Tutorial on making my 2-strand hook-and-eye clasp

[Pearl Dreams]

From Wikipedia:

For making rings, generally 10 to 16 gauge wire is used (2.5 to 1.3 mm). Bracelet and necklace wire components are generally made out of wire that is 16, 18 or 20 gauge (1.3 to 0.8 mm). Earring components are frequently made out of 18 or 20 gauge wire (1.0 to 0.8 mm). (bolding added) When making wire wrapped jewelry, these components are connected to one another with wire that is generally 20 to 26 gauge (0.8 to 0.4 mm).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewelry_wire_gauge

 

[jerin]

Thanks Loretta,

"A small window will pop up that tells you the maximum number of pixels for different kinds of photo files. For example, my photos have .jpg as file extensions, so I see the photos I post can't exceed 620 x 400.

That means I have to resize my photos before posting them. (You will have to ask your husband how to resize photos using your software; I have a Mac so my method of resizing may not work for you.)"

That?s my problem, the resizing.... everything else I think would be quite OK....

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Inge,

Ask your husband to teach you how to resize! It's probably not hard--it's very easy with iPhoto.
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Now about this 3-petal clasp! I've made it in Argentium and with the flexibility of the metal was able to get it down to 1.5 inches total length. This required an absolute minimum of 3.5 inches of wire for each half of the clasp. (We all want to use as little precious metal as possible.)

I found that with the eye of the clasp, it was better to form the petals before making the eye loop; otherwise, the manipulation of the wire while making the petals ended up deforming the eye loop. Allow 2.25 inches to make the petals, and the rest for the eye loop.

I found with the hook half of the clasp, I could make the hook first and the petals next-- just allow room to wind the wire or the hook will get in the way!

I have a feeling gold filled will require more wire as it is stiffer. I'll go try that next.

Here is the Argentium clasp photo:

 

[Pearl Dreams]

The gold filled wire was tougher to make but I managed to keep it small and each part required 3.75 inches of wire (20 gauge) in order to manipulate it. I am inclined to try 22 gauge next time just because this was so stiff. I'd have to buy some wire to try that, though.

Here is the gold filled clasp photo:

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I've also added a critical step 5A on the previous page-- "Break the neck of the wire before wrapping it". That is, bend it outward so you can wrap at a 90 degree angle. This is necessary because the petals are so 3-dimensional, overlapping as they do, that otherwise the wire will not wrap nicely.

Here is the diagram I added on page 5 so you don't have to look back:

 

[claudenancy]

Thanks again! I have been working using cheap wire for practice-- I am getting better at it thanks to the great instructions. I discovered that I did not have any 20 gauge wire and need a smaller dowell (don't even have any chopsticks that are the correct size) but I am so excited that making my own clasps have become a real possibility. Great thread.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Oh good, I'm so glad you are making progress! As to a substitute for a thin dowel, looking around briefly just now I saw 3 things that are the right diameter:

-- A thin ball point pen. I have a Papermate stick pen that has a thin tail end.
--- Do you have an instant-read thermometer? Mine has a white plastic protective sheath that's the right size to wrap around
---Have you gotten any perfume samples lately? I have a little glass vial here that is the right size.

It's amazing what you can adapt!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

By the way everyone, have you noticed how much the hook resembles a French hook earring finding? If you've always wished you could make a French hook, now you know how.

 

[Sueki]

Oh, yes, so it does...... clever, clever you !
Very many thanks Pearl_dreams.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I use 22 gauge for ear wires, though.