Pierced Ear hooks for Earrings

[brad]

In another thread, it was recommended I make some ear rings.  So, since I primarily work with metals and big wire, I am posting here.

So, for earring hooks, I know nothing. Marilyn nor my daughters ever got their ears pierced.  

I assume silver, sterling or fine?   What features do I need to consider?  What hooks (proper term?) do you prefer and suggest.
I look forward to you input.  Brad

[caeterle]

You can use different metals. I would recommend sterling over fine silver because it's harder. You can also use copper or brass or whatever.
This article - just one of many - will help you with both metals and gauge sizes.


Some of us make our own ear wires (although I also use commercial ones because the leverbacks go well with my beaded earrings, I usually use my own for wire earrings which I don't make at the moment).
A while ago, Dawn posted a link for a tutorial here - How to make perfect ear wires every time

[DawninCal]

Thanks for posting the link to the tutorial, Cat. I've been making my own ear wires ever since discovering that article because they really do turn out perfect every time.

I started making my own ear wires when commercially made ones became more expensive than I thought reasonable and also because I was finding that quality control was lacking in the products I was receiving.

Sterling silver is a good wire to use because most people do not react to this metal. I'm one of the lucky one's who never has a reaction to metal, but many people have very sensitive ears and any sort of base metal will cause them to become inflamed. As Cat noted, it's also a sturdier wire than fine silver. Because I like my ear wires to match the earrings, and I use a lot of copper, I also make copper ear wires. Copper can turn some people's skin green, but I've never yet had a complaint about the copper ear wires causing any problems.

Another option is stainless steel. It's a very sturdy wire and rarely causes an allergic reaction. Plus, with it's silver tone, it's a less expensive alternative to silver.

I've seen many jewelry makers say that they use 22g wire, but for the life of me, I don't know how those wires hold their shape as 22 is quite soft and flimsy IMO. I use 20g, and after making the ear wires, harden it by tapping with a hammer.

While it's more convenient to buy commercially made ear wires, it only takes a few minutes to make them and I've come to prefer the look of hand made. You can get surprisingly creative with your ear wires too. If you look up handmade ear wires images on Google, you'll see what I mean.

You could also make post/stud earrings by simply soldering a small piece of wire to the backs of your earrings and securing with commercially made stud backs. They also make posts that can be attached to the backs with an epoxy glue and secured to the ears with stud backs.

For such a seemingly simple component, there are all sorts of choices/techniques that one can use.



Dawn

[caeterle]

It's the link to your thread, not the tutorial itself, Dawn, because I though Brad might like to read it and the tutorial link is in the first post.

[DawninCal]

Ah, got it. My brain leaped ahead of my fingers or I read too fast. Not sure which! Thanks again for providing the link; it's a good place for Brad to start.



Dawn

[caeterle]

I would also have gone to YouTube to find something, but I'm down to the 1 video threat now and feeling more stubborn than ever

[brad]

Thank you, you all are best. Brad
Enjoy your Halloween, be careful, be safe.

[brad]

Thank you for linking the ear wire tutorial. I have saved it and will use it.

The sharpie referred to for bending wire around, I assume a small sharpie-one close to a diameter of 3/8" or a centimeter?

Brad

[caeterle]

Use whatever you feel comfortable with, Brad. You are not stuck to a particular size or shape. I have used anything from wooden dowels from my bead looms to the handles of pliers. You can make small earwires or large ones if you want them to be part of the design. You can make them completely round or marquise shaped or oval, it's up to your fantasy and what you think will go well with the design.

[DawninCal]

What Cat said.

I usually use a BIC pen or one of the medium sizes on my looping pliers.



Anything small and round(ish) will do.



Dawn

[DawninCal]

Oh, and thank you much for the kind words from your earlier post. Hope you had a nice Halloween too.



Dawn

[brad]

With the 20ga sterling silver wire, which does work harden easily. How do the wires hold up in a tumbler, while polishing the piece as well?
Brad

[caeterle]

I've had mine in the tumbler before, no problem.

[DawninCal]

Same as Cat - the tumbler works great. I just usually don't have enough ear wires to justify getting the tumbler out. Some people make batches of ear wires to have at the ready, but I just make them when I need a pair.



Dawn

[brad]

I did a lot of scrolling looking at earrings and its wires on Etsy, to get a "feel" for them. I see on Rio Grande you can get the wire dead soft or half-hardened. I assume as fast as sterling work hardens with the bending you are about there after all that. So, how bendable is 20ga Half-hardened. I guess what I am getting at, do you prefer dead soft or half hardened sterling for ear wires of 20ga?
Brad