These earrings are very easy, quick, and inexpensive to make!

Step 1: What You Need

1. Rotary tool

2. Heavy duty cut-off wheels

3. Screws

4. Earring posts

5. E6000 glue or J-B Weld

7. Safety glasses (not pictured)

A note about supplies:

I made a pair of Phillips head and a pair of Flathead screw earrings. The Phillips head screws were stainless steel and the Flathead screws were zinc. The zinc screws seemed to be easier to cut through with the rotary tool. But they got too hot very quickly. The stainless steel screws were harder to cut through and did not get very hot while cutting them.

The longer the screw, the easier it is to cut off! I recommend choosing screws that are at least 1 1/4 inches long. This is because you will need plenty of room to hold the screw base while cutting through it with the rotary tool.

Please wear safety glasses while cutting the screws!!! Tiny metal shards will fly about during the cutting process. Wearing safety glasses will help to ensure that those shards do not end up in your eyes!

As pictured in the second image, I had trouble with the cut-off wheels breaking. I used about 7 wheels for the 2 stainless steel screws and 2 wheels for the 2 zinc screws. But I do not know if this is normal.

Step 2: Cutting the Screw

Attach the cut-off wheel to the rotary tool. Place the wheel directly underneath the head of the screw and begin cutting through the screw base. Turn the screw periodically to evenly cut through all sides of the base. Don't forget to take frequent breaks from cutting to allow the screw to cool down!

Step 3: Removing the Screw Head

Once most of the post has been cut through, the head of the screw will be easy to remove. Bend the head back and forth until it snaps off of the screw base. If there is a sharp point left on the back of the head, use the cut-off wheel to remove the point.

Step 4: Finishing the Earrings!

Read the instructions for the glue or epoxy that is being used. Follow those instructions to permanently attach an earring post to the back of each screw head. Allow the glue to dry completely before wearing.