Heat near stones

hello all, i have several designs i’d like to try which involve
faceted stone beads on wire. i’m balling one end of the wire with the
torch, fixing it into the main gold piece of the work, threading the
stones onto the gold wire and then applying the torch and a ball of
solder to the other end of the wire to finish it off.the torch heat
definitely is in contact with the stones and i have to work so
fast… since i’m completely self taught i rely on you all for
helpful tips.how could i be doing this better? i don’t want to
compromise the stones. i’m using propane and oxygen
and the smallest tip

I have made a bracelet, that has a sorta bezel around, and a place
to place a pearl, you put small gage wire thru the bracelet and
pearl and bead up the wire at either end, and I have made pearl and
rose quartz bead drop earrings with just the wire and a ball of god
to secure the bead. What I do is I use a number 4 or 5 and we use
acet/oxg. is get a very, very hot small cone flame going, oxidizing
flame and flux the wire, and ball the gold letting it ball up from
the bottom. turn the bracelet over and repeat. flux and let the bead
form from the bottom and you should get great results.

ringdoc

ringdoc:

    What I do is I use a number 4 or 5 and we use acet/oxg. is get
a very, very hot small cone flame going, oxidizing flame and flux
the wire, and ball the gold letting it ball up from the bottom. turn
the bracelet over and repeat. flux and let the bead form from the
bottom and you should get great results. 

Thanks for the info. Since I am trying to accomplish the same thing,
let me see if I understand your technique. Do you:

  1. use a number 4 or 5 torch tip on a Little Torch with acet/oxg.
    fuel

  2. light an oxidizing flame with a very, very hot small cone

  3. flux the wire

  4. position the wire vertically, that is to say with one end pointed
    at the ceiling and the other end pointed at the floor

  5. position the flame perpendicular to the wire, that is to say the
    flame is parallel to the floor

  6. point the flame at the bottom tip of the wire

  7. melt the gold so it balls up, lifting the flame as you go until
    the ball is the size desired

  8. turn the wire over and repeat.

Is this correct?

Michael Conlin