[Jewelry making - Article 00256] - [Orchid] New to bezel setting

[MarciMarie]

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Hi all,

    I'm new to bezel setting. I've done it successfully with round
    shaped stones, but for some reason, I am not successful with odd or
    square shaped stones. 

    I have been at my bench for 7 hours today, trying to get just one
    bezel setting done. It shouldn't take this long. I feel like crying.

    I am using 24 guage sheet metal, some fancy bezel wire, and medium
    solder paste. I have a small butane micro torch that has worked fine
    other times, so that shouldn't be the problem. I do make sure
    everything is SUPER clean, and the paste isn't dirty or anything. 

    I think that my problem may be that I can't seem to get the bezel
    wire 100% flush with the sheet metal. I file, and file, and file,
    and file until I just want to crush the piece. But I can't seem to
    get it all the way flush. I've gotten it pretty close, with maybe
    one corner showing a wee bit of light through, but then I use my
    'extra hands' to try and push that corner down while using my other
    tongs to push down the other corners while soldering. But it doesn't
    work. The solder paste doesn't flow. As I said before, I have no
    problems at all with round shaped stones. I must be doing something
    wrong? 

    Please, does anyone have any suggestions for me? I'm about to lose
    my noodles. 

Marci
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