Hello everyone and happy Spring.
I am now in the exciting time where my hobby has become more
serious, thanks to what I have learned in part by all who have shared
here as well as archived in the past. I have a special gratitude for
all the masters and hobbyists who have supported others as well as
entertained us.
Someone who owns an art gallery in Alaska where the cruise ships go
saw my work through Facebook thanks to my Uncle who works for the
state capital there. She asked me to send her a few pieces a month
and so far It’s been great for me. I am self taught, and only in my
4th year of what was just supposed to be a hobby. I feel I had to
explain this so that you’ll understand my question better or
understand my limited knowledge and still evolving skills. I have
only been making rings and pendants which are almost always of
sterling silver. I work full time and started a masters degree so I
only make jewelry as a small hobby. However, of the only 3 pieces I
make a month on average, and send to the gallery, I make them the
highest quality of components and finish I can. For the only 3
months I’ve been doing this, all of them have sold.
The gallery has recently told me that complete sets sell even better
so I should make matching earrings to go with my pendants and
necklaces. Now, I must point out I’ve never had a jewelry class and
have only learned from a few books and this forum. So finally my
question… In terms of sterling silver earrings, what is the
sturdiest possible posts I should use?
When I make any earrings in 14K I would think that 14K posts that
are at least .033 thick would stay pretty hard/strong after
soldering.
But I’m making more things in sterling right now. My designs are
usually of thick pieces so soldering a sterling post to one of my
earrings will require a lot of heat and will soften the posts. Who
here on the forum knows the sturdiest earring posts I can buy as
components to solder to the back of my designs? I imagine surgical
steel posts soldered to sterling silver would stay the stiffest after
soldering. Is this the best way to get very strong pre-made earring
posts?
If so, who sells the best surgical steel earring posts for soldering
to my own designs? Or, if there is a very heavy duty sterling silver
earring post component that holds up well if I use easy solder, then
that would be better for color match.
thank you for any help or advice,
Rick Powell