Well, I must have jinxed it. LOL. We are not moving in 4 weeks after all. It looks like I have closer to 12. So we are still moving, but now I can breathe and relax and not have to do it all so quickly. Of course that would all come about after I have already booked my trip to Vancouver in 3 weeks to do some house hunting. Oh well, guess I will just go and get to know the area a little bit more. Perhaps a February move will have more mild weather than Christmas? Fingers are crossed.

If you have sent me an email in the past couple of days asking about tools and such, chances are, I have it and just haven't been able to get back to you just quite yet. Things have been busy, especially with the changing schedule and figuring everything out. I am sorry and I will be in touch. Since I am not going as soon as I thought I was this also gives me a little bit more time for this order. I will still be placing it this next week. I was hoping to have it done today, but other things have come up that I had to take care of first. Not only that, but there have been a lot of questions about Tube setting tools and such. So I thought I would take a bit of time to answer them for you now.

I have had a lot of questions about which burs and sizes to buy when it comes to tube setting stones. Here are the tools I use every time I create my tube settings from scratch (or at least from a premade length of tube.)

• Thick walled Tube (outer diameter is .5mm larger than the stone I am using. The wall thickness is approximately .5+mm)
• Tube Cutting Jig (I currently have 2 in stock - $35.00)
• Jewelers saw & Blades
• Miter Cutting Vise (I have 2 in stock - $60.00)
• Files (flat, cuts 2 & 4)
• Burs (Setting and round)
• Calipers (Digital -  I got mine at Harbor Freight)

Choosing the Right Bur

So how do you know which bur to use? You want to use a bur that is just slightly smaller than the diameter of your stone. For instance, if I have a 6mm stone that I am going to set, I would start with a 5.9mm round/ball bur to get the depth of the tube close to where I want it to be. Then I would switch to a 5.9mm setting bur to complete the setting.

The stones I tube set are typically 3, 4, 5 & 6mm. So here is what I use:

• 3mm  stone
  
  • 3.5mm outer diameter heavy walled tube (Rio 100452)
  • 2.9mm Round ball bur ($3.40)
  • 2.9mm Setting bur ($4.05)
• 4mm Stone
  • 4.5mm outer diameter heavy walled tube (Rio 400427)
  • 3.8mm Round ball bur (4.05)
  • 3.8 Setting bur ($4.85)
• 5mm Stone
  • 5.5mm outer diameter heavy walled tube (Rio 100429)
  • 4.70mm Round Ball Bur ($4.75)
  • 4.70mm Setting Bur ($5.35)
• 6mm Stone
  
  • 6.5 mm outer diameter heavy walled tube (Rio 400431)
  • 5.90mm Round Ball Bur ($4.75)
  • 5.9mm Setting Bur ($5.35)

I hope that helps answer the questions regarding the size of burs and tubing. I know that rio also sells tubing for stones 1.5mm - 6.5mm every 1/2 size. If you need help figuring out which tubing and/or bur to buy, just let me know. Again, the email is at the top of the navigation bar for the blog.

Upcoming Classes

I am still working on my schedule, but if you have a day that works for you and you would like to take a class, just drop me a line and let's work something out.

I am trying to work on a locket project using the hydrualic press. I am trying to figure out how long to make it, but for now, I think it will be a Saturday class that is about 5 hours long. If you are interested in this, please let me know.

Beadtini Boutique

Beadtini Boutique is located in Sawmill Run at
1245 South Cleveland Massillon Road, Copley OH 44321
To Register for classes at this location please call:330-668-4717

 Wire Angel

 Wednesday, November 30, 2011
 10:30 am - 12:30 pm

 Thursday, December 1, 2011
 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm







 Spinner Ring

 Saturday, December 17, 2011
 10:30 am - 1:30 pm