Handcrafted Wire Findings S11 BLAD Web

8/8/2019 Handcrafted Wire Findings S11 BLAD Web

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T E C H N I Q U E S A N D D E S I G N S F O R

C U S T O M J E W E L R Y C O M P O N E N T S

denise peckjane dicker son

handcraftedwire findings


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Use wire in a whole new way in this clasp:

first create small silver spheres, then fuse

them to a handmade r ing and toggle for a

three-dimensional f inish.

Spool of 12-gauge fine silverdead-soft wire

Spool of 18-gauge fine

silver wire Spool of 14-gauge fine silver

dead-soft wire Ring mandrel Flush cutters File Fireproof work surface Blazer micro torch Soldering block Fusing pliers Quenching bowl

Ball-peen hammer Steel bench block Rawhide or nylon mallet Toothpick Honey or flux Tweezers Liver of sulfur Rotary tumbler with mixed

stainless steel shot

Finished size:Ring: 78" (21.5 mm);Toggle: 18" x 1" (3 x 35 mm)

mater ials + tools

handcraft ed wire f indings2

decorative balls toggle clasp


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Fig.1

Fig.2

Fig.3

Fig.4

1 Working from the spool of 12-gauge wire, wrap the wire

around the size 6 mark on the ring mandrel to make ajump ring (Fig. 1). Flush cut and file the ends of the wire

so they meet with no gap.

R I N G

3decorative bal ls toggle clasp

2 Place the ring on the soldering block and light the

torch. Holding the torch about 1" (3.8 cm) from the

ring, rotate the flame around the ring in a circle, slowly

heating the whole surface. When the ring glows,

concentrate the flame on the join until it flows together

(Fig. 2). Turn off the torch. Use fusing pliers to dip the

ring in the quenching bowl to cool, then dry.

3 If necessary, reshape the ring on the mandrel using a

rawhide or nylon mallet (Fig. 3).

4 Use the ball-peen hammer and bench block to hammerthe ring flat (Fig. 4). Set aside.


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Fig.5

Fig.8

Fig.7

Fig.6

B A L L S

5 Cut the 18-gauge wire into five 38" (1 cm) snippets.

Spread the pieces out on the soldering block (Fig. 5).

Light the torch and heat the pieces until each forms a

ball (Fig. 6). Turn off the torch. Use the fusing pliers to dip

each ball in the quenching bowl to cool, then dry.

6 Place the ring from Step 4 on the soldering block. Use

the toothpick to place 3 drops of honey or flux on theflattened ring where you would like the balls to be

attached(Fig. 7). Use tweezers to place the balls on the

honey or flux (Fig. 8).

7 Light the torch. Starting with a medium flame and the

torch about 4" (10 cm) from the ring, rotate the flamearound the ring to gently heat the entire surface. If a ball

falls off the ring, replace it and begin again. When the

flux or honey stops bubbling, move the torch closer to



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Fig.9 Fig.10

Fig.11

Fig.12

T O G G L E

8 Working from the spool of 14-gauge wire, flush cut the

end, then grasp the wire 1" (2.5 cm) from the end with

the tip of the round-nose pliers. Wrap both sides of the

wire around the jaw, crossing them until they form a

straight bar (Fig. 10). Cut the wire off the spool, leaving58" (1.5 cm) from the loop. Trim the other side of the bar to

the same length.

9 Use the hammer and bench block to flatten each end

of the toggle into a paddle (Fig. 11). Use the file to round

each end.

10Use fusing pliers to dig a trough in the soldering block

to hold the loop of the toggle bar flat on the block. Using

a toothpick, place a tiny drop of honey or flux near the

the ring and rotate it around the ring until both the ring

and the balls glow. Keep the torch moving until the ring

and balls fuse together (Fig. 9). Be careful not to hold the

flame too close to the balls or they will completely melt

into the ring.Turn off the torch. Use fusing pliers to dip

the ring in the quenching bowl to cool, then dry. File any

burs, if necessary.

decorative bal ls toggle clasp

end of one paddle where you want to attach a ball

(Fig. 12). Use tweezers to place the ball on the drop of

honey. Light the torch. Starting with the torch about 4"

(10 cm) from the toggle, gently heat the ball end of the

toggle. When the flux or honey stops bubbling, move thetorch closer to the toggle and move it back and forth

until both the paddle and the ball glow. Keep the torch

moving until the paddle and ball fuse together.

5


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Kidney Ear Wires Lasso Link

Asian Toggle Clasp Wired Ring Link

Hammered Ring ConnectorBall-end Hook and Eye Clasp

gallery


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gal l ery 7

Introduction

Wire BasicsTools

Techniques

F I N D I N G S

Ear Wi r es : :

Circle Loop Ear Wires

Kidney Ear Wires

Double-Loop French Ear Wires

Beaded French Ear Wires

Tumbleweed French Ear Wires Fiddlehead Ear Wires

Vine Ear Wires

Circle Post Ear Wires

Spiral Post Ear Wires

Li nk s & C onnector s : :

Fused Oval Link

Decorative Fused Ring

Hammered Ring Connector

Sailors Knot Link Wired Ring Link

Twisted Link with Bead

Textured Corkscrew Link

Stick Link

Lasso Link

Figure-Eight Link

Yin-Yang Link

contents

S C l asps : :

Hammered S Clasp Ball-End Hammered S Clasp

Ball-End Textured S Clasp

S Clasp with Bead

H ook C l asps : :

Ball-End Hook and Eye Clasp

Oversized Wrapped Simple Hook

Vine Hook

Double Hook and Eye Clasp

Toggle Clasps : :

Hammered Toggle Clasp

Asian Toggle Clasp

Twisted Toggle Clasp

Ball-End Toggle Clasp

Lashed Toggle Clasp

Decorative Balls Toggle Clasp

M i scel l aneous : :

Ribbon Bail Knot Spacer

Tumbleweed Spacer

Resources

Index

Hammered S Clasp

Sailors Knot Link

Twisted Link wi th Bead


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Why spend hundreds of dollars stocking up on expensive manufactured

clasps, jump rings, ear wires, bails, and more when you can make exactly what

you need for a fraction of the cost? Making custom findings enables jewelry

makers to affordably create just the right component to complement their own

jewelry designs.

With fundamental skills for beginners that progress to more sophisticated

designs, Handcrafted Wire Findingscovers techniques such as basic wirework,

texturizing, silver fusing, adding patina, and traditional finishes.

Included are over 30 projects for making custom wire findings, each

accompanied by step-by-step photographs and directions to ensure success.

Denise Peckis the editor of Step by Step Wire Jewelrymagazine. She is also

the author of the best-selling books 101 Wire Earrings andWire Styleand the

forthcoming Wire Style 2. She lives in Pennsylvania.

Jane Dickersonwas the editor of Creative Jewelrymagazine and is the author

of Chain Style.

Paperback

8 x 9, 128 pages

ISBN 978-1-59668-283-2

$22.95

Available June 2011

add personal style at minimal cost

with custom-made findings

Handcrafted Wire Findings S11 BLAD Web

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