Introduction & question

Hi,

I've been lurking since I found this group shortly after I started
beading about 6 months ago, when I took my first class. Since then,
I've been to my first bead show (the Interglactic Bead show), and taken
a mini wire and knotting class. One of the first things I did after I
got into this was look up some websites and came across the FireMountain
Gems website and I ordered their catalog. While looking thru the
catalog, I noticed that they have all kind of beads, including stones
that need to be set in settings. I currently have some Opals that are
in settings that have tarnished and when I saw the stone setting tool in
the FireMountain Gems catalog, I started wondering how easy or difficult
it would be for me to set the stones myself. Has anyone here ever set
stones? And if you have, is it difficult to do?

Valerie

Hi Valerie, in addition to beading, I'm a metalsmith. I did learn some basic
stone setting (bezels and claws). It's a specialist area requiring expert
tuition, lots of practice and even so I would send something like opal or
diamonds to a stone setter. One of the characteristics of opal is that it's
brittle. Pressure needs to be applied evenly and precisely or you'll crack
the stone (my lecturer at art school did just that in her student work and
showed it to us as a cautionary tale!)

If the opal is a cab, you could bead a bezel. I would glue the stone in as
well, just for added security.

--
Marisa (AU/NZ)
http://www.galleryvittoria.com
"I am NOT a floozy! I am a goddess..I can do what I like!", said Venus.
'The Adventures of Baron von Munchausen'

"Valerie" wrote in message
ink.net...
Hi,

I've been lurking since I found this group shortly after I started
beading about 6 months ago, when I took my first class. Since then,
I've been to my first bead show (the Interglactic Bead show), and taken
a mini wire and knotting class. One of the first things I did after I
got into this was look up some websites and came across the FireMountain
Gems website and I ordered their catalog. While looking thru the
catalog, I noticed that they have all kind of beads, including stones
that need to be set in settings. I currently have some Opals that are
in settings that have tarnished and when I saw the stone setting tool in
the FireMountain Gems catalog, I started wondering how easy or difficult
it would be for me to set the stones myself. Has anyone here ever set
stones? And if you have, is it difficult to do?

Valerie

Can't answer your question, Valerie - but I wanted to say Welcome to the
group!!

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net

Hi,

I've been lurking since I found this group shortly after I started
beading about 6 months ago, when I took my first class. Since then,
I've been to my first bead show (the Interglactic Bead show), and taken
a mini wire and knotting class. One of the first things I did after I
got into this was look up some websites and came across the FireMountain
Gems website and I ordered their catalog. While looking thru the
catalog, I noticed that they have all kind of beads, including stones
that need to be set in settings. I currently have some Opals that are
in settings that have tarnished and when I saw the stone setting tool in
the FireMountain Gems catalog, I started wondering how easy or difficult
it would be for me to set the stones myself. Has anyone here ever set
stones? And if you have, is it difficult to do?

Valerie

Hi Valerie,

Welcome. Great that you took some classes and met some beaders.

Fire Mountain is a good place to start, and I like their catalogue for
general reference. The prices for "onesies" are about retail, and their
prices for most multiples is a good semi wholesale price. They has policies
that some people take major exception to, but we'll hold the politics for
now. There are better options, but I like having their catalogue.

As for setting stones, if the stone is a standard size, I'd try out some of
the "back-set" findings. Check Rio Grande for that. You can order a
catalogue at their site. http://www.riogrande.com/

Opals are especially difficult because they are soft. Some metal smiths
completely avoid them for that reason. (I have some opals I need to set
too).

Tina


"Valerie" wrote in message
ink.net...
Hi,

I've been lurking since I found this group shortly after I started
beading about 6 months ago, when I took my first class. Since then,
I've been to my first bead show (the Interglactic Bead show), and taken
a mini wire and knotting class. One of the first things I did after I
got into this was look up some websites and came across the FireMountain
Gems website and I ordered their catalog. While looking thru the
catalog, I noticed that they have all kind of beads, including stones
that need to be set in settings. I currently have some Opals that are
in settings that have tarnished and when I saw the stone setting tool in
the FireMountain Gems catalog, I started wondering how easy or difficult
it would be for me to set the stones myself. Has anyone here ever set
stones? And if you have, is it difficult to do?

Valerie

Setting stones can be tricky and you need someone to show you how to do it,
but you can get some setting that only require them to be snapped in and no
tool is required. I don't know if FireMt. has them or not but I think Rio
Grande has them. I can't remember off hand where I got them. Be careful with
opals since they are fragile and will brake.
Roxan
"Valerie" wrote in message
ink.net...
Hi,

I've been lurking since I found this group shortly after I started
beading about 6 months ago, when I took my first class. Since then,
I've been to my first bead show (the Interglactic Bead show), and taken
a mini wire and knotting class. One of the first things I did after I
got into this was look up some websites and came across the FireMountain
Gems website and I ordered their catalog. While looking thru the
catalog, I noticed that they have all kind of beads, including stones
that need to be set in settings. I currently have some Opals that are
in settings that have tarnished and when I saw the stone setting tool in
the FireMountain Gems catalog, I started wondering how easy or difficult
it would be for me to set the stones myself. Has anyone here ever set
stones? And if you have, is it difficult to do?

