[Jewelry making - Article 00170] - Re: [Orchid] How to make a box catch query

[Marcos Mondragon]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========


    Genevieve I use to make my own box catches depending of the size of
    the chain in which it's going to be soldered or attached with jump
    rings. First I use two L-shaped flat wires and I solder both shapes
    like making the frame for the box after this I file-flat one of the
    open sides of the frame and then I sweat-solder this side  to a small
    piece of flat stock over a piece of wire mesh  then I cut off the
    excess of the already soldered flat stock surrounding the box and
    file the sides of the box and then I make a small hole in one of the
    extremes in case you want your catch to be opened with a needle
    otherwise if you want it to be opened with a button pierce the hole
    all the way out of the extreme and file or saw the open side of the
    box in that extreme half way in to make the opening(slot) for the
    male clasp. (the one that you still have not made)    Then take
    another piece of flat stock (metal sheet) and stamp it with the
    quality mark. sterling,14k,etc.and then file the two pieces to make a
    good connection and sweat-solder the box to the sheet over the wire
    mesh,try to apply the heat under the piece watching  the solder to
    run around the box uniformly then cut off the excess metal sheet
    surrounding the box with scissors and file.leave a small lip of sheet
     in the inferior part of the opening for the clasp to rest otherwise
    your box will have to much play. 

    Next is the making of the clasp. Take a rectangular piece of flat
    stock or metal sheet about the same width of the box and two times
    longer than the box then bend one eight of the sheet in one of the
    extremes like in an L-shape and then anneal and fold the other long
    extreme in half towards the one you previously bent and use a hammer
    to flat it. anneal  and then file the sides to accommodate the clasp
    inside the box. as I said before you can make your box catch to be
    opened with a needle or you can solder a small button to the
    clasp,this might depend on your skills to solder small pieces after
    this you will find many variations making box catches even with
    additional safety lock. 

    Is easier for me to make it than trying to    explain it with no
    graphics    Hope this helps Marco 


____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________