Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
February 20, 2011

Question:

Do you have copper snapsets? If so, what are the pros and cons?

-Ellie in Mechanicsville, Virginia

Answer:

No, Ellie, we do not carry copper snapsets. Your question piqued my curiosity though, and I did some research, finding that no one makes or sells them.

I do not know the actual reason why, perhaps because copper is soft by nature and would not hold up – or it may be that the manufacturers would have to design a new product, with huge costs.

Either way, with the prices of precious metals rising at almost an hourly rate, I imagine that someone soon will have something like them that we can use in our alterative metal jewelry designs. In the meantime, sterling silver snapsets work well in copper designs!

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
October 22, 2010

Question:

I am trying to attach a snapset with a gemstone in it to a wire bundle that has already been wrapped together. I was wondering if I should attach the snapset first with a wire to hold to the wire bundle, or if I should put the faceted gemstone in the snapset first and then put the wire through at the bottom of the snapset to attach it this way. Thanks so much for your response.

-Casey in Wilson, Texas

Answer:

As I don’t know what you are actually making, or what shape/size snapset you are incorporating, this answer has to be a bit generalized.

Some people put the snapset under the wire they wish to attach it to, and then put the gemstone in. To me, this is a good way for the stone to pop out of the setting as the rest of the design is made, or even after, as the design is worn. Instead, the WS Faculty and I prefer to set the stone into the snapset first, and then insert a square wire (or two, depending on the shape and size of the setting) between the prongs and under the stone. Now the set stone is ready to be either used as a wrap wire or as a construction wire, and added to the piece, by attaching it to the item via the wires under the stone.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
September 30, 2010

Question:

How do you use the earring snapsets? I purchased the earring 6mm earring snapset with the 6mm stones to go in them, and I realized I don’t know how to use them – can someone give me directions?

-Barb in Puyallup, Washington

Answer:

The easiest way to set stones into earring snapsets is to:

1. Place the stone, table side down, on a roll of tape* (sticky side out).
2. Holding the setting between your fingers, center the setting over the stone.
3. Push the setting onto the stone. You should hear a definite snap.

If the stone goes to one side and the prongs end up bent, use needle nose chain nose pliers to adjust and reposition the prongs, and then try again.

* – Take a piece of tape and stick the ends together, making sure the sticky side is out.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
September 8, 2010

Question:

I have some lovely 5mm CZs that I would like to use. Which would be better to use to set these, 4mm snapsets or 6mm snapsets? Many thanks.

-Elaine in DeWitt, Virginia

Answer:

In my opinion, it is easier to put a smaller stone into a larger snapset. If you were to use a smaller snapset, the prongs would be spread too far to firmly hold the stone.

When using any snapset, be sure to really anchor the stone into the setting by wrapping a wire around the set stone, within the design, immediately under the girdle. I have even used an 8mm round snapset to set an 8x6mm pear-shaped stone successfully.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
August 16, 2010

Question:

How do I use snapsets in wire jewelry? I am not sure how they work.

-Donna in Burlington, Connecticut

Answer:

Snapsets are silver or gold prong settings for faceted gemstones. To use a wire worker’s snapset, first set the stone by placing the table of the gemstone (the large flat surface) on a firm surface. Place the snapset over it, and apply moderate pressure to set the stone until you hear a snap. When any snapset is set properly, you should hear a snap when the stone sets.

Gold Filled (l) and Sterling Silver (r) Snapsets for rings and other designs

For use in wire working, you would run your wire between the stone and the prong to attach it to your basic wire structure or just below the bail. The most common sizes for wire workers’ snapsets are 4mm, 6mm, and 8mm in both Sterling Silver and Gold Filled.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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