[Jewelry making - Article 00760] - [Orchid] Making Metal Balls at the End

[Wendy Hacker-Moss]

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Hello Orchid Members:

    I am hoping you can help with this technique. I have seen a couple
    other people post about it, but have not seen any resolution to the
    question. On March 31, 2003, Leah Gormly described it well when she
    posted the following, "It looks like one ball/granule is made on one
    side of the wire (to a point), a bead is added to the wire, and
    another ball/granule is made on the other side of the wire, so the
    bead can't fall off it creates a sort of "dumbell" look. I'm trying
    to figure out the easiest way to keep the bead cool while creating a
    ball/granule on the other side of the wire." 

    I have seen several designers use this technique of sandwiching a
    gemstone, pearl, or even natural substance such as wood, between two
    metal balls. I understand that one ball is made first with a torch,
    then the pearl, gemstone, etc. is strung on the wire, but then how is
    the other ball made without burning up the gem, pearl, etc.? My
    understanding is that the wire is made of sterling silver, but is it
    really? Or is it made of a metal that melts at a lower temperature? 

    I am totally stumped and would be eternally grateful to any and
    everyone who would enlighten me on how to do this. I have pictures
    that I can show if my description does not make sense. 

All my best,

Wendy Hacker
Wendyhacker.com
Venice, CA 

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