Print PDF
Favorite
Email
Being that this was my first ever soldering project, I found that these earrings were surprisingly easy to make.
I went to the plumbing section at Walmart. I picked up this soldering torch for $15. In the same isle they sell lead free silver solder. The solder I bought was $10 and also came with a container of flux, an application brush, and a piece of sand paper. So total damage: $25. These earrings will only use a small fraction of that but you’ll get to use it for all kinds of other projects.
Basically I understand it this way. Solder is a low melting alloy. Flux is a paste that helps solder stick to metal. A torch can heat metal hot enough to the point it will melt the solder. So fire makes heat, flux helps the bond, and solder is the bond.
So this is what I did.
I went to the plumbing section at Walmart. I picked up this soldering torch for $15. In the same isle they sell lead free silver solder. The solder I bought was $10 and also came with a container of flux, an application brush, and a piece of sand paper. So total damage: $25. These earrings will only use a small fraction of that but you’ll get to use it for all kinds of other projects.
Basically I understand it this way. Solder is a low melting alloy. Flux is a paste that helps solder stick to metal. A torch can heat metal hot enough to the point it will melt the solder. So fire makes heat, flux helps the bond, and solder is the bond.
So this is what I did.
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1Cut Off The Threads
Find a couple Phillips head screws. Use pliers to cut the threads off as close as you can to the head.
Place the screw head on a Phillips head screw driver. File away the remaining threads until the back side is flush. I used a grinding attachment in my drill press.
If the heads are shallow enough you should end up with a perforation in the back of the head.
Place the screw head on a Phillips head screw driver. File away the remaining threads until the back side is flush. I used a grinding attachment in my drill press.
If the heads are shallow enough you should end up with a perforation in the back of the head.
| « Previous Step | Download PDFView All Steps | Next Step » |
I also, since I had some wire, tried the woven pendant ible from the same author. That was fun.
both starting with wire, and turning steel.
trust me, you don't really want to try.
Trying to turn a diameter that small, without a precision watchmakers lathe, and plenty of practice...it'll drive you insane very quickly. then you have to add the "retaining notch" to top it all off! that's some seriously fiddly work.
just spend the $3 and get a proper silver post/back from the craft store.
So it would look like a screw was through the ear.
Most posts, like this, are around 20 gauge. that's .032 inch(.81 mm).
Drill size of 1/32, with a poor sharpening, should work well enough(.0312, plus the wobble from being sharpened wrong). Otherwise, a #66 drill(.033) should be used to make the post hole.
Now, drill a little deeper, and epoxy a teeny tiny rare-earth magnet into the bottom of the hole. if you can find one that small.
The other method would be to drill the toe of the screw shaft, and fit a 1/8th inch RE magnet to THAT side, and just let the magnetic properties of the steel do your holding work( like http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSCopr7hKJR4wtHNkR5miU88pr8OBuYmOGya8ips0vSF4JLg1zwuA but different :-).
One advantage to doing the magnet is, you can NOT use a post, and you have turned it into a "clip-on" earring, for people without piercings. Just make sure the magnet isn't TOO strong, or you could end up crushing the ear. Not a problem with the studded version, because the stud length and backing hole depth can be set to hold the flats apart.
I have done this on the watchmakers lathe i mentioned.
The only real problem doing it on a larger lathe is... you can't get enough speed for a smooth cut. At that size, the surface speed is too slow for normal work.
It COULD be done with a fine file. but as i said before, it'd be slightly insane to do it.
I do have a question now though.
What constitutes a "standard household lathe"?
In my experience, having ANY metal working lathe in a house is rather a rarity.
3-4 foot work length and about 6 inches maximum diameter? I honestly should have said 'metalshop lathe'.
To notch the pins (if they were made from silver) you use round nose pliers, place them 3/4 of the way up the pin, hold them tight whilst rotating the pin in your fingures this will cause a small grove to be created. I am not sure if this will work on stell pins but its worth a go.
It's possible to get small packages of sterling silver headpins at any craft store carrying jewelry findings. Earring backs are also available for very little money. I 'd buy earring backs in plastic, in a larger size, to act as a counterbalance to the weight of screw head. You should be able to buy both for less than $5.
Once again, thanks again for your brilliant inspiration. Once I make the earrings, I'll post a photo here.
Keep up the amazing work!
Mostly I like the challenge of discovering the process to making something. With this I just wanted to make a pair of earrings. So I went to my garage and figured it out with what I had.
This should really make the silver content of the solder show, without effecting the steel at all.
Make sure to use stainless steel screws though.
This will make it SLIGHTLY harder to solder well, but you then eliminate the problems of zinc exposure.
TO ensure your polishing and patina(the ammonia treatment) retain their looks, Spray lacquer or clear nail polish should preserve your new earrings for a long time.
Awesome homemade birthday gift for a DIY-er? I think so.
I partially agree on the backs made out of the threads but part of me thinks that it would be a little bit too much work for standard sized earrings.
I have a question though, wouldn't you need to notch the pins so that the backs have a place to lock to?
Great job, looks beautiful, I'll be breaking out the tools this weekend on this for sure!
Well done mate, not just the idea, the whole instructable is simple, clear and very well detailed.
Maybe you can do a little 'ible on how you got those macros as well ;-)
Cheers
Thanks for the comment.