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Ask the Experts Stringing Q&A

Q: I've been beading for about a year and my biggest issue is the excess wire at the end of my project. Is there a trick to threading it into the strand of beads?

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Ask the Experts Wirewrapping Q&A

Q: I have a glass pendant that the loop broke off of. How can I wire wrap it and put a loop at the top, where the glass loop broke off?

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Ask the Experts Mixed Media Pendant Q&A

Q: I am seeing cabochons used with pictures and words, and I want to use this style to make a 50th wedding anniversary piece for my mom. Is it just printer paper, or is there a certain glue or mounting that has to be used?

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Ask the Experts Colorfast Q&A

Q: How do I check for colorfastness?

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Ask the Experts Metals Q&A

Q: I'm hearing that aluminum is a good metal for jewelry chain. What are the benefits to using aluminum vs. sterling silver? Also, what is rhodium? Is it hypoallergenic? Thank you.

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Ask the Experts Leather Q&A

Q: How do you get the kinks, creases, etc. out of leather cord or other types of cord so it will lay nicely?

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Ask the Experts Restringing Q&A

Q: Is there some magic way to attach a crimp tube with an attached clasp to a finished piece strung on wire? Attaching the first tube at one end is easy, but when attaching the second one, the wire slips back through the beads (and then the beads fall off the wire causing endless frustration)--and the wire is cut so short (to fit into the crimp), there's nothing to grasp. The opening on the tube is so narrow that it would be nearly impossible to put a long piece of wire through the tube and cut it later. Any suggestions?

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Ask the Experts Ribbon/Beading wire Q&A

Q: How do I attach a ribbon to a beading wire?

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Ask the Experts Center-Drilled Q&A

Q: I have some carved shell flowers. The hole is in the middle of each flower. How do I attach beads, and how do I make them into earrings?

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Ask the Experts Oval Jump Rings Q&A

Q: I am making earrings and a necklace using 2-3 links. Should I use a round jump ring or an oval jump ring to attach the links?

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Ask the Experts Right-Angle Weave Q&A

Q: I am totally new to beading. I want to make a right-angle-weave bracelet. Can you tell me where to find instructions for adding the center bead to each right angle group? Thanks.

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Ask the Experts Wine Charms Q&A

Q: I just bought some beads, charms and hoops to make wine charms. They look great, but the beads fall off easily. Do you have any suggestions for what I could do to fix this? I bought 25mm, 24-gauge hoops. Thanks!

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Ask the Experts Stringing Q&A

Q: I would like to string some heavy gemstone beads on elastic. What's the best material to use and how do I finish it? If I tie it, how do I hide the knot? Thanks.

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Ask the Experts Crimping Q&A

Q: I am just not good with knots. I would prefer to use crimp tubes on stretch cord ("powercord"). I would like some reassurance that finished bracelets would last for a long time with wear. Have you had any testimonies from clients on this, and what is your opinion?

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Ask the Experts Business/Consignment Q&A

Q: I have sold my jewelry and wire work on consignment before, with pretty good success. However, I recently spoke with a shop owner who wanted me to pay a nonrefundable consignment fee to sell my work. I'd honestly never heard this before, and I'm a bit wary. Should I be?

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Ask the Experts Business/Pricing Q&A

Q: I am new to the jewelry making business and have been interested in a business of my own since my work related accident, which forced me into early retirement. I was doing a web search for something that would help in my fixed income and I came across Fire Mountain Gems and Beads and decided that this would be something that I could do from my home. I am interested in both making and buying the pre-made jewelry. I would like to know something about the price point system, regarding the pre-made jewelry. If I buy the pre-made pieces of jewelry, what sort of price range would be the best? For example, if I buy a pre-made necklace, what would my price point be? Say if the pre-made pieces of jewelry at wholesale cost would be $5.34. Would I multiply the wholesale cost by 2, 3, 4 times the cost, or what percent would I mark up the necklace? If I decide to sell this necklace with a bracelet and earrings, what would the markup be on this set? Also, if I buy a set of 6 of the same kind that cost $7.42 for the set of 6 how would I break this down to each individual piece? I will be setting up at the flea market and craft shows and making up my website and ebay store. Thank you.

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Ask the Experts Business/Licensed Logos Q&A

Q: If I buy a licensed college or pro team charm and use it in a jewelry design, do I have the right to resell it?

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Ask the Experts Bead Holes Q&A

Q: How can I remove dried glue from a bead hole so I can use the bead again? Thank You.

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Ask the Experts Fold-Over Clasp Q&A

Q: How do you attach a fold clasp to beading wire?

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Ask the Experts Crimps Q&A

Q: Are there any downsides to using screw-tites versus crimps? I would like to have info about the pros/cons of the two. Thank you.

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Ask the Experts Straightening Q&A

Q: Could you please tell me the best way to straighten wire for wrapping, as coiled wire is still curved? Thanks

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Ask the Experts Rotary Tumbler Q&A

Q: I recently bought a Lortone Rotary Tumbler and would like to tumble metal in it. How do I do this? The instruction booklet doesn't address this. Thank you.

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Ask the Experts Twisting Q&A

Q: Could you please do a video on twisting wire using a pin vise—I have a pin vise from Fire Mountain and do not know how to use it. The wooden knob swivels, but the wire does not twist. Thank you

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Ask the Experts Stones Q&A

Q: I'm interested in embedding very tiny CZ's in a PMC pendant. The stones are too small to use pliers to pick up, so I'm not sure how to do this.

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