Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
February 18, 2011

Question:

I have just started to incorporate cabochons and other larger stones into my wire work, but I’m having trouble identifying certain stones. I have a copy of Firefly Guide to Gems, but as a rookie, I would hate to give someone an incorrect ID on a stone. Do you have any tips on reference materials for beginners? Thanks.

-Matthew in Stuart, Florida

Answer:

Matthew, when any of my friends in the WS Faculty or I purchase a stone or cabochon, we always make sure to label the stone when we buy it (if buying in person at a gem show) or when we open an order received in the mail, and we keep the label with the stone. (See some storage and labeling ideas in this helpful video Storing Small Supplies for Travel).

If you are sorting through items you have not labeled, my personal favorite identification books are: Simon & Schuster’s Guide to Gems and Precious Stones (ISBN 0-671-60430-9), Minerals of the World by Walter Schumann (ISBN 0-8069-8570-4), and Gemstones of the World, also by Walter Schumann (ISBN 0-8069-3088-8).

Each of these books contains great, colored photos of both faceted and cabbed examples of most precious and semi precious stones we use in our wire jewelry designs, as well as detailed information about each rock and mineral. To locate and purchase copies, you can either do an Internet search using the ISBN numbers provided, or order them at your favorite bookstore.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Tagged with:gem, gemstone, identification, identifying, mineral, stone

Filed under: Daily Wire Jewelry Tips • Gemstones & Beads • Sales, Marketing, Shows, & Display

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
February 17, 2011

Question:

Should I lightly oil my bracelet and neck mandrels, and my jewelry anvil, to prevent rust?

-Ken in Mason, West Virginia

Answer:

Ken, some folks do lightly oil their steel mandrels to help prevent rust (using any machine oil, including sewing machine oil).

Personally, I prefer to keep mine oil-free, to prevent extra cleaning of both my wire, my fingers, and any stones, beads, etc. at the finish. Instead, I just use a fine grade of steel wool to polish the rust off, whenever any occurs.

What do some of you prefer, as a way to prevent rust on your steel mandrels?

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Tagged with:anvil, jewelry making tools, mandrel, oil, prevent, prevent rust, remove rust, rust, steel mandrel, steel wool

Filed under: Cleaning, Polishing, & Care • Daily Wire Jewelry Tips • Jewelry Tool Tips

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
February 16, 2011

Question:

Hello Dale, I have yet another question for your expertise. I use the permanent marker as you suggest on the back side of my wire, but how does it come off? Is there something I could use to remove it? I hate to show my jewelry with a black line. Thank you so much for your great videos.

-Mishi in Clinton, Connecticut

Answer:

Hi Mishi, I am so glad that you enjoy working with my videos – thanks! We have had several great discussions on how to remove all types of residue from your finished wire jewelry pieces. A lot of folks have added to my suggestion of using denatured alcohol on either a cotton swab or t-shirt piece, such as: "Skin-So-Soft", "Goof Off", nail polish remover, "Goo Gone", rubbing alcohol and "pure" alcohol (from a hardware store). To read all of these great comments, please see Removing Measurement Marks.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Tagged with:alcohol, clean, ink, Jewelry Making Wire, jewelry wire, marker, marks, permanent marker, polish, remove

Filed under: Cleaning, Polishing, & Care • Daily Wire Jewelry Tips • FAQ • Jewelry Tool Tips • Technique Tips • Wire & Wire Wrapping

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
February 15, 2011

Question:

As a retailer of Swarovski crystals, can you help on this question? I use Swarovski crystals exclusively in my wire-wrapped pieces and would like to use their logo in shows and sales. I have googled a download, and gotten results, but they are not the logo. I have seen it used before, and I wonder if I can use it with their products in displays. Thanks.

-Betty in Jackson, Mississippi

Answer:

Good question, Betty; unfortunately, neither you nor I are legally allowed to use the actual Swarovski logo on our work, because it is reserved specifically for the actual product, rather than a work made using the product in our finished jewelry items. This is spelled out for all of us on Swarovski Customer Service under the heading Crystallized™ – Swarovski Elements that states:

Swarovski is one of the world’s largest crystal suppliers to the jewellery manufacturing and the clothing industry as well as the lighting business. Third-party manufacturers mark these products by attaching the ingredient branding label "MADE WITH SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS" or describing them as "made with Swarovski crystals" or "Crystallized". However, these manufacturers are not allowed to refer to their products as being Swarovski products. Furthermore these products are not sold by Swarovski and do not necessarily meet our quality standards, or qualify for our warranty conditions.

I hope this clears up any confusion with using and proper labeling the lovely Swarovski product line in our finished wire jewelry creations.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Tagged with:copyright, ethics, logo, marketing jewelry, sell wire jewelry, selling jewelry, swarovski, trademark

Filed under: Daily Wire Jewelry Tips • Gemstones & Beads • Sales, Marketing, Shows, & Display

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
February 14, 2011

Question:

What can I use on copper wire to prevent it from oxidizing? I really would love to get your response.

-Deidre in New Franken, Wisconsin

Answer:

Hi Deidre, I do get this question a lot, and we have had several discussions on how to keep copper from oxidizing. All of the solutions are temporary; some work better for some wearers than others due to skin chemicals and some don’t work for long at all.

To read these and hopefully find your answer, please see: Prevent Tarnish on Copper and Nickel Silver and Protect Copper from Tarnishing.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Tagged with:acrylic, antitarnish, coat copper, copper, copper wire, oxidize, oxidizing, prevent tarnish, protect copper, shine, shining, tarnish, tarnishing

Filed under: Cleaning, Polishing, & Care • Daily Wire Jewelry Tips • FAQ • Sales, Marketing, Shows, & Display • Wire & Wire Wrapping