Tutorial on making my 2-strand hook-and-eye clasp

[Pearl Dreams]

57. Finishing the wrap

58. Trimming excess with wire cutters

59. Strengthen (work-harden) loop by hammering with nylon mallet

 

[Pearl Dreams]

60. Don't forget to hammer the heart shaped loop too.

61. If you want to flatten the hook, hammer with chasing hammer (but this makes it more brittle)

62. The finished hook and eye clasp

 

[Pearl Dreams]

AND THAT'S IT!

Now don't flip out if you have never wire wrapped--it really is easy, all the photos are to help you figure out what to do with your hands and tools.

If you want a clasp for a single strand, just make a simple loop at the end and wrap it-- don't make the heart shape.

A round of applause for my daughter's photography

I will take any questions but I may have to answer them later this afternoon (we're going out.) It will help me if you mention the specific number of photo or post that you have a question about.

 

[dkan 168]

Thanks for the very detailed and informative tutorial!

I need to get myself a nylon head plier for straightening wires, and shall try and get one from either Rio Granda or Bella Findings House before they ship my orders placed late last night.

I am kind of cheating though, as I have planned to attached chain/cord ends to the clasps via split rings, instead of making hook and eye clasp from scratch

DK

 

[barbie biggs]

Dear Pearl Dreams:
Thanks ever so much for the great tutorial and a nice idea for finishing a two strand necklace or bracelet! What strength of wire did you use? Or did I miss that? I have gold wire at home(obviously would be practicing with base metal wire first) but definitely want to know how strong the wire needs to be.
Also, could this design be expanded to 3 strands?
Am guessing for 3 strands would have to wire wrap in between the loops. Just about 2 wraps I think, so it wouldn't make it too thick. And maybe after hammering the loops to toughen, then add the wraps? Or would 3 make it flimsy?
I love your ideas and great teaching style.
barbie
P.S. Okay, duh, practically the first thing you said was 20 gauge wire. Did you use gold or rolled gold? 14K?

 

[pattye]

Pearl_Dreams,

Thanks soooo much for the awesome tutorial and photos! I need one of those cute little anvils (middle of #62)!

 

[dkan 168]

Pearl_Dreams,

Thanks soooo much for the awesome tutorial and photos! I need one of those cute little anvils (middle of #62)!

Found it on here

Solid Stainless Steel Mini Jewelry Anvil Wire Work Tool


Not sure if I need one, as I only make little loops to attach beads to chains, however, I may just get one because it looks soooooo cute!

DK

 

[barbie biggs]

I have the little anvil and really appreciate the information about toughening the wire. Just stripping it isn't enough.
barbie

 

[waimeamomi]

When you want something done well, go to a perfectionist! This is an amazing tutorial. It is so clear and detailed. I love the idea of marking your spot with the pen, and I appreciate learning more about work hardening. Very, very nice work and patience involved here. Thank you for taking the time to do this!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I'm happy that you are finding it helpful!

I made a 3 strand hook but let me tell you, it is a pain to make. Centering it is hard. Practice a LOT before risking your precious metals. Edit: to balance the wider triple-loop, I used the larger dowel to make a larger hook; this required one extra inch of wire. Also, to make this, I made a second mark on the round nose pliers, halfway between the original mark and the tip, so that the 3 loops would be smaller and wouldn't take up so much space.

EDIT again: Please look at the 3 strand version in post 44-- that one is easy to make.


I've never really had a hard time finding 3-strand clasps in the beading shops; it's always been the 2 strand ones I couldn't find.

This clasp is rather large. If your beads a small and light you could presumably try using 22 gauge wire to make a smaller clasp.

For my pearls I used gold filled (which some call rolled gold); for my tutorial I used silver coated copper wire so I wouldn't waste valuable wire if I made a mistake halfway through and had to redo. (Going slowly to take photos at every step is actually harder than going fast, once you know how.)

 

[Pearl Dreams]

One more thing: I don't have a hard time making the initial tiny loop (at the start of forming the hook) but if you find this difficult, you can use the chasing hammer to flatten the very end of the wire before forming the first tiny loop. This makes it easier to grasp with the round nose pliers.

 

[Mervione]

Great tutorial!

Good advice about work hardening the wire. Most guides I?ve read about beading never tell you about this. I didn?t know about things like work hardening and annealing at all until I read about it in a silversmithing book and when my teacher told us about it on the course, but it?s an imortant thing to know even if you "only" do simple things like beading.

Sorry, acting like an expert again.

Btw, that anvil looks so cute. Shame they?re so expensive in Sweden and I can?t buy one from U.S because of the awful weight they have...

 

[Pearl Dreams]

It is surprisingly heavy!

 

[Mervione]

I bet it is! Steel is always heavier than you think.

A small 105 mm long anvil here costs approx 360 sek here. One USD is currently about 8 SEK. Maybe it?s just me but I think that?s awfully expensive?

 

[Pearl Dreams]

$45, ouch, yes.

 

[Sueki]

Cor, Pearl_dreams,
These are probably the clearest and most precise set of instructions and photo-diagrams that I've ever seen....!!
A huge bouquet and thank you from me.
Sigh, I'll probably be spending all week practising......
Thanks again for sharing your secrets.

 

[Mervione]

Mm. And the thing is, I think I`d prefer a bigger anvil so I have to pay even more.

There?s just so much more equipment you need if you want to do smithing than beading... It?s really expensive in the start to get everything you need even if you look around for the cheapest places.

I really think it?s worth it, though. I?ve seen so many beaders with a lot of creativity and so many goldsmiths that keep making the same things over and over again and it makes me wish that there were more people with a lot of creativity that would become goldsmiths, because it?d take their creativity to many new levels.

I`m still just a beginner, but I already feel like I`ve more freedom with my jewelry making, I can already do a lot more things now than before. Just a tip.

Sorry for hijacking your thread.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Thanks, Sue! We all learn from each other here. I"ve learned a lot for sure and it's fun to give back.

Mervione, I sympathize with the start up costs; my husband began metalsmithing as a hobby a few years ago and he has shelled out a lot of money for equipment! But we share our equipment (and knowledge) so it's not so bad.

 

[Caitlin]

Awesome! So professionally done--both the wire work and the tutorial! Wire wrapping is a great technique for many kinds of bead (pearl) work.

Chasing the ever-illusive Pearlitzer Prizes: If we had them, I would nominate you for a best photojournalism award for your work on this thread.

A thread like this is a precious addition to the meaty topics on this forum! Thanks!!!!

 

[claudenancy]

This is just terrific! One of the very best photo tutorials that I have seen. A few questions from a novice who has read just enough to be dangerous. I am sure the answers are obvious to those who are more experienced. Is the wire that you use round, half round or square and is it hard, half hard or soft? ALso how to you determine where to put the marks on the pliers and the dowel? (My aging eyes cannot judge from the pics--which are wonderfully done).

THanks so much for your amazing generosity in doing this!!

REgards, Beth