rings

[JoanFrances]

Anne, was it you that was looking for rings for your pieces?  Check out Warner.  They have several sizes.

I bought 5" and 7 & 3/4" round ones and some oval ones 8 & 1/4" x 5 & 1/2". packages of 6, is how they have them

[Anne]

Thanks Joan.  I can get those sizes up here but I was looking for some larger ones.  Alan found me some brass ones. I can't remember the site but it's in the wire rings thread if you're looking for some bigger ones.  They're brass but I just tinned a brass one this week with Action Tin and it worked sooooo well.

[Glassic]

Without going downstairs to measure, I will gues the ones I bought from Walmart are 10".  They need a light sand if you want to tin them. Old lampshade rings will work well if the anchor points for hanging are well placed as  they're a smaller gauge than the macrame rings.   

[ct4mom]

Good idea about the old lampshade rings (especially since I through some out lately). Anne what is Action tin and where do you get it?

[Anne]

Good idea about the old lampshade rings (especially since I through some out lately). Anne what is Action tin and where do you get it?

Well doesn't that figure Di.  I've stopped throwing stuff away - does that make me a hoarder? LOL. I think I have to die before my hubby so I don't have to clear all this stuff out!

Rebecca told me about the Action Tin when we were discussing brass rings on that other wire rings thread. I bought it at Glasscrafters.

[Graham]

I have several 1/4" solid brass rings approx, 8" in diam. Good price!!

Any interest? Send me a PM

[Glassic]

I have several 1/4" solid brass rings approx, 8" in diam. Good price!!

Any interest? Send me a PM

I'll second that, worth every penny.
_{note to self, must finish that birdie in the ring!}

[nansea121]

Thanks Joan.  I can get those sizes up here but I was looking for some larger ones.  Alan found me some brass ones. I can't remember the site but it's in the wire rings thread if you're looking for some bigger ones.  They're brass but I just tinned a brass one this week with Action Tin and it worked sooooo well.

Anne, did you tell me once that you have a Micheals store out your way? If so, try and look there for those rings. Maybe the Canadian stores carry a different inventory that the American Micheals, but I was able to get a nice selection of different sized rings in Iowa.
Interesting about Action Tin!

Some of the rings I bought were:

6" - .62¢
8" - .89¢
10" - 99¢
12" - $1.39

I know the Walmarts in Canada don't carry the same merchandise as the USA stores do.  

[Anne]

Anne, did you tell me once that you have a Micheals store out your way? If so, try and look there for those rings. Maybe the Canadian stores carry a different inventory that the American Micheals, but I was able to get a nice selection of different sized rings in Iowa.
Interesting about Action Tin!

Some of the rings I bought were:

6" - .62¢
8" - .89¢
10" - 99¢
12" - $1.39

I know the Walmarts in Canada don't carry the same merchandise as the USA stores do. 

You're right about Walmarts in Canada Nancy, it's so frustrating that the stock isn't the same. And thanks, I will check Michaels out for the rings.  We are going down to WA in a week so I'll be shopping......... Tinned another ring yesterday, my time is improving, only took 20 min this time, lol.

[nansea121]

You're right about Walmarts in Canada Nancy, it's so frustrating that the stock isn't the same. And thanks, I will check Michaels out for the rings.  We are going down to WA in a week so I'll be shopping......... Tinned another ring yesterday, my time is improving, only took 20 min this time, lol.

Ya, Walmart have SUPER stores down there! You need roller skates to get around!!! I'm able to get small jack chain from the USA Walmarts, so I thought, no problem, I can get that in Canada to. Well, I checked every single friggin Walmart from London Ontario, right through to Rimouski in Québec! (past Montréal) None of them carried it.
We have tiny stores in comparison. Then I checked some of the hardware shops and one wanted to know if I needed it for dog chain, lol. I said, nooooo, I need them to hang some stained glass panels. Eventually, I did find some chain, but it's way cheaper for me to get it in the states.

Let me know how Michael's worked out for you.

Here's that link for Action Tin if anyone is interested. I'll look into that as well:)

http://www.glasscrafters.biz/PROD/518

[Anne]

Ya, Walmart have SUPER stores down there! You need roller skates to get around!!! I'm able to get small jack chain from the USA Walmarts, so I thought, no problem, I can get that in Canada to. Well, I checked every single friggin Walmart from London Ontario, right through to Rimouski in Québec! (past Montréal) None of them carried it.
We have tiny stores in comparison. Then I checked some of the hardware shops and one wanted to know if I needed it for dog chain, lol. I said, nooooo, I need them to hang some stained glass panels. Eventually, I did find some chain, but it's way cheaper for me to get it in the states.

