Brooch mechanisms

Jewelry Discussion
1

I need to make a 2 stem brooch pin back. does it need a spring mechanism or is simply putting stem through tubing with catch enough?

2

The spring is nice but not required. Be sure to use a nice stiff metal for the pin part. Work hardened silver, nickel, or white gold.
Have fun and make lots of jewelry.
Jo Haemer
www.timothywgreen.com

3

thank you for responding. My skills are catching up to my designs…
Judy

4

Hi Jo,
About the pin backs, would you be very against stainless steel? I have
found my silver pin backs always bend too easy and they never look as good
when straightened.

Where I live, Mexico, I cannot find either white gold nor nickel but
sometimes can find stainless although that too is sometimes hard to find
thick enough.

Or maybe my silver wire is too thin and I have not work hardened it
properly.
How do you recommend the best way to work harden it??

Thank you.
Sharron

5

I have made and continue to make a lot of brooches. I use pretty much only 304 stainless steel. Hard drawn and straight. Usually 22-18 ga (20 ga/.8mm by far the most often). I use it because it is the strongest most durable and springy choice. Small Parts Inc.

Please excuse any typos-- curse my clumsy digits…

6

Hi Andy,

I looked at Small parts Inc. and they do not show wire anywhere on their
site.
Maybe another location is where you buy the stainless wire…???

Sharron

7

Yes, I was also told by another artist that small parts didn’t have stainless still wire anymore.
Judy

8

Try Component Supply Inc. Part #wgx-320. Spend a little time looking around.

Please excuse any typos-- curse my clumsy digits…

9

Sorry Andy, I guess they do not carry this type any more either.
Nothing in their catalogue with WGX anywhere.

Sharron

10

For industrial supplies my go to is McMaster-Carr. Not the cheapest, but they have a huge inventory. They carry hardened stainless steel wire in various thicknesses. You can get 304 stainless, matte or polished, cut into 1’ lengths in packs of 50 or 100 pieces.

11

http://www.componentsupplycompany.com/stainlesssteelwire.html
Part # GWX-0320

silversea

May

Sorry Andy, I guess they do not carry this type any more either. 

              Nothing in their catalogue with WGX anywhere.</p>

Sharron

12

Kinda surprised that you were stymied by a transposition of letters……

13

I use stainless steel. Not in studio now so don’t know gauge. Strong, stays hard, holds point, but mostly because it doesn’t tarnish and leave marks on clothing.

14

Sharron- Yes to the stainless wire. I buy it from auto parts stores as
Stainless safety wire.
Have fun and make lots of jewelry.

1 Like