|
|
Rough Around The Edges Hoop Earrings Tutorial
A drawplate is excellent for hardening soft wire without making it brittle, so custom ear wires and handmade hoops are springy and keep their shape. Created by: Rita Hutchinson
Designer Tips - Cut a length of wire longer than the finished product.
- Attach the drawplate to the vise.
- Use a file to taper wire end and pull through the drawplate with heavy duty pliers.
- Repeat using a smaller hole in the drawplate.
- Trim the end of the wire.
- Wrap the wire around a pipe to form hoop shape. Cut two equal segments that each overlap the beginning of the wrap.
- Gently hammer with a nylon hammer on a steel block to work harden.
- Gently hammer with a ball pein hammer to further harden and texture the wire.
- Flatten one end of each hoop shape to rough teardrop.
Continued Below...
- Create a hole using an awl through the flattened end of wire into a piece of card stock.
- String the beads onto each hoop.
- Bend the non-flattened end of wire sharply up 90 degrees, and smooth end with a cup bur.
- Refine the hole with a bead reamer to make it just barely larger than wire end.
- Polish.
Suggested Supplies- 1 strand [use 28] #26-830-0 Bead, Brass, Faceted Cube, 2.5mm
- 1 ozt [use 11"] #64-820-18 Wire, Argentium® Round, Dead Soft, 18ga
Tools - #63-537 Polishing Cloth, Brilliant
- #65-801 Tool, Awl, Metal
- #85-395 Tool, Bead Reamer Set
- #69-128 Tool, Cup Bur, Wood Handle
- #69-366 Tool, Economy Needle Files, 6pc
- #69-135 Tool, Hammer, Ball Pein, 4oz
- #69-340 Tool, Hammer, Nylon
- #69-195 Tool, Metal Drawplate
- #69-125 Tool, Steel 4" Square Block
- #69-404 Tool, Swivel Vise, 3"
- #69-275-03 Tool, Wubbers™, Chain-Nose Pliers
Additional Supplies - Card stock
- Fine grit sandpaper
- Heavy duty pliers
- Length of pipe (Approx. 1.5" diameter)
|
|
|
