04/05 Alternative Stone Setting: Tube and Jump Ring Settings

Wednesday, April 5, 2025  
10:00 am - 1:00 pm PST 
Alternative Stone Setting Series

Instructor: Jennifer Stenhouse

This stone setting workshop will focus on the techniques for using tubing to create unique stone settings for jewelry. Students will learn how to use round tubing, square tubing, and jump rings to create basic and altered tube settings, as well as simple prong settings, all from tubes.

Tube and jumping settings are great for a variety of stones such as faceted round, faceted square, rose cut and round cabochon stones. Demos will also include how to use the flex shaft to measure, cut and set tube settings. Students will learn to use manufactured tube as a starting point for all kinds of projects. Other options such telescoping tube and pedestal prong setting will be discussed.

The settings discussed include: standard tube setting, telescoping tube settings, square tube set, using tube to create and add prongs, and jump ring setting.

Students may work along side the demos, or choose just to observe and learn. Students will have access to class video after the class to watch at their leisure.

Prerequisite: Students should have some soldering skills.

Beginning to Intermediate Levels

All classes include the video recording, which you will have access to for 60 days after the class. The Zoom link, handouts, video(s), and other important information can be found by clicking on the individual class link on the "My Courses" page. The Zoom link and handout (if any) will be available 24 hours before the class starts.

You also get 1 free session of Open Studio Access (OSA) in the month following your class, the Zoom link can be found on the course video access page.

The class supply list is below and contains links to buy the supplies you need.

Supply List for Students

The links below will take you to RioGrande.com or other suppliers. To see prices for precious metal items, you need a free Rio Grande account. Students in the Rio for Schools program enjoy wholesale benefits for six months (instructor code = RFSLMF). This site may contain Amazon and other affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, at no cost to you, we may receive a small commission on qualifying purchases.

Recommended Materials:

• Sterling or brass tubes
• faceted stones (or CZ’s) will be used for the tube setting demonstration.
• Stones should be half a millimeter smaller than the tube for standard tube setting purposes. (Ex: stone is 3.5mm tube should be 4mm) heavy wall tube has a wider range of stone sizes that will fit.
• Stones used for telescoping tubing should match the diameter of the inside tube
• Stones used for pedestal setting with prongs, or flared tube should be the same size as the tube.
• Closed Jumpring assortment or make your own! 18-16 ga work best for this.
• Stone setting burs same size as faceted stones

Recommended Tools:

These tools are available from Rio Grande and other suppliers local and on-line for your convenience. But, if you have your own tools or want to add to your kit, this is what we will be using.

• Drill of some kind, pendant drill, flex-shaft, hand drill
• Ball burs
• Burnisher
• Agate burnisher

Recommended Materials:

• Stones
  • 3mm faceted stones or CZ - used for the Classic setting or Pedestal Setting
  • 4mm round stone - used for the Classic setting or Pedestal Setting
  • 6mm stone - used for the Flared Setting
• Tubing
  • Standard tube - used for the Classic Setting
  • 4mm (4.1mm) medium wall tube - used for the Pedestal Setting
  • 6mm (6/12mm) tube - used for the Flared Setting
• Solder Easy, medium, and hard, minimum 3" each (I recommend having a foot of each on hand for general soldering needs)
• Flux
• 20g sterling sheet

Recommended Tools:

• Jeweler saw & 4/0 blades
• Small hammer
• Small rawhide mallet
• Drill of some kind, pendant drill, flex-shaft, hand drill
• Center punch/scribe
• Bezel mandrels
• Forming pliers
• Pin vise
• Bench pin
• Needle files
• Ball burs
• 6” half round file
• Small tweezers
• Ring clamp
• Burnisher
• Agate burnisher
• Flush wire cutters
• Magnifiers

Supplies from the hardware store:

• Paper and pencils
• Safety glasses
  
• Set of small drill bits
• Pack of craft needles
• Large craft needle or tapestry needle
• Emery paper
• Small pack of drill bits
• Large craft needles or tapestry needle
• Little paintbrush for flux (no metal, preferably)
• Fine tip Sharpie 
• Wet/dry emery paper, 200/400/600

Optional Materials

• 18g, 16g, & 20g 1/2 hard or half-hard Sterling sheet. (Choose a small amount to work with.)
• 18g, 16g, & 20g round Sterling 1/2 hard or half-hard wire
• 1" x 3" rectangle wire
• 16g square Sterling wire
• Half-round wire
• Wide bezel wire

Choosing a stone

Stones should be half a millimeter smaller than the tube for standard tube setting purposes (eEx: if the stone is 3.5mm, the tube should be 4mm). Heavy wall tube has a wider range of stone sizes that will fit.

Stones used for telescoping tubing should match the inside tube size.

Stones used for pedestal setting with prongs, or flared tube should be the same size as the tube.

Choosing tubing

Brass and copper are easily found at hardware stores in the K&S Display. Be sure to purchase a tube that is half a millimeter larger than your stone(s).

Tubing made of sterling, goldfilled, gold, copper, or brass tubing can be used. Listed below are Rio’s sterling options.

• Standard tube
• Various tube options
• Option! Crimp beads can also be used for smaller stones!