Bearer Wire

Anyone here used bearer wire before? I hadn't heard of it before this evening and I'm wondering if it could be used for bezel setting cabs?

Yep - I've used it. Mainly for setting gems I'd say tho, you don't really get a very big 'shelf', and there doesn't seem to be a big choice in size and I find the bit that you push over doesn't come up very tall.

Brilliant. Thanks for that Kat and for the speedy response. I didn't buy it, I've ordered proper bezel wire (you know what it's for of course )

Oooh I know and can't wait to see I'm going to cheat one day soon and use premade

Hmmm,I've looked at those and wondered about them. I guess the trouble with those is the fit.

That's the thing that has put me off and getting something to push the bezel. I know I can cheat & glue a stone in but for me that's not right.

Hee hee yay!! That's ok Gillian it was my last check before bedtime Well don't forget you do actually need to put some 2 part epoxy under glass cabs or hey will never sit still. Devcon 5 minute was the recommendation. I'd also advise to avoid the bezel wire on large cabs. The ones you have Gillian should e ok but they are so thin, they melt so easily which can be an issue when soldering onto thicker sheet - and also if you overdo the solder you can end up taking away yoo much metal when you are trying to file it away.

My top tips for future are to buy fine silver sheet 0.5mm thick and cut strips to size. Fine silver is softer and easier to push over - and it does not firestain.

For gems, rather than bezel wire which may not be deep enough at the bottom or tall enough at the top either make or buy two rings/ tube that sit tightly one inside the other, the inside one lower than the outside one (and then solder them together), or get a tube with a thick enough wall that you can cut away a shelf on the inside.

Yep, I've found it harder to work with so more often than not I make my own bearer wire to accomodate the gem I want to set. Making bearer wire isn't easy either but once it's made correctly it's good to use. Some of my gems are too deep to be set in bearer wire.

Tips: Making your own bearer wire is easier using 99.9 fine silver strips. Though admitted it's more expensive. You can get very thin copper foil to practise with.
Using square wire is great for making your own open settings for cabs. Adding the claws to a square wire setting is good because you get a greater surface area to your mount.

Fillers:

Straw, yes straw! Mexican jewellers use it to give cabs and gems the lift in settings. Obviously glues. Coiled silver/metal in the base of the setting to uplift what you're setting.

Wow! There's so much to learn. Thanks all.