G’day All I am trying to find out how to make the groove for a
butterfly on a earing post,(other than using a side cutter and gently
twisting). I am looking for a more professional look like on the
stamped out posts that I can buy.I would want to use this procedure
for large quantities. Any thoughts on the subject would be much
appreciated Many Thanks Alan Goldberg
G'day All I am trying to find out how to make the groove for a butterfly on a earing post,(other than using a side cutter and gently twisting). I am looking for a more professional look like on the stamped out posts that I can buy.
Alan, I, too, use a side cutter and gently twist the post to get a
shallow cut. Then I take a pair of very small Lindstrom round nose
pliers and clamp the tips on the cut and twist the post. This gives a
nice round groove for the friction nut to catch on. Then I use a cup
bur along with polishing to finish the tip of the post.
Hope this answers your question.
Donna Shimazu
Alan, Don’t know if this will be effective for “large quantites,” but
I like to put the wire in a flex shaft handpiece (just like you would
a drill bit) and ‘turn it’ like a lathe. Hold a needle file with a 45
or 90 degree edge against it, close to the handpiece, as you spin the
wire.This will put a uniform groove in the wire. Make sure your wire
spins ‘true.’ If it wabbles, your groove will not have an even depth
around the wire. You can either pull the wire through a drawplate
prior to putting it in a handpiece or you can use smooth edge needle
nose pliers and gently grip the wire closest to the hand piece and
move the pliers away from the handpiece as you spin the wire in the
handpiece. This will also ‘true’ the piece. Cut to the desired
length. Best Regards,
Bob Staley
B.Staley, Goldsmiths
Precision Laser Welding
@B_Staley_Goldsmiths
Alan - An alternate method is to put the earring post in a rotary
hand piece. Take a pair of small round nose pliers and while the post
is spinning, clamp down on the post near the end. Don’t squeeze too
hard or you will twist the end off, just enough to leave a groove.
Before removing the post, take a cup burr and round off the end. One
final step, take a pair of flat nose pliers and apply light pressure
over the grooved area. This will flatten a slight thickening caused
by displaced metal from the round nose pliers. I use 18 or 19 gauge
round wire and buy earring backs with extra large holes.
If ordering from the USA is an option for you, Rio Grande sells a
great heavy gauge sterling post, pre grooved with a small 1.5mm pad
for hard soldering. They are very inexpensive. Steve.
Steven Brixner - Jewelry Designer - San Diego CA USA
mailto:@Steven_Brixner4
http://www.brixnerdesign.com
Alan Don’t discount your original idea to use nippers to make the
groove you need. Many years ago while attempting to cut wire, I
inadvertantly picked up some very hard dental wire, thinking it white
gold. In my attempt to cut the wire I put a very small ding on the
cutting edge. I immediately began to curse what I thought was cheap
cutters. Then I figured out the real problem. Now, besides being at
heart an impatient craftsperson, I am also a packrat. I can never
throw out a tool.
In subsequent years, I am happy to report, these ruined cutters have
become my post notching tool of choice. Not only does it allow me to
make a beautiful, burnished notch, I can do it without cutting too
deeply and without creating burrs. I can’t remember what size of
wire made the original ding in my pliers but I would guess that it
was only slightly smaller that the size of stock I use for posts
(.8mm).
I hope this helps
Larry Seiger
A fast and easy way of making the grove is with a pair of round nosed
pliers. After twist hardening posts, locate your spot for the groove
and gently squeeze and release the pliers while turning the earring.
This will make a nice smooth-edged groove that will hold but not catch
on a butterfly ear nut. I find that this hardens the post at the
groove location without weakening it as cutters can. HB
G'day All I am trying to find out how to make the groove for a butterfly on a earing post,(other than using a side cutter and gently twisting).
G’day; Buy an El Cheepo pair of side cutters. With a very fine
round file, file a tiny notch on the centre of one of the jaws, then a
similar notch in the other jaw exactly opposite. Place the wire (I
use 0.75 mm wire) in the notch in the plier jaws and squeeze whilst
rotating the wire (I use a pin vice for this) Rotate the end of the
wire in a buff with tripoli to round it off. N’ Bob’s yer Uncle. Or
in other words, there you go. Or she’ll be right, mate. Cheers, –
John Burgess; @John_Burgess2 of Mapua Nelson NZ
Sorry for the late input on this subject…went on a short vacation
and still catching up.
In the US, all hardware stores and even many drug stores carry
cheaply made tools as a ‘lost leader’ with a sign
proclaiming…everything in this bin for $1.00. Often included are
small wire strippers used by electricians to strip plastic insulation
from the wire ends before making connection to a switch. These tools
are like nippers or side cutters but have 5 or 6 different size holes
up the length of the cutting face to accommodate different sizes of
wire.
They come in very handy to make grooves around gold/silver wire of
several gauges for many decorative purposes including retaining
grooves on the end of earing posts. That way you don’t have to ruin an
expensive pair of cutters by filing out the holes.
Cheers from Don at The Charles Belle Studio in SO FL where simple
elegance IS fine jewelry.