Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
March 11, 2011

Question:

I found a beautiful, large dichroic glass bead. Unfortunately, someone had glued a bail onto the bead. How can I remove the bail without damaging the bead?

-Sandy in Chelmsford, Massachusetts

Answer:

What a shame, Sandy! The adhesive remover you need depends on the type of glue or epoxy that was used to attach the bail to the glass. Because it is dichroic, this fired glass is almost indestructible!

For super glue types, a good acetone will help to weaken the glue, and then use a thin blade to gently pry the bail off. Good acetone is found in most name-brand nail polish removers or in a hardware store. (Yes, acetone has fumes, so use it in a well-ventilated area, as directed on the product label.) Some folks say you can also cover the glue with pure lemon juice, wait a while, and then cover the lemon juice with table salt to work dissolving the glue.

A crafter’s white glue (that dries clear) can be soften in hot water and then pried off too. I am sure that some of our readers will have some other advice for us too. Good luck!

Glass artist Lindi Schneck designed this elegant wire wrapped bail for her dichroic glass pendants

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

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Thirty years ago Lindi received a Stained Glass Lamp Kit as a Christmas gift from her brother. Little did she conceive that she would one day start a stained glass business as a result, not to mention branching into making jewelry!

For relaxation from the tedious glass work Lindi has been creating for nineteen years, she started ‘playing’ with glass fusing. Her husband, Larry Haefner, insisted that she find something to do with the numerous nuggets and glass pieces that were accumulating all over her shop. The answer came three years ago, when Lindi took a wire wrapping class with Dale ‘Cougar’ Armstrong and learned how to incorporate all of those glass pieces into beautiful, wire jewelry designs.

Lindi displays her work in local gift shops and boutiques, as well as in juried art shows and at bridal fairs. Her favorite jewelry venue is her own ‘Stained Glass by Lindi’ studio, located in Williamsport, PA. Lindi is an awesome, stained-glass artist who also enjoys being one of ‘Cougar’s’ teaching assistants at various jewelry-making events.