[Jewelry making - Article 00681] - Re: [Orchid] Retro-fitting earwire to thick earring

[Mlou Brubaker]

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>     Maybe you could tell me: do you do anything different with your
>     earwires, as opposed to a post? For posts I pretty much use the
>     voltage settings in the manual. For the other findings I've tried
>     moving up and down with voltage, just no luck: they fail to attach. 

    Well, my favorite trick on Sparkie welding is to simply use titanium
    posts. Wow, do they stick! They are not prone to the over-melting
    that sterling posts will do, with all that splashy mess that doesn't
    end up being a good weld anyway. I have had very good response from
    customers about these, after I tell them that they are both stronger
    and more hypoallergenic than sterling. 

    If you must use sterling posts or wires, look for a weld that just
    barely shows melting all the way around the pad, but without
    splashing further than that. Splashing means you were too high in
    voltage. You can try adding a bit of soapy water or some saliva to
    the surfaces to be welded and also where the piece contacts the
    lower holder (I forget what they call it...the fixture?). Make sure
    your jewelry piece is actually flat where you are trying to weld. The
    tiny nib on the finding MUST be the first thing that contacts the
    piece. If the edge of the finding's pad contacts the piece first, you
    will have a bad weld. 

    Be aware that when the light comes on for your particular setting, it
    does not turn anything off, it just tells you that now is the time to
    weld. If you hesitate, you go past that setting. This can make a
    difference. 

    I weld posts, long earwires, brooch eye and clasp findings, eyes,
    clip-ons, tacs, and small entire brooch backs. I rather dislike the
    brooch clasps, because they have an upright opening instead of a
    sideways one, and so they are harder for the customer to find and
    close. 

HTH,
M'lou Brubaker
Minnesota, USA
http://www.craftswomen.com/M'louBrubaker
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