French barrette backs

Jewelry Discussion
1

A question: what’s the best way to attach those French barrette
backs to the barrette? I tried hot glue, but after awhile (of sitting
on the sales rack!), the back came off. I suspect that hard-soldering
will melt the back, and it’s hard to get good contact between the
barrette and the back, in order to do soft-soldering.

Any advice?
Judy Bjorkman

2

Hi Judy

I am not sure if these are the same as the barrettes that I have
used but can you not rivet them?

Karen Bahr
Karen’s Artworx
@Karen_Bahr
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

3 
A question: what's the best way to attach those French barrette
backs to the barrette?

I have my students rivet them on. Solder heavy wire to the piece,
located according to the holes in the barette back, put on the back,
bend the wires over. If there are small enough holes, or a place to
drill them, you can hammer the rivets down in the usual way, which
is better-looking.

Noel

4

what’s the best way to attach those French barrette backs to the
barrette?

Judy, I did some once and I used the mini nuts and bolts, drilled
holes in the barrette backing. If I want a fancy look, I solder a
3mm bezel cup to the head of the bolt for a cab. I have a large
collection of 3mm cabs for just this purpose. You can get black,
gold plate, chromed and several different head styles for
interesting looks.

Donna in VA

5

I use E6000 (I believe that is what it is called) and I have never
had a problem. It holds very well, and much better than hot glue.

Cluny

6

E6000 is supposedly amazing. If that glue does not work, I dont know
what will.

May I ask what you are all using the french barette backs for? I had
wanted to attach my wire work to hair pieces, but I was worried about
the silver wire possibly scratching client’s scalps or tearing their
hair, so I was leary of doing this. Would this problem be eliminated
if I wrapped silk around the part of the hair piece that will come in
contact with the clients hair and glue the wire work to the silk
which in turn would be glued to the hair piece?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

7

I would rivet them on.

M’lou Brubaker
Minnesota, USA

8

I can’t answer your question about the silk wrapping, but I have
been experimenting with using E6000 for assembly where soldering is
not practical or would destroy elements of the piece, and I find that
it either works wonderfully or it doesn’t. If you can mate two
relatively flat surfaces with the glue, after a day or so you can’t
get them apart with a chisel without some serious hammering. Normal
wear and tear should not faze it, at least at first. I don’t know
about the permanency of the bond yet. On the other hand, if you have
only a few points of contact, the glue won’t hold (no big surprise
there). I’m skeptical about using it to attach wire to something
wrapped in silk, but what the heck… try it and let us know if it
worked.

9

HI Judy,

I have a sterling piece attached to a steel barrette. The sterling
piece has some wires soldered on the back and the wires are wrapped
around the barrette. The barette has performed well, although since
I chopped my hair, I haven’t used it.

Judy in Kansas, who did a new show on Saturday - nothing to brag
about… darnit.

10

Annabel,

May I ask what you are all using the french barette backs for?

I make sheet metal (usually brass) barrettes and use the French backs
for that. So the concepts of rivetting and/or soldering wire on the
back, to hold the backs in place, especially appeal to me. Thanks to
all of you who suggested ideas!

Judy Bjorkman

11 
A question: what's the best way to attach those French barrette
backs to the barrette?

If they’re anything like the French barrettes I have, there are two
small holes on the plate. Solder short wires to the piece you’ve
made and rivet them. If the rivets are done correctly, there is no
problem with catching hair or damage to the scalp.