[Jewelry making - Article 00675] - [Orchid] Fabrication of a box clasp

[Wldlzrd]

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    Hello All, I am having 3 problems fabricating a box clasp for a
    bracelet that I have dreamed up, and would appreciate any help you
    all have to offer. 

    Problem #1: I am not sure if I am going about the construction in
    the right order/ manner 

    Problem #2: I am unable to maintain "springy-ness" (hardened) to the
    tongue, as it is soldered (and annealed) 3 times during
    construction. 

    Construction: 

    - solder top of clasp to sides of clasp 

    - solder tongue to bottom of clasp (#1) 

    - bend tongue to achieve proper alighment with other half of clasp
    ("click") 

    - solder oval prong head to top of tongue, again achieving proper
    alignment, with the top pattern of the clasp. (#2) 

    - solder top half of clasp to bottom of clasp. (#3) 

    - (please feel free to correct me at any time!!!) 

    I am currently working in sterling silver, but I want to finally
    construct in a way that this can ultimately be rubber-molded, and
    perhaps cast in 18k. 

    The clasp:  A north/ south rectangle, two mirror-image halves. 
    (height=24 mm, width= 20 mm total, 10 mm each halve) (The large clasp
    size was determined by the need to accommodate 6 strands of small
    pearls) 

    The bead and bright, and pierced patterns on top of the clasp are
    coordinated with the front oval piece for the bracelet. (the tongue
    must remain "hidden from view" when the clasp is viewed from above) 

    The tongue  (6 mm wide) sticks out of one half, and goes "click"
    into the other half. 

    The tongue will have a prong head for a 4x6 oval soldered (?) on
    top, which will stick up and be integrated into the top pattern on
    the clasp. It will "straddle" the gap between the 2 halves of the
    clasp. 

    This prong head will be the "button" that will be pushed down to
    disengage the clasp. 

    I find it difficult to hammer and "work- harden" the tongue after it
    has been bent, but I feel I need to bend to get alignment. (Am I
    constructing in the right order?) 

    I read somewhere (but now cannot remember where) that one can also
    "heat- harden" metal.  

    I would like to know how to do this as well, for future reference,
    as I do not currently own any kind of kiln. 


    Problem #3: I don't know if i can mold the tongue half of the clasp
    with the tongue bent, or if it needs to be straight (for wax
    removal).....but I feel that I have to bend the tongue eventually,
    in order to check/ get a precise "fit" or alignment of the oval,
    with the center of the pattern on the top of the clasp.  The oval
    "straddles" the gap between the two halves of the clasp. 

    (Would you believe me if I told you I have been using the "trial and
    error method" on this project since June?) 

    (In a moment of frustration, I did look for ready- made clasps, but
    could not find one that was the right size for the number of strands
    that I was using, or one that would coordinate well with the front
    oval piece.) 

Thank You in advance!
Julie Balonick


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