Let me know how Michael's worked out for you.

Here's that link for Action Tin if anyone is interested. I'll look into that as well:)

http://www.glasscrafters.biz/PROD/518

We are going to WA so I can pick up a glass order and part of that order was to be jack chain - do you remember what Walmart in the US charges for it Nancy?  All of you that live down there are so lucky, you have access to so much more stuff than we do - I don't know why the chains can't carry the same stock in both countries.

[nansea121]

mmmm...I just ran downstairs to check and there's no prices on the pkgs. It's very reasonable tho, and you can get different lengths per pkg. Also try the hardware stores down there. It should be around .34¢ a foot, so you can get some bulk footage that way. They also have different colours! Silvery, gold and a nice bronze. I've even found some nice small linked black chain in a surplus store in Maine.
What I'd really like to get now is some nylon coated steel leader wire. Check out the hardware, or sporting goods stores down there and ask for Leader wire in bulk. They usually sell it pre-made as fishing leaders, but I think bulk would be the way to go. It comes on spools.

Now you have me excited about going down! I'll be leaving in about 3 weeks for Iowawawawa

[nansea121]

I just checked back to where Rebecca talked about Action Tin.
She said...
"Action tin will usually give you a nice smooth tinning layer.  It has flux and solder in it and you have to keep stirring it every time you use a bit even if it is just seconds later.  I open the jar and use a popsicle stick to stir it and to dop some where I want to tin.  Then a good hot iron will usually take care of it.

Rebecca"

Did it work out that way for you?

BTY, thanks Rebecca
 
 
 

[Anne]

I just checked back to where Rebecca talked about Action Tin.
She said...
"Action tin will usually give you a nice smooth tinning layer.  It has flux and solder in it and you have to keep stirring it every time you use a bit even if it is just seconds later.  I open the jar and use a popsicle stick to stir it and to dop some where I want to tin.  Then a good hot iron will usually take care of it.

Rebecca"

Did it work out that way for you?

BTY, thanks Rebecca
 
 

It did!  It's great to work with, and yes it settles as soon as you quit stirring it! So you can't just 'paint' it on so it adds a bit of time to what you're doing but it does exactly what it'ssupposed to do.  I used to try to tin rings with regular flux - not a fun job.  Using the Action Tin leaves the ring really smooth.  Yes, thanks again Rebecca!

[ct4mom]

Thanks for the info on the action tin . I have a bunch of filligree that I have been ignoring because of the tinning process. I will give it a try. As for the Walmart"s I think the bigger stores have more. We have one being ready to open here within a month or so cant wait. Went to the old one last night and their craft dept was empty.

[PiscesGlass]

I've noticed that most of the Walmarts up here are dropping their craft department...darn it.  Oh well! 

Your regular solder and flux may work ok with the filigree as long as it's not extra big.  Heat of the soldering iron transmits much better on smaller objects, the for large things that take a lot of heat to warm up the action tin might be a good idea.  I'll have to look into that also.

Now..off to do glass.

De

[nansea121]

That's how I do the vase caps for my lamps, De.
I slip the cap over the tip of my iron and let it rest there until the cap gets good and hot. Then I add a good amount of flux, and a wee dab of solder (about a 1/8" piece) and spread the solder with the iron. It tins up thin and smooth. A hot iron is a must tho. If you have a bumpy patch, just reflux and take away the excess with your iron.  A little solder goes a long way.

[Graham]

I haven't used it for many years, but I found that the fumes from ActiveTin were acrid - much more so than my Glastar flus + solder.

[Anne]

I haven't used it for many years, but I found that the fumes from ActiveTin were acrid - much more so than my Glastar flus + solder.

I didn't notice that yesterday Graham, but I use a Weller Smoke absorber so it takes those fumes away. I would strong recommend that everyone be using something like that if they don't already have a system installed.

[Lou Ann]

don't feel bad Anne and Nancy, not all the Walmart stores here even carry the same thing...

we have a super store here in town and I still have to drive to one 30-45 minutes away to get some stuff...

also as far as jack chain, look for a small hardware store -- I buy mine for $.10/ft at the local hardware -- I also buy wire there too -- it is coated for electrical purposes but once you strip that away you have some nice copper wire that solders wonderfully (I use this on projects where I want my wire to stay nice and copper -- I have a hard time getting an even finish with the pretinned spools)

LA