Ask the Experts | Fire Mountain Gems and Beads

Ask the Experts Glues/Adhesives Q&A

Q: I'm making jewelry and keychains using glass cabochons and to stainless steel bases. What is the best type of glue to use? Will E6000 mess up the picture or words on the cabochon? Thank you.

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Ask the Experts Wire Q&A

Q: What are the sizes used for wire? Can you explain the different types of wire used for jewelry and what do 18,22 etc. mean?

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Ask the Experts Stretch Cord Q&A

Q: How do I choose how much elastic cord I need for a bracelet? Should it have any tension on the cord, or only after you put it on? Where do I measure, on the person, to get it right?

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Ask the Experts Setting Q&A

Q: What is the best way to set a cabochon 23x23mm by 4mm for a pendant? I have virtually no experience with adjusting for “tolerance.” Thank you.

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Ask the Experts Embellishing Q&A

Q: Hello, what can I use in place of metallic beads for a bit of bling? I find that they tarnish quite quickly. Thank you.

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Ask the Experts Flush Cutters Q&A

Q: What are the best flush cutters? Thank you in advance.

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Ask the Experts Faceted Stones Q&A

Q: I'm looking for faceted gems stones to use in my wire wrapped jewelry. Any suggestions?

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Ask the Experts Cupchain Q&A

Q: How do you wire cupchain? Can lengths be attached to each other?

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Ask the Experts Topcoats and Glazes Q&A

Q: Hi, I would like to make charms using polymer clay and crystals (gluing them back on after baking) and then apply a shiny glaze so that the charms are glossy. Is this possible over the crystals or will they lose their sheen?

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Ask the Experts Storing Metal Findings Q&A

Q: Should you store metal findings out of their original packages or is it best to leave them in the packages? I inadvertently left a lot of mine out of their packages and in drawers of the little plastic cabinets I was storing them in. Oddly some of both were in good shape and others not so much. Can you advise as to which is recommended?

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Ask the Experts Ethiopian Opals Q&A

Q: How can I string 4-5mm Ethiopian opal beads? Should I use wire? If so, what gauge? If nylon, what size? I bought beading needles, but when I use nylon thread it doesn’t go through the bead holes. Thanks

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Ask the Experts Twister Clasp Q&A

Q: I am having trouble understanding how the twister clasp works. Is there a video on this?

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Ask the Experts Rhinestones Q&A

Q: I've never worked with flat-back rhinestones and want to apply some to a flat mother-of-pearl teardrop earring. What would work best for this, hot fix or not hot fix? I generally use the G-S Hypo cement for glue, would this be okay to use in this application?

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Ask the Experts Mermaid Glass Q&A

Q: I have a question about "Mermaid Glass" beads. I'm in the process of setting up an Etsy shop which includes some items with these beads. Am I permitted to use the term "Mermaid Glass beads" in my description or title for these items, or is special permission needed? Thanks!

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Ask the Experts Bead Caps Q&A

Q: How do I finish beads with bead caps? I love the professional finish the caps bring to the beads but don't know how to use them.

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Ask the Experts Q&A

Q: I am making bracelets using 4.6mm alphabet letters and 2mm leather cording. My letters (arranged into a word) are centered on the cord. To hold them in place so they don't slide, I tie a knot on each side of the word. I am looking to use some type of bead, crimp or something instead of the knot to prevent the letters from sliding on the cord. Any suggestions? I saw something called smart beads but I don't think the hole is big enough to fit the 2mm leather through it.

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Ask the Experts Q&A

Q: I am looking for hypoallergenic earring posts. My sister has had success with Rhodium plated and platinum plated earrings. Can you recommend anything for me?

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Ask the Experts Q&A

Q: What size settings do you use with what size cabochons?

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Ask the Experts Q&A

Q: Mom wants to make some clip-on earrings with her seashells. How do I do this?

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Ask the Experts Pearls Q&A

Q: What is the difference between saltwater and freshwater pearls?

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Ask the Experts Needles Q&A

Q: What needle should I use for my seed bead project?

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Ask the Experts Tools Q&A

Q: When I use my split ring pliers to open the ring and put a charm on, I seem to "ruin" the ring. It doesn't close back up properly, but remains separated from the center. Am I opening them incorrectly?

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Ask the Experts Hot-Fix Crystals Q&A

Q: Can garments which have been embellished with hot fix rhinestones be ironed safely? Or will the heat of the ironing cause them to un-adhere? I would be ironing at synthetic or silk settings, not at high.

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Ask the Experts Crochet Q&A

Q: I would like to know what wire to use for bead crochet.

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Ask the Experts Gemstones Q&A

Q: I recently collected a lot of small stones and pebbles on the beach and want to wire wrap them and turn them into pendants. However, after the stones dried, they lost some of the appeal that made me pick them up in the first place. How can I treat the stones to give them the ''just out of the ocean'' look again? And I need this to be permanent and safe to wear. Thank you,

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Ask the Experts Wire-Wrapping Q&A

Q: Which precious metal wire forms the best, and does it hold its shape?

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Ask the Experts Cord Coils Q&A

Q: How do you secure cord coils to rubber cord? The fit is pretty tight, but is there some way to secure it further? Thanks.

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Ask the Experts Copper Q&A

Q: I would like to start using pure copper beads and findings, but I'm not sure about whether or not they can be cleaned at all, and if so, how? What about copper plated items?

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Ask the Experts Business Competition Q&A

Q: A customer of mine told me that a competitor was bad-mouthing my business. We're in a small town, and I know the competitor. What should I do?

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Ask the Experts Memory Wire Q&A

Q: How do you cut memory wire into individual loops for use with strand separators?

