[Jewelry making - Article 01763] - Re: [Orchid] Hardening 18k earwires

[Jay Whaley]

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Rai,

    The best way I know to harden ear wires is to draw down the wire in
    a drawplate to the desired diameter, and then do not anneal the wire.
    It will come out of the drawplate polished and very straight. Make
    your bends with the hardened wire, carefully around mandrils, and you
    are finished. 

    Ear posts can be hardened sucessfully after soldering by putting the
    very tip into a pin vise, and tightening by hand. Twist the pin vise,
    which will twist the ear post, and harden it in the process. Twist by
    feel, until it feels tight. If you over twist, you'll break off the
    post. 

Good luck.
Jay Whaley
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