How to Make Jewelry Clasps & Findings

