Featured Tool of the Week: Finger Gauge GAU-251.00

Monday, January 9th, 2012 at 12:30 am

Tool of the Week for
January 9, 2012

This week’s tool: Finger Gauges, Item # GAU-251.00

This week’s featured tool from JewelryTools.com is the GAU-251.00 Finger Gauges, or Ring Sizers, which measures ring sizes 1 through 15. Finger gauges, or ring sizers, are extremely useful for making custom rings. Simply slide the rings onto your customer’s fingers until you find a size that fits but doesn’t stick – and watch how the knuckles fit, too.

Then, to be sure you’ve got an accurate measurement, place that exact finger gauge on your ring mandrel to check it. This way you’ll be able to create custom rings the fit your customers’ fingers precisely!

Here’s a cautionary tale of ring sizers: ask your customer if their fingers swell or shrink much, for example shrinking in cold weather and swelling in heat, because you may want to use a slightly different size than the ring sizer tells. In my case, my first experience with a ring sizer was after my boyfriend of a few years subtly suggested I find out my ring size. I was giddy and trembling as I walked up to the jewelry counter and asked to be sized. My palms were sweaty and I was shaking! Pretty funny, looking back. The salesgirl was so kind, slipping ring after ring from their ring sizer on my ring finger until the perfect one fit. Well, as you may have guessed, my fingers were swollen, so when he "popped the question" my ring spun a bit – but we had it sized down a half size, and no trouble since. Now I know to account for nerves and finger swelling when I make rings myself!

Click below to see GAU-251.00 on JewelryTools.com:

Click below to see ring sizers on Wire-Sculpture.com:

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Daily Wire Tip July 5: Large Hole Pearls for Wire Bracelets

Tuesday, July 5th, 2011 at 12:10 am

Comments (2)

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
July 5, 2011

Question:

Dear Dale: Thank you for your clear teaching style; your directions are the best! I’ve been looking at the Pearl Link Bracelet video (one of the series of three) and I would really like to try it. Are the pearls called by another name? I don’t seem to find anything matching the description of the pearls you are using. I’ll keep looking, but a hint would really be helpful.

-Peggy in Mount Vernon, Washington

Answer:

You are very welcome Peggy, I teach on camera the same as I do in person. I am glad to hear that you find my instruction so clear!

The Pearl Link Bracelet was fun to come up with. Faculty member Mary Bailey and I were playing in my studio over Christmas break 2 years ago, she described what was in her mind’s eye and I reproduced it in wire. The pearls I used both then and now (in a lot of my designs) are actually custom-ordered by Wire-Sculpture! Between the mother-of-pearl disc links, I used 7x5mm Large Hole White Fresh Water Rice Pearls. Wire-Sculpture also carries the same size and shape large hole pearls in black, and both colors in a round shape, with large holes too! These pearls generally accommodate up to 18-gauge round wire (19-gauge square). Although I used mother-of-pearl disc beads, you can substitute about any disc-shaped bead you would like.

Here is a short video I made showing just how cool these pearls are!

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Of course, if you already have some pearls that you want to use, check out this video from Mary Bailey and Charley Key: How to Ream a Pearl.

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

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Daily Wire Tip Mar. 13: One Jump Ring Gauge to Rule Them All?

Sunday, March 13th, 2011 at 12:10 am

Comments (6)

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
March 13, 2011

Question:

What gauge wire is best for jump rings for chain maille designs?

-Linda in Alum Creek, West Virginia

Answer:

I am sorry to tell you, Linda, that there is no specific jump ring gauge for chain maille designs. Each weave is made using either the size ring suggested by the author of a pattern, or (with experience) the weight that will suit the chosen design.

For example, I have seen the lovely Full Persian done in a lacy 18-gauge and in a very tight 22-gauge. My advice here would be to first practice a chosen weave, within the design suggested by a chain maille author. When you feel comfortable with the pattern, then alter the gauge of the rings according to your desires, choosing a size that will work both in the weave itself, and the look you want to achieve.

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

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Daily Wire Tip Mar. 8: Specific Wire Gauges in Class

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 at 12:10 am

Comments (1)

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
March 8, 2011

Question:

I’ve started taking wire classes and each teacher asks for specific sizes, such as 21-gauge. Seems like each class wants a different size, and it’s never the sizes I already have. Is it critical to have the exact size, or can you go up or down one number?

-Phyllis in North Hollywood, California

Answer:

Hi Phyllis, when you take a class with an instructor who does not provide a kit, or you choose to bring your own supplies, it is important to use the same items as the instructor specifies. Usually the project chosen is to teach techniques and the wire used is for that reason. Sometimes an alternate gauge can be used, but not an alternate temper (hardness). I would suggest contacting the instructor personally to ask if they would approve of you using a different gauge for the project in that specific class. Sometimes an instructor will include comments during the class, suggesting different wire gauges and tempers for that project, sometimes not. You could always ask during the class, as others would like to know and may not think to ask that question – one reason why group classes are good.

After taking a class, you can always experiment altering gauges at home, and make notes in your designer’s notebook for future reference. Often these experiments will result in happy accidents, meaning new designs!

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

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Daily Wire Tip Mar. 2: Crochet Wire Designs

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011 at 12:10 am

Comments (6)

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
March 2, 2011

Question:

What is the best gauge wire to use for crocheting wire? I used a 26-gauge copper wire for a bracelet once, and it stretched out as I wore it. I also used glass beads in various sizes, could that have been the problem, too heavy? Thank you.

-Olga in Aibonito, Puerto Rico

Answer:

When I was a little girl, my grandmother tried to teach me to crochet, but all of my Granny Squares came out round! Although I love the look of crocheted wire jewelry designs, I stay far, far away from it. WS Faculty member Lena Bugrimenko makes a lot of crocheted wire jewelry, so I asked for her advice, and she said:

Of course, the more beads and/or components that you add to a crocheted bracelet, the more it will stretch. Yes, the weight of the beads used is part of the challenge, because the wire itself is not really stretching – rather, the stitches are! A lacy crocheted bracelet design is lovely, but add heavy beads to it and the weight of the beads will eventually pull the stitches out of round, making the bracelet longer. Try using smaller, tighter stitches and lighter beads; or, compensate by making the finished product a bit shorter, and then purposely stretch the bracelet for the final product length. Hope this helps!

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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