Hi Jeanette. You say there that you made your bezel from a 26 gauge fine silver sheet. How do you cut the sheet so that the bezel is perfectly straight and parallel?
@@tiamaribu9394 It looks like she was using this file and she likes the Valtitan www.riogrande.com/product/glardon-vallorbe-valtitan-half-round-ring-hand-file-cut-2/114938
HI Jeanette! Thank you so much for making these videos, especially the one on 22k bezel fusing, it was exactly what we talked about, so helpful and wonderful to learn!! On the other video, in the comments, someone asked why you think filing is unproductive. Someone from Rio Grande responded and that answer didn't really address the subject. So, would you tell us to please (and thank you so much!) why filing is counter-productive in bezel fusing; does it make it harder to join the sides? We're always taught to make super perfect butt joins by filing so the capillary action draws in the solder to as large a surface area as possible for needed strength, you turn that upside down (your wonderful specialty with myths). Also, it would seem that a clipped/cut join would make two narrow pinched areas fuse together instead of a larger 90 degree face on the butt end of the bezel wire and also leave a groove/dip along the join, requiring the "bored secretary" (love that!) to do more work and remove more metal on either side of the join, to eliminate that groove!. I'd love to understand the physics and why you say otherwise from the standard myth; after all, your fused bezels are a work of art and perfection!! Thank you again, Mahalo!
@@RioGrande1944Grande, ok, I'll wait gratefully and patiently for an answer, I put a lot of thought and effort into writing a good and valid question that I've wondered about since Jeanette's great video. A few of my fellow students that watched her video wondered at that comment too. I know everyone is busy so I will be patient. Thanks so much.
Hi there, and thanks for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful comment. We circled back with our Jewelry Techs, and here's what one of them has to say: "I think the reason Jeannette says filing is counter-productive is because, in my own experience, it can be very difficult to get a fully flush seam through filing. Just based on the motion that the arm, hand, and file travel during filing, getting a perfectly smooth seam is almost an exercise in futility. It’s usually much quicker to just re-adjust the seam or re-cut." Lots of interesting perspectives in this vibrant community!
This is for a bezel, e.g. setting a stone, which would then be fused/soldered to a backplate. The bail would not be attached to the bezel - it would be fused/soldered to the backplate.
I have a question about bezels, how can I make a bezel that requires no back plate? I have som beautiful sea glass peices that need ba open back. Can you recommend something?
Hi Deborah, the easiest way of making an open back bezel setting is to make a seat for the stone using some square wire, and then solder it inside the bezel. The size of the wire doesn’t matter too much, but an 18 ga square wire is pretty standard. If the stone is more free form, rather than a standard cabochon, you can use a much taller bezel and bend it down on both sides. The setting operation is a bit trickier this way, but setting more free form stones is always tricky. Hope this helps!
@@deborahhardeman8802We don't have a video on stepped bezels, but we do sell stepped bezel wire: bit.ly/2Y4QTkO. We also have a playlist "Jewelry Making for Beginners" with 33 videos. Hope this helps!
Was it just me who saw light through the seam when she held up her bezel? I've never successfully soldered a bezel when there is any light showing.(or without solder) In addition - she said she doesn't file - just uses scissors or cutters. What magical tools are these? Please link!
