HEADPINS - By: Emiley David

A headpin is long and short wire which has a cap at one end. These pins are the major component in jewelry making. Jewelry maker use the headpin to stop pearls or beads falling from the end. These pins come in various sizes and made up of metals like sterling silver, gold, brass or metal. Head pins also come in decorative stopper at the end which could be heart shaped, oval or diamond shaped. These knob endings can also sometimes be embossed with decorations even with dangles. Pins are used to make a variety of jewelry pieces like earrings, necklaces or bracelets. They usually comes in various lengths. One should need three parameters to identify headpins; the shape, the material and the size.

• Shape – flat, round, disk flower or dipped.

• Material of the head pins - plastic, nylon, glass.

• Size – the head pin size commonly depends mainly on the wire diameter using the relation; head diameter = 2.5 wire diameter. For specific techniques, we might use pin with a small head 1-1.2 mm.

We can make headpins in the following manner

• Firstly, choose a non- inflammable workplace and always wear the gloves and goggles for safety

• Select the hard sterling silver and gold filled in 24, 22 or 20 gage work, it work best for making headpins.

• Now burn the silver or copper wire or sterling silver wire at the end until a ball forms (we can hasten the process by placing a charcoal brick behind the flame to reflect the heat and burn faster.)

• We can notice that the fine silver is the pure silver and does not oxidized when burn. (Omit this step if you are using fine silver).
• Straighten its head with nylon pliers.

• Smooth any bends present in wire and shine the headpin with a jewelry polishing cloth.

• Now headpin is ready to use.

Now we make jewelry with the help of head pins in the following steps:-

• Always select the pin long enough to allow for the stack of the beads and little longer for the loop.

• Thread some beads on the pin. Some beads need the holes to fit to the pin.

• Use the wire cutter to cut off the excess head pin and leave the material about half inch left the pin.

• Use the tip of the round nose pliers and bend the top head pin material about 90 degrees.

• Use the thicker part of the round nose to grasp the end pin near the top bead and roll the head pin into a loop. We have to finish the loop using the fine tip of the pliers.

• Now we will attach the formed loop to the earring loop or jump ring.

• Repeat all these steps to make another earring.

About the Author

Emiley David acts as a consultant for Folch and for more information see, needles and pins, safety pin jewelry, map pins

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Emiley-David/78768

Additional Articles From - Home | Fashion | Fashion accessories