still kicking

[Sinterklaas]

Dont try to do different styles of setting.

If you want to get better. Do flat setting first. No rings etc only flat sheet. The rest comes later.

If you are getting mushy beads. --> Prongs to big, make em smaller OR use bigger beaders. OR beaders need sharpening. (You can make a cheap tool for that)

Layout is not easy by hand. I use an expensive CAD software for jewelry design.
But maybe a free Cad package will work as well.
Otherwise you have to measure the free space and calculate how many stones will fit in a row.

Courses are a great way to get better. But yes unfortunately they are not cheap.
In the mean time watch every Youtube video and go on Instagram an follow high end setters and setting schools. You can pick up little things. And learn from seeing how they work.

If you work methodical you can solve problems.
Example: You get mushy beads with flashing over the stones.

Prepare a new plate but dont set the stones. Then do like a row of 5 stones 1 way and 5 stones an other way. Then see what is better. Write that down. Keep doing that until you find what works for you.

 

[Dani Girl]

Dont try to do different styles of setting.

If you want to get better. Do flat setting first. No rings etc only flat sheet. The rest comes later.

If you are getting mushy beads. --> Prongs to big, make em smaller OR use bigger beaders. OR beaders need sharpening. (You can make a cheap tool for that)

Layout is not easy by hand. I use an expensive CAD software for jewelry design.
But maybe a free Cad package will work as well.
Otherwise you have to measure the free space and calculate how many stones will fit in a row.

Courses are a great way to get better. But yes unfortunately they are not cheap.
In the mean time watch every Youtube video and go on Instagram an follow high end setters and setting schools. You can pick up little things. And learn from seeing how they work.

If you work methodical you can solve problems.
Example: You get mushy beads with flashing over the stones.

Prepare a new plate but dont set the stones. Then do like a row of 5 stones 1 way and 5 stones an other way. Then see what is better. Write that down. Keep doing that until you find what works for you.

thankyou for that advice. I haven't logged on for a few days and have done this ring since then. took me 3 whole days. at least 180 stones in it. Today I'm working on this cat for fun. I want to plate it but I'm not sure if the patina that develops so fast in copper will prevent the plating taking hold.

I believe it's usually a case of polish, ultrasonic clean, rinse, degrease with anode in solution, rinse, plate (nickel then precious metals when using coloured cheap base metal like brass, copper, nickel solver etc)

 

[Dani Girl]

 

[Dani Girl]

Dad will be getting that watch, which is the only one I have done to date. on the cross over ring I only put the pink stones in. the top one has white, champagne and pink stones and was thinner than ideal. the cat is in copper. I have decided I prefer staggered and snow pavé to side by side, which is doable but I don't love the look. I also personally think shared beads usually don't look as good but some folk can do them well, it's just most folk don't.