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setting enamels in brooch backs

  • Sharron Gray
    • 6 posts
    March 13, 2018 1:43 PM EDT

    I seem to be having trouble when trying to set a flat or shaped enameled brooch into a setting.

    I cannot seem to bend the toggles that hold the pieces together without cracking the enamel

    on the enameled section.  I was thinking maybe I need to add a dab of some sort of rubbery

    material, like a silica compound, to act as a buffer.

    What do you all do when setting??

  • Trish White
    • Moderator
    • 114 posts
    March 14, 2018 8:37 AM EDT

    Hi Sharron,

     

    You are probably pressing the prongs too hard - or you might be using a gauge of wire that is too thick or hard -

    The prong should bend gently with a small plier or bezel pusher. Also, learning how to make bezels for your enamels would be a good workshop to take - You usually can find this in a beginners metalsmith class - There are many DVD's from Interweave press that teach metalsmith techniques -https://www.interweave.com/store/jewelry

    Lexi Erikson's Bezel DVD is fabulous -  I have messaged Edmund Massow to post his PDF - I could not find it in the files either - 

     

    Let me know how you make out,

     

    Trish

  • Sharron Gray
    • 6 posts
    March 14, 2018 1:28 PM EDT

    Thanks for your advise.  I know how to set besels but only have trouble with ones on enamels. 

    Maybe I am pressing too hard.

    Maybe I need to design a setting that doesn't have prongs.........but not sure if that is the answer.

    I am surprised that no one else seems to have trouble setting with enamels.  Anyone??  Have you never had trouble??

     

    Sharron

  • Edmund Massow
    • 77 posts
    July 5, 2018 9:24 AM EDT

    Hi Sharon,

    have a look in the forum "general discussion" I have tried to answer your questions.

    edmund