Valerie

Thanks, everyone...sounds like I'll just wait and have the opals set by
a professional instead of trying to do it myself. Maybe when I get some
more money from selling my jewelry I'll try some of the snap in type
settings. So far I've basically just sold my jewelry to friends I've
made on the internet, people at my Church, and at the hospital where my
father works. I do have a website set up to showcase some of the
jewelry I've made. The address is http://www.clik.to/countrycrazy
I don't have everything I've made posted yet, but this is currently most
of it.

Valerie

roxan wrote:
Setting stones can be tricky and you need someone to show you how to do it,
but you can get some setting that only require them to be snapped in and no
tool is required. I don't know if FireMt. has them or not but I think Rio
Grande has them. I can't remember off hand where I got them. Be careful with
opals since they are fragile and will brake.
Roxan
"Valerie" wrote in message
ink.net...

Hi,

I've been lurking since I found this group shortly after I started
beading about 6 months ago, when I took my first class. Since then,
I've been to my first bead show (the Interglactic Bead show), and taken
a mini wire and knotting class. One of the first things I did after I
got into this was look up some websites and came across the FireMountain
Gems website and I ordered their catalog. While looking thru the
catalog, I noticed that they have all kind of beads, including stones
that need to be set in settings. I currently have some Opals that are
in settings that have tarnished and when I saw the stone setting tool in
the FireMountain Gems catalog, I started wondering how easy or difficult
it would be for me to set the stones myself. Has anyone here ever set
stones? And if you have, is it difficult to do?

Valerie

In article . net,
says...

Thanks, everyone...sounds like I'll just wait and have the opals set by
a professional instead of trying to do it myself. Maybe when I get some
more money from selling my jewelry I'll try some of the snap in type
settings.

Probably a good idea. I've looked at tutorials on stone-setting, and despite
what Fire Mountain says, I suspect it's more complicated than one might think.
Keeping the stone properly level in the setting is going to be the tough part.

Celine

--
Handmade jewelry at http://www.rubylane.com/shops/starcat
"Only the powers of evil claim that doing good is boring."
-- Diane Duane, _Nightfall at Algemron_

Thanks! I'll call up tomorrow and order a catalog from Rio Grande.
Seems strange that it's free with a call, but $10 on the internet. I
ordered a few other catalogs either early this year or late last year,
but have yet to receive them. I don't even remember what companies they
were from...I know one was an order form that was on the back of
BeadStyle Magazine that I sent in.

As for FireMountain Gems, I noticed that they're s/h charges were pretty
high when I got the catalog, but I kept it anyways, because at least it
gives me an idea of what type of beads/stones/settings/tools are out there.

Valerie

Kathy N-V wrote:

Welcome Valerie!

I don't set stones myself, but I do have few hints, which I hope will help.

1. Opals are very soft, because they have large amounts of water in them.
the "fire" in opals is actually reflected light from the water. I would
hesitate to use opals for my very first adventure in setting stones. I'd
probably start with something more durable and less valuable, like Cubic
Zirconias.

2. Fire Mountain is not my favorite supplier, for a lot of reasons, including
the fact that they are extremely expensive for not-very-good quality. I
cannot imagine that there are many (if any) storefront jewelers using Fire
Mountain as their supplier. Give Rio Grande a call, and ask them to send you
their catalog. (It's free if you call, $10 if you order through the web
site) You'll find much nicer stuff in there.

Glad to have you, stick around and make yourself at home.

Kathy N-V

Thanks for that information. No wonder they don't seem as colorful as when
I bought them. After several years in this super dry climate.

Tina


"Kathy N-V" wrote in message
.com...
On Tue, 16 Mar 2004 16:50:06 -0500, Christina Peterson wrote
(in message 1079473806.496135@prawn):


Opals are especially difficult because they are soft. Some metal smiths
completely avoid them for that reason. (I have some opals I need to set
too).

One more thing about Opals, as I piggyback onto Tina's post: because they
have such a high water content, the best way to store them is to wrap them
in
damp cotton and seal into some sort of air/watertight container. If you
leave them in the open air, eventually they'll dry out and lose their
fire.

The scientist in me wants to know if there is some way to get water _into_
poor quality opals to increase the chatoyency. (the technical term for
the
fire in opals) I love Australian opals, and would be delighted if there
were
more of them in circulation.

Kathy N-V

I keep mine in a bottle of water to make sure they don't dry out.
Roxan
"Kathy N-V" wrote in message
.com...
On Tue, 16 Mar 2004 16:50:06 -0500, Christina Peterson wrote
(in message 1079473806.496135@prawn):


Opals are especially difficult because they are soft. Some metal smiths
completely avoid them for that reason. (I have some opals I need to set
too).

One more thing about Opals, as I piggyback onto Tina's post: because they
have such a high water content, the best way to store them is to wrap them
in
damp cotton and seal into some sort of air/watertight container. If you
leave them in the open air, eventually they'll dry out and lose their
fire.

The scientist in me wants to know if there is some way to get water _into_
poor quality opals to increase the chatoyency. (the technical term for
the
fire in opals) I love Australian opals, and would be delighted if there
were
more of them in circulation.

Kathy N-V