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Post by caeterle on Nov 2, 2023 8:55:19 GMT -6
I always use the dead soft.
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Post by DawninCal on Nov 2, 2023 12:16:47 GMT -6
Dead soft here as well; it will harden as you work with it and then you can finish it off in the tumbler. The other stuff is too springy and difficult to work with, although, I suppose you could anneal it, but that's just extra work. I once bought some half hard sterling wire by mistake and trying to bend it to my will was an exercise in frustration. Cat, I seem to be following you around on this thread. Dawn
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Post by caeterle on Nov 2, 2023 13:13:29 GMT -6
I've been wondering about that shadow behind me!
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Post by brad on Nov 3, 2023 7:15:42 GMT -6
dead soft it is, then. Thank you. Brad
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Post by Irith-Rita on Nov 5, 2023 15:07:54 GMT -6
I am quite sure you know how to make ear wires by now Brad . To harden just give them a gentle hammering treatment and hard they will be
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Post by brad on Nov 19, 2023 7:27:20 GMT -6
I just received my 20 ga silver wire to make the ear ring hooks. Presently, I will need to make several sets. Questions pile up since I have never worn them. Is there a maximum weight of the ear ring to keep under regarding one’s earlobe and the hole in it? Do you prefer to mount the hook directly on the piece or use a jump ring to link it? Do you prefer jump rings over split rings? If jump rings, do you always solder it closed? Thank you, brad
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Post by caeterle on Nov 19, 2023 8:05:41 GMT -6
1. Difficult question. I know many ladies who can only wear super lightweight earrings. Others don't mind wearing heavier earrings (I was always one of them, but hardly wear earrings anymore). It also depends on how long women wear their earrings. Is it just for a dinner out or is it for the whole day? There are even tricks out there how to make wearing heavy earrings more comfortable, like adding a thread that you pin into your hair with a bobby pin and then hide in your hair or adding a patch to it. Here's an article about Indian earrings which can be incredibly heavy zeezest.com/style-beauty/how-to-wear-heavy-earrings-without-pain-zee-zest-1243My ex's co-workers have told me about these tricks, I'm sure you can google those. 2. That really depends on what I hang on the hook. I have done both, in wirework or beadwork. 3. I prefer jump rings, but don't solder because it's not something I can do. I never heard a complaint from any of my customers. Soldering them is more secure of course, so since you don't have a problem with it, it's your choice. I don't like the look of split rings and having long hair, I have a personal aversion because hair can get caught in them.
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Post by Irith-Rita on Nov 19, 2023 11:40:17 GMT -6
I was told once that there are rules for the weight of earrings. Most earrings should not weigh more than 4.5 - 5 grams. When I make heavy earrings, about 5.5- 6.5 grams, I tag them as "Heavy Earrings" and add the information to my listings. Up to date, only one customer complained that the earrings she received should have been much larger. Of course she did not read the details of the listing sizes. I also found this: jewelrymakingjournal.com/weight-of-earrings-any-real-rules/Personally I prefer soldering the ear wires to the earrings, but I also solder jump rings in other designs so that the earrings get somewhat "bouncier".
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Post by DawninCal on Nov 19, 2023 13:16:14 GMT -6
You know, I never really thought about the weight of earrings. Over the years, I've made so many that I can usually tell by holding them in my palm if they are on the heavy side or not. To better answer your question in a more scientific manner, I weighed my heaviest pair of earrings and they came in at .6 ounces total for the pair, not each. I can wear these all day, but at the end of the day I start to notice their weight. They don't make my ear lobes sore, but I can tell they are there. With that in mind, I would try not to go over half an ounce for a pair of earrings. The frame is 18g wire, the wrapping is 20g and the bead is glass which tends to be heavy to begin with. They measure 2.5 inches in length, so a pretty big pair of earrings. As Cat said, some people have more sensitive ears than others, but I feel that it's up to them to determine what they can and can't wear comfortably. After awhile, a person should know what does and doesn't work for them especially if they wear earrings regularly. The majority of the time I prefer to use a jump ring to connect the ear wire to the earring. Ironically, I didn't do that with the pair pictured. The reason I use jump rings is because I've found that sometimes the earring will tangle up with the ear wire and causing the earring not to hang properly which can be annoying. Using a jump ring pretty much eliminates that problem. I also think the earrings have better movement when a jump ring is used. Always jump rings. Split rings just don't look right to me. I expect to see split rings on a key chain, not hand crafted jewelry. If you use 20gauge jump rings and close them properly, you won't have any problems with them holding the earrings securely. Please forgive me for this but I'm going to assume you are new to jump rings and share a tip with you about opening and closing them. People tend to want to pull the ring open and then push it closed. That will result in a misshapen jump ring that won't close properly. Always use two pairs of pliers and twist them from side to side and close the same way. When they have closed securely, you will hear or feel a little "click" when the ends have lined up. Until recently, I didn't solder, but there's really no need to solder jump rings closed especially for something light like a pair of earrings. Something I read on a jewelry forum many years ago has always stuck with me. For safety reasons, always leave at least one jump ring open especially for bracelets and necklaces. If a person has their jewelry get caught, their weight will pull the ring apart allowing them to escape. As an example, I once had a friend who climbed over a fence and her bracelet got caught on a nail. She was left hanging from the top of the fence by her bracelet. Luckily, she was with friends who lifted her by the legs and took the weight off, but she was still left with a nasty cut and bruises on her wrist and arm. Theoretically, an open ring would have pulled apart and released her from the bracelet. Oh, and one last thing. Before you start making ear wires out of your expensive new silver wire, practice on some scrap copper wire first so that you don't waste the silver on those first few tries that may not turn out quite right. Good luck and let us know how it goes! Dawn
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Post by DawninCal on Nov 19, 2023 13:23:15 GMT -6
You can see how the weight question varies. Using Irith's guide, my earrings weigh a little over 8 grams each, so pretty darn heavy earrings. I must have tough ear lobes! lol! Dawn
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Post by brad on Nov 20, 2023 8:44:11 GMT -6
Much good advice here. I will weigh my first ear rings without the wires to see what I am working with. I will also view the link on "weight of ear rings", soon. I am pretty good with jump wings and have a nice variety of them, though I am usually working fairly heavy jump rings, for pendents, and usually solder them closed with a fairly easy solder. But creates extra care to protect the piece while soldering the ring, and more cleanup. I use a fire clay packed behind the ring sometimes to protect the piece behind it. I assume most of the commercial ear rings that have a jump ring on them, are not soldered? Wouldn't a laser solderer be nice, eh. I believe I have a roll of thin copper wire near 20 ga. I will practice first. thank you, Brad
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Post by DawninCal on Nov 20, 2023 15:26:49 GMT -6
Good luck, Brad. To answer your question, I don't recall ever seeing earrings with soldered jump rings. They just aren't heavy enough nor do they take the abuse that a bracelet or a necklace does to need it. My own rule of thumb is nothing over 20g. I know a lot of people who use 22g jump rings, but I'm very big on making things so that they don't fall apart and I simply don't trust 22g to be strong enough. It would be fine if the earrings spent their lives on display, but when people wear earrings, there is always the chance of them getting caught in hair, a scarf, collar, etc. Dawn
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Post by Irith-Rita on Nov 21, 2023 11:13:23 GMT -6
Dawn you say that your own rule of thumb is nothing over 20g and you are right.
The recommended rule for jump rings is 18g (gauge) to 21g. 22g is too thin. When I solder the open part of jump rings on the back of the metal earrings, I tighten their ends together to close them, and then thread the ear wires through. In 20g Silver, when the open part is soldered, it will not open after being worn in earrings.
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Post by DawninCal on Nov 21, 2023 15:03:48 GMT -6
Irith, I wonder if even 21g would be a big flimsy. I usually use 18g for bracelets and necklaces. They get harder/rougher wear than earrings and 20g jump rings for those make me feel a bit nervous. Although, when I think of commercially made jewelry I've bought, there have only been one or two times that a jump ring actually came open, so it probably doesn't happen very often. Dawn
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Post by Irith-Rita on Nov 21, 2023 15:23:47 GMT -6
Dawn, after it is soldered as I described, it should not get open. Perhaps you refer to commercial earrings which are not made by metalsmiths? I have a few costume earrings which I bought through the years and I see that the open jump rings are made of harder metal which explains why they don't open.
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