Frit-Happens !

Jewellery => Metal and wire => Topic started by: Sal on October 30, 2010, 07:07:24 PM

Title: Stud earrings
Post by: Sal on October 30, 2010, 07:07:24 PM
I've had a few requests for stud earrings recently and I am trying to work out how to do it and was wondering if someone with more experience could point me in the right direction! I'm sorry if some of these questions seem rather stupid but I've never made studs before so it's all a bit unknown to me! :-\

They will be chainmaille (probably some sort of knot as I haven't had time to come up with anything more exciting yet!) and I don't know quite how to go about making it into a stud. Am I right in thinking I can buy ready-made posts or would it be as easy to just use a length of wire? If so, which gauge is best and do you know of a good place to get either posts and backs or just the butterfly (or whichever type of back is best for heavy-ish earrings) from? If I just use a piece of wire do I need to put in a groove like you often see on commercial earrings or is that not necessary? If I do, how do I go about doing it? I imagine I will be soldering the post on - do I need a disc of silver between the back of the earring and the ear or is it ok just to have the maille going straight up against the skin? Everything will be in sterling silver by the way.

Thanks  :)
Title: Re: Stud earrings
Post by: JKC on October 30, 2010, 07:37:56 PM
Palmermetals sell a variety of sterling studs if you prefer to buy them
Title: Re: Stud earrings
Post by: mizgeorge on October 30, 2010, 07:42:00 PM
http://www.palmermetals.co.uk/SterlingSilverFindings/SterlingSilverEarFittings/SterlingSilverPostFittings/default.aspx
Cooksons have them too, as do Rashbel, Eurofindings, Betts, etc etc

The thing to be careful of, though, is that after you solder anything onto a readymade post, you are effectively annealing the post at the same time, so will you'll need to reharden the pin (twisting is the most effective way) afterwards. Alternatively, you can use a two part epoxy to attach to the pad.

You can also use integrated posts - make your knot from wire and use the end in the middle to form the post. I always make grooves - you just pinch round with the tips of round nosed pliers. I do tend to buy in the butterflies though - they're not hard to make, but are fiddly and take longer than it's worth unless you want a completely handmade product.
Title: Re: Stud earrings
Post by: Sal on November 04, 2010, 07:34:06 PM
Argh! I could have sworn I replied to this thread - sorry  :-[ Thankyou all so much for the info and links - I'll have to get my thinking cap on now...