After Annealing a Post - Beginner's Way

Hi:

I’m late to this discussion - and had not heard of twisting
before, since I’m still a beginner - but after attaching a post,
what I’ve been doing to work harden it, is positioning the earring
up against a steel block so that just the post is resting flat
against the block.

I then gently tap the post with a very light hammer, such as a
rivot hammer, and slowing turn the earring w/post while gently
tapping a few times around and along the length of the post. I
follow the same “work hardening” procedure for longer ear wires -
after tapping, I bend them into position.

Mona

 I 'm late to this discussion - and had not heard of twisting
before, since I'm still a beginner - but after attaching a post,
what I've been doing to work harden it, is positioning the
earring up against a steel block so that just the post is resting
flat against the block. I then gently tap the post with a very
light hammer, such as a rivot hammer, and slowing turn the
earring w/post while gently tapping a few times around and along
the length of the post. I follow the same "work hardening"
procedure for longer ear wires - after tapping, I bend them into
position. 

Doesn’t the rivot hammer leave gashes that make the earring
uncomfortable to wear? I could see pounding gently with a
silversmiths’ hammer . … (large flat area, instead of the narrow
rivot type.

Good idea, though . . .

Mona - I also place the ear post or wire against the steel block.
But instead of hammering (even lightly) try using a burnisher and
running it, with pressure, along the post, turning the post. You
can test for rigidity with your fingers. I think that the hammer
method might leave marks in the metal. Good luck - Gini in Fla.

You know, I said before that I never work-hardened my ear posts,
but it somehow slipped my mind that I tumble-polish all of my
earrings with steel shot. No wonder I don’t work-harden them.
Oops…sorry. Lisa,(foot planted firmly in mouth) in Topanga,CA

Am I the only one who has given up on sterling ear posts? Unless
someone specifically asks me to use sterling, I use stainless.
Whether I use 20 gage wire and make them or buy them, they 
bent in use or broke off. Gr-r-r-r!

Marilyn Smith, facing the fact that mid western America,
a.k.a. Indiana, is not continuing to have summer in March/April

As long as you let the earring air cool and don’t quench it
while it’s still hot it will retain most of it strength! It also
helps to keep the heat on the peice rather than the post.
@GoldSmithy