Junp Rings

[michellemu]

I am new to this site and was wondering if someone could help me.  When I open a jump ring, I do it by  taking one side and pull it towards me and the other one away but when I go to close it the  two sides don't come together and close and the finding I put on the jump ring comes off. It never closes right. I hope I explained it right Thanks for the help.

Michelle

[Polly]

Hi Michelle,

That sounds like the right method overall. Here are some pointers that should help finish aligning the ends.

1. Use 2 pairs of pliers: One pair of round-nose pliers and one pair of flat-nose pliers. (This is more important with heavy jump rings, but is useful any time.)
2. Don't be afraid to move the ends back and forth a few times until they align perfectly.  This actually work-hardens the metal, so if you do it a little bit, it makes your jump ring stronger. Just don't over-do it or you'll fatigue the metal, making it brittle.
3. Try oval jump rings. Their gap is on the side, so they are less likely to have their gap align with the other thin item that they can pull off of.

Jump ring hint illustration.

[Dawno]

I have a jump ring device (shown here at Rings & Things:  http://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=1979&idproduct=17753 ) which is very helpful for all but the smallest jump rings which I have to use pliers for.

[Polly]

Thanks Dawno, I had forgotten    about that handy (and inexpensive) jump ring gadget.

[Luann Udell]

Just one more tip, I bought oval jump rings years ago from a good supplier (not R&T!)  and had a lot of trouble closing them.  On closer examination, the cut was not straight through the ring (perpendicular to the wire surface)--it was angled!  Wish I could draw that on here....    

Anyway, that made it really difficult to line up the two ends evenly after opening, because even the tiniest twist created enough of a tiny deformity in the shape that they never met evenly again.  More surface area to line up, mathematically speaking....  No matter how I tried, I always ended up with an overlap that snagged or scratched.

I complained, but it turned out their standard jump rings were all angled cuts.  They contended that was industry-standard.  Never saw it anywhere else, though.  I still order stuff from them, but not jump rings!!

I just realized I have probably encountered every finding oddity you could ever possibly conceive of....  Just lucky, I guess.   

[bevcarlson@comcast.net]

I've found that using the slightest pressure to push the ring together helps make a tight closure.
If, however, you are adding the ring to stringing wire (Softflex for example) you can never get it tight enough you have to use a soldered ring. Learned that the hard way. Is there any other way?

[Luann Udell]

Yes.  You can:
1) use oval jump rings.  It helps--a little.

2) use french wire or french bullion (that stuff that's like ultra-fine sterling spring, like this http://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=2091)when you pass the stringing cord through the jump ring.  It will be thicker than the break in the jump ring.

It still might catch, so I just make sure I use a soldered ring right off the bat.

[TheCreativeJeweler]

Hi Michelle,

I've posted a video at http://www.youtube.com/thecreativejeweler called "How To Make Jewelry: Easy Bali Bead and Silver Chain Bracelet". I've included a technique that I use to open and close jump rings. I hope you find this helpful.

Thanks!
Karen

[Luann Udell]

One last thought on using jump rings...

I used to fret a lot about making my jewelry "indestructible".  But unless you're working with heavy chains and completely soldered joins, even really expensive "commercial" jewelry is not necessarily "indestructible".  Nor should it be.

For safety's sake, sometimes you WANT a jump ring to pull apart. 

If someone gets their necklace caught on something (jumping dogs seem to be common in my neck of the woods, no pun intended), then I'd rather the necklace broke than a person get pulled over and maybe fall.  It takes a good pull to open a appropriately-selected, quality jump ring that's been attached correctly. 

A jump ring that gets pulled apart is relatively easy to fix.  A physical injury to a person may not be.

Yes, I want my jewelry to hold up under normal wear and tear.  Choosing the right gauge ring, the right size, and opening/closing it properly is important.  But if a person gets jewelry caught in machinery, or child grabs an earring, I'd rather the jewelry break than an ear lobe gets damaged.  (ow!!)