[Jewelry making - Article 00211] - Re: [Orchid] Spiral brooch clasp

[Len and Judy Bjorkman]

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    Since both Ivy and Karen seem to be referring to McCreight's "Simple
    Pin" which I mentioned a couple of days ago, let me quote from
    McCreight's 1991 book (p. 133) and describe the drawings. 

    "Simple Pins" 

    "1. Solder a generous loop of wire onto the back of a piece."
    [drawing showing a piece of wire in the approx. shape of a large U,
    upside down, and at right angles to the back of the piece. Thus it is
    resting on its two ends, which is not a very stable arrangement, so I
    assume that a "third hand" clamp would help. I simply made a loose
    coil at each end, so that the wire U could stand by itself on the
    back of the pin. However, my jewelry tends to be larger and more
    casual. I like the look of these coils, which are then soldered down
    on the back of the pin, but you may not.] 

    "2. Snip the wire" [a little arrow in the drawing is labeled, "cut
    here." It is placed about 3/4 of the way around the U. Obviously, the
    long segment will be the pin stem, the short will be the catch.] 

    "3. Twist the wire to harden it." [I think this refers mainly to the
    pin stem segment.] 

    "4. Curl as shown with round nose pliers." [drawing shows the pin
    stem with one curl near its base, to form the spring for the pin stem
    -- I prefer two curls, but that's a personal thing. And it shows the
    upper half of the short, catch segment bent over at ca. 90 degrees,
    away from (not toward) the pin segment. The upper half of this catch
    is coiled a couple of times, a loose (not a tight) coil, and the coil
    is slightly stretched out, again, away from the pin stem. Presumably,
    this type of curled catch is meant to protect the wearer of the pin
    from the sharp point of the pin stem which will be inserted into it.
    McCreight remarks on the importance of this at another place on the
    page, in reference to another style of pin stem.] 

    Further advice of an obvious natuRe: be sure to make the U rather
    large, because it is easier to cut off excess wire than to "add" it
    (duh!). [I'm still adjusting the one I made....] 

Hope this helps,
Judy Bjorkman

 
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