Well Rick,
That is a real teaser. A finger ring made of bezel wire sounds
impossible to me…well, maybe if you use multi multi layers of
it. The bezel wire that I buy is fine silver and thin. Fine
silver stays very mallible. You must know something about bezel
wire that I have never heard ofor else we are talkingabout two
different things. I think that even galley wire would not be
heavy enough. Oh wait…are you talking about gold? I don’t know
much about gold bezel wire. Does it behave that much differently?
I would think that it also would be designed to be mallable.
Waiting to be demysterized. Marilyn Smith
That is a real teaser. A finger ring made of bezel wire sounds
impossible to me…well, maybe if you use multi multi layers of
it. The bezel wire that I buy is fine silver and thin. Fine
silver stays very mallible. You must know something about bezel
wire that I have never heard ofor else we are talkingabout two
different things. I think that even galley wire would not be
heavy enough. Oh wait…are you talking about gold? I don’t know
much about gold bezel wire. Does it behave that much differently?
I would think that it also would be designed to be mallable.
Waiting to be demysterized. Marilyn Smith
It was a bit of a tease. I use 18k flat bezel strip (24-26
guage) to form the core for some of the wedding bands that I
fabricate. Over this core goes a tightly fitting cylinder usually
made of niobium, and a square wire rim is soldered into place on
either side.
I’ve never really used patterned or shelf bezel wire- the
enamelist in the studio uses fine silver bezel, as well as
cloisonne wire in 24k.
In general I prefer 18k (Hoover’s Royal alloy) over 14k for
bezels- it forms more easily, does not work harden as fast, is
not as springy, and the color is so much nicer!
Rick Hamilton
Richard D Hamilton, Jr.
@rick_hamilton
What is the difference between a strip of 18k, a strip that you
might saw from a sheet of 18k, and 18k bezel wire? Marilyn Smith
What is the difference between a strip of 18k, a strip that you
might saw from a sheet of 18k, and 18k bezel wire? Marilyn Smith
No difference in material- I just buy it that way out of habit,
I guess. The bezel strips (usually 5-7mm wide) are convenient for
the use that I put them. I get about 5 rings from a 1’ strip- and
use the leftovers for bezels.
Rick Hamilton
Richard D. Hamilton, Jr
http://www.rick-hamilton.com
@rick_hamilton