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Ask the Experts Cupchain Mesh Q&A

Q: I'm curious about cup chain and cup-chain link mesh. Exactly what is it and how is it used? Thank you

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Ask the Experts Business/Pricing Q&A

Q: I am looking to sell my jewelry online. Do I need to get a business number if I only plan on selling $100 or $200 worth of jewelry each year, if I am lucky?

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Ask the Experts Wire Q&A

Q: How do I use bead ends on memory wire?

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Ask the Experts Customers Q&A

Q: I love doing shows! The problem I have is when there are several people standing at the booth. I'm afraid if I focus on one person, the others will leave because I am not paying attention to them. What do you recommend I do?

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Ask the Experts Flat Back Q&A

Q: I am going to add some crystals to wooden letters. What would be better, flat backs or hot fix, and what glue would I use? If hot fix is better, how do you use them? Thank you

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Ask the Experts Lover's Knot Q&A

Q: My great aunt used to tie her beaded necklaces into a lover's knot, but I have lost the instructions. Do you know how?

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Ask the Experts Selling Q&A

Q: I recently started selling jewelry. I've had a repeat customer that has bought my standard sized beaded bracelets. However, she now wants them re-sized to be smaller. Should I charge her a fee to do this? I don't want to lose money on my supplies to do this, but I don't want to lose a repeat customer.

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Ask the Experts Pearl Knotting Q&A

Q: How do you know what size thread to use for a necklace strung with knots in between each bead? I have had experience with the beads slipping over the knots.

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Ask the Experts Jewelry Cleaner Q&A

Q: How do you clean the black off around the holes of the beads ... this is from the wire rubbing with wear? Thanks.

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Ask the Experts Findings/Earrings Q&A

Q: I have a faithful customer who wears clip-on earrings. What can I use to make them less painful for her? Is there something similar to the coating for tools that could be used?

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Ask the Experts Gemstones/Druzy Q&A

Q: What on earth is druzy and what is druzy quartz and blue lace agate druzy? Merriam-Webster on-line does not recognize the word druzy.

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Ask the Experts Designing Q&A

Q: What should I use to clean up any excess Apoxie from my piece? Should the excess be removed before set and dry?

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Ask the Experts Selling Q&A

Q: Hello! I have a question about how to market my fine silver pendants: With the rising cost of precious metals I often find it difficult to sell my pendants for the price I want if I consider the chains that go with them. I really want to sell my pendants "as is" without a chain to keep costs down, but I feel if I do that it hinders sales since people want to wear the pieces right away or they don't have a chain of their own. Should I just charge more and supply a chain? Or should I keep my prices affordable and skip the chain? I was thinking about using a cord or something since it would be cheaper, but I'm afraid it won't mesh well with the more formal look of my pieces. Help?

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Ask the Experts Finishes Q&A

Q: I recently completed a bracelet using various colors and two sizes of seed beads. After wearing the bracelet once, I noticed the finish on the semi-transparent, size 8 purple ones wore off over some of the exposed surfaces. I'm told this problem happens often with purple and red beads. Any suggestions?

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Ask the Experts Labeling Q&A

Q: With the precious metal market so volatile, I've been using some silver plated findings in my designs. On my cards I tell of what each piece is made. Is there a legal explanation required when you have a piece, say, 20% silver plate, 80% sterling or can I just say SP and Sterling or Sterling w SP and leave it at that? I don't want to mislead my customers but I also want to point out that the piece is mostly sterling. My cards are not large so space is limited.

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Ask the Experts Opal Care Q&A

Q: I have some opals stored in glycerine oil. They have been in oil since the 1930s. Must they stay in the oil or can I put them in cage bails?

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Ask the Experts Grading Q&A

Q: Only a few of your pearls indicate a grade in the description. Does that mean that the others are D grade or below? Thanks.

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Ask the Experts Copyrights Q&A

Q: I buy pendants and antique beads at garage sales, flea markets and other sources. I use these pendants as focal points to build my necklaces around and some of them have a name printed on the back. Do I have a copyright problem or is there some other problem I might have if I want to sell my work?

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Ask the Experts Glues/Adhesives Q&A

Ask the Experts Wire Q&A

Ask the Experts Stretch Cord Q&A

Ask the Experts Setting Q&A

Ask the Experts Embellishing Q&A

Ask the Experts Flush Cutters Q&A

Ask the Experts Faceted Stones Q&A

Ask the Experts Cupchain Q&A

Ask the Experts Topcoats and Glazes Q&A

Ask the Experts Storing Metal Findings Q&A

Ask the Experts Ethiopian Opals Q&A

Ask the Experts Twister Clasp Q&A

Ask the Experts Rhinestones Q&A

Ask the Experts Mermaid Glass Q&A

Ask the Experts Bead Caps Q&A

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Ask the Experts Pearls Q&A

Ask the Experts Needles Q&A

Ask the Experts Tools Q&A

Ask the Experts Hot-Fix Crystals Q&A

Ask the Experts Crochet Q&A

Ask the Experts Gemstones Q&A

Ask the Experts Wire-Wrapping Q&A

Ask the Experts Cord Coils Q&A

Ask the Experts Copper Q&A

Ask the Experts Business Competition Q&A

Ask the Experts Memory Wire Q&A

Ask the Experts Cupchain Mesh Q&A

Ask the Experts Business/Pricing Q&A

Ask the Experts Wire Q&A

Ask the Experts Customers Q&A

Ask the Experts Flat Back Q&A

Ask the Experts Lover's Knot Q&A

Ask the Experts Selling Q&A

Ask the Experts Pearl Knotting Q&A

Ask the Experts Jewelry Cleaner Q&A

Ask the Experts Findings/Earrings Q&A

Ask the Experts Gemstones/Druzy Q&A

Ask the Experts Designing Q&A

Ask the Experts Selling Q&A

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