How to Make a Ball Head Pin

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By geltdesigns
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Head pins are important components of beaded jewelry. Making your own head pins will add value to your jewelry creations and save you money. In this tutorial you will learn how to use a simple kitchen torch to make your own fancy balled head pins.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

torch
sterling silver, fine silver or copper
pickle or jewelry cleaner

Step 1

Prepare a fire safe place to work. Assemble your tools. You can use almost any torch, including a small kitchen torch.
Step 2

Burn the end of the fine silver, sterling silver or copper wire until a ball forms.
Step 3

If you are burning either copper or sterling silver, the wire will oxidize when burned. Quench the wire in water to cool and then dip the wire in pickle or jewelry cleaner to remove the oxidation.
Step 4

Note that fine silver is pure silver and does not oxidize when burned. Omit step four if you are using fine silver.
Step 5

Straighten the head pin with nylon pliers, as needed. Your head pin is now ready to be used in your beaded jewelry creations.

Tips & Warnings

You can hasten the process by placing a charcoal brick behind the flame to reflect the heat and burn faster.
Work harden the head pin by either gentle hammering it with a raw hide or plastic mallet or by placing the head pin in a rotary jewelry or rock tumbler (such as the Lortone).
Be sure to take fire safety precautions when working with a torch.

Resources

Comments

geltdesigns said

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on 3/17/2009 In all likelihood your torch is not hot enough. Either use a hotter torch, or if that is not possible increase the heat by placing a charcoal brick behind wire as you heat. The charcoal will radiate heat and make it hotter until the copper balls up.