Earring posts

Jewelry Discussion
21

Hello all you wonderful Orchidians, So many good techniques shared on
this little problem. Excellent point about using white gold posts -
I routinely use them on higher end sterling earrings and note that on
the earring card for those who are nickle sensitive. I also like the
little depression drilled where the post will go - I will use that
tip to help place the post. Great idea - and I think better than a
little dent from striking a nail! I’ll add my own method here which
has virtually eliminated “cold joints”. I put a drop of Batterns
flux on a watchglass. (I’m not sure that Battern’s is absolutely
necessary with use of Prip’s flux, but I do it anyway.) Holding the
post in soldering tweezers, dip the end of the post in the drop of
flux and touch that to the dent on the earring where the post will be
soldered, thereby transferring flux onto earring. Gently heat the
flux so that it dries and turns white on both post end and earring.
Apply Prip’s flux for fire scale prevention. Put pallion of solder
on soldering block, lightly heat post & solder until solder collects
on end of post - it will be a little blob. Heat earring evenly,
watching for Prip’s flux to go syrupy, immediately put soldered end
of post in postion on earring back and heat a bit more until solder
runs to earring. Pickle as usual. Once all the parts are set up, I
can solder posts on several pairs of earrings quickly. Hope this is
helpful. Judy in Kansas where the sun is shining, but the ground is
still frozen in the shade. Snow predicted again!

Judy M. Willingham, R.S.
Extension Associate
221 Call Hall Kansas State Univerisity
Manhattan KS 66506
(785) 532-1213
FAX (785) 532-5681

22

Andy: Would 14k qhite gold be as durable as the 14k yellow for
earring posts? And how about for pin stems? Thanks. Alana Clearlake

23

When setting stones in earrings, the mounting should be held by the
setting – not by the post. We produce a tool that will securely hold
virtualy any shape and size and put no stress on the back (post,
leverback, screwback etc.). It will even hold a bezel or plate.

The tool is called “Setter’s Hold-It” and is distributed by most tool
dealers in the U.S. and Canada.

Ray Grossman
Ray Grossman Inc.

24

Hi, consider sawing a tiny length of tubing , the inside diameter fits
the earring post snugly. solder these together with solder and then
the next step is to solder them immediately onto the earring back.
The solder on the base of the tube/post will be enough to solder onto
the back of the earring. You don’t have to clean anything up, simply
flux the backof the earring… Choose whatever solder is appropriate for
the backing. I tend to use hard solder whenever I can

Felicity Peters In sunny west Oz , where the temperature was 31
degrees today and the sea was magical for that early morning swim!

25

Alana, 14k nickel white is stiffer and stronger than 14ky, so it
would certainly be suitable for these applications. However, the
nickel in white gold may cause problems on the ears of people who are
sensitive to nickel. (Palladium white gold is probably not stiff
enough for posts.)

Also, 14k yellow gold is instantly recognizable to the consumeer and
so gives a visual cue of material, quality and value.

Andy