos book probably gives you the most beginning info, but they are all worth checking out.

[alissa]

Metal clay is *really* expensive compared to buying sheet sterling silver & fine silver bezel wire. You can also get much nicer uniformity by fabricating. PMC works, but if you're going to make many pieces, casting is another option.

[SuzyQ]

Question about casting... could I sketch out what I want and get someone to cast for me? How would I go about that? I want to do it for my wholesale lines. How many of one design would I need to get?

[e. mort]

I do my own fabricating in silver and one warning I want to give before you take the plunge: tools are expensive and you need a bunch! It is not like working with glass where you can have a top notch setup with a great torch and kiln for under $2K. That is just "getting started" money with silver and gold. Still, if you are interested check with the local community college to see if they have a metals program. Then you can learn and use their tools a the same time. Also Rock and Gem clubs sometimes have jewelry shops where you can learn as well as work on your own creations. Also, get "The Complete Metalsmith" by Tim McCreight. He gives great advice on what tools you really need and how to improvise others. He also shows in detail how to bezel set a stone.

Good Luck!

Eric

[Sharon Abood]

If you have a local cultural arts center with classes sometimes they have metalsmithing classes. That is how I got started about 7 years ago. Matalsmithing can ber expensive but if you buy your equipment a little at a time it isn't too bad. There is always somethint else I want ot buy because I am a tool nut though. I still keep taking classes so I can go use the equipment. Our advanced jewerly class at the Delaware County Cultural Arts Center is small and our instructor is a 20 year + bench jeweler. We have the ability to work on our own or go pick her brain. It is a great set up.

[McDuck]

Also check with your local lapiday clubs. Ours is awsome,they have classes two times a year for 8 weeks where you learn silversmithing, lapping ect!