You are a artist, so creative you wear only earrings you've designed yourself, dangled from earwires you've crafted as well. No? Then you're missing an opportunity to take your handcrafted jewelry creations one step further.
Learn basic earwire making techniques, then design your own from short and swirly to longish and wild,Wholesale Earring; and turn simple beaded earrings into something special.
Tools
No jigs necessary. Make earwires with tools you already have.
-Round-nosed pliers
-Wire Cutters
-Sand Paper - 600 and 1000 grit from a hardware store (Or thick emery files in rough to smooth grits from beauty supply stores)
-Metal File
-Wooden dowel rod approx. 3/8 inch in diameter (Or an ink pen or other rounded form)
-Hammer and metal block (Optional)
Materials
20 gauge, half-hard wire in sterling silver, gold filled or copper.
Copper wire packages don't usually list hardness, but 20 gauge is generally hard enough.
If you have tiny holes in your lobes, use 21 gauge wire; 22 isn't sturdy enough.
Forming Simple Earwires
(See Figure 2)
-Cut 1 & 3/4 inch wire per earwire.
-Use a file to flatten wire ends.
-Smooth the tips that will go in your ear. (Use 600 grit sandpaper, then 1000)
-Hold pieces together and curve them over a dowel rod.
-Allow smoothest end, the tip that goes into your ear, to extend a bit longer.
-Use round-nosed pliers to form a loop at the opposite end.
-(Optional) Use hammer to flatten the curve just above the loop for a more professional look.
Finishing
Sand rough patches and tool marks for a smoother look and more comfortable fit.
Lay an earwire flat on a piece of 1000 grit sandpaper. Press down with fingers and rub over sandpaper a few times. Flip earwire over and repeat.
-For a hint of shine, rub again with lighter pressure.
Finishing options
-If you have a tumbler with steel shot, use it to finish, smooth and shine multiple pairs at once.
-Try a buffer or rotary tool to smooth and shine; but hold on tight or they'll fly away.
Source:
Techniques I developed for my Jewelry Classes
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