What type of glue do you recommend to glue a pearl to a post?
Thanks
I use Devcon 2-part quick setting expoy. Some of my jeweler friends
use super glue. I find if I rough up the peg, it helps to keep the
pearl more secure, regardless of what glue you use. If the pearl
hole is a tight fit on the peg, then super glue will work. If you
have a larger holein your pearl, deform the peg a bit, rough it up to
give it some tooth, and use expoy to glue pearl to peg. They have all
worked for me. Joy (who is going to have to glue on pearls to 6
pairs of earrings pretty soon)
Hello Rick,
I always use two-part epoxy to hold pearls - the 24 hour cure type.
If that fails, then I go with a tiny wedge placed in a slit in the
end of the post. As the pearl is pushed down the post, the wedge is
forced down the slit. That spreads the sides and secures the pearl.
In both techniques, a tight fitting post is important. Little ridges
on the side of the post are necessary with epoxy.
Judy in Kansas, where the temps have been perfect to work in the
garden.
Now is also the time to clean out nest boxes.
2 Likes
What type of glue do you recommend to glue a pearl to a post?
I use a crystal clear araldite, you don’t see it but it’s safer in
case of a spill.
I apply the araldite to the square, twisted posts, with a satay
stick
Regards Charles A.
G-S Hypo Glue 1/3oz
Teri
I would not use the quick set epoxy. I have found that with time the
quick set epoxy degrades much faster than the longer setting 24 hour
epoxy that Judy W recommends.
Also Judy’s technique of the wedge in the top of the post is a
really great old timers trick and a good one to have in your bag of
skills.
Have fun and make lots of jewelry.
Jo Haemer
timothywgreen.com
The other thing you can do with the post easier than the wedge is
pinch the post with a standard pliers so the pearl has to be pushed
onto the post as a mechanical lock and some epoxy or superglue
Hi,
I’m not able to understand the wedge concept. Can you please share a picture or drawing. It would be very helpful.
1 Like
Hi,
I’m not able to understand the wedge concept. Can you please share an image or sketch of the same
Regarding the “wedge” concept for securing a half-drilled pearl on a peg, the description comes from:
Metalwork and Enamelling, Fifth Edition by Herbert Maryon; pages 84-85. A small image is provided - Figs. 100 & 101 on page 84
Here is a photo of the referenced figures.
Be warned that this method secures so completely that removal is virtually impossible without destroying the pearl.
I’m just sayin’.
Judy in Kansas where spring daffodils are in bloom with tulips budding!!
6 Likes
What Judy said. This was routinely done before we have modern adhesive technology. And yes you do have to destroy the pearl to get it off.
I still prefer 24 hour epoxy to super glue or 5 minute epoxy. I also scuff up the peg to give it a rough surface. I’ve included a good tip for securely holding a pearl on an earring. Drill a hole in a wooden clothes pin.
6 Likes
We recommend a two-step epoxy. We never use a cyanoacrylate glue superglue on metal.
The longer the cure (24 hours, as Jo advised), the stronger the bond.
3 Likes
How do you make this wedge, and how do you attach? What about twisting the post?
Put a piece of wire in a pin vise. File the tip to a wedge. Then snip or saw the wedged tip off.
Use the same technique to cut the slot into the receiving peg.
Jo
1 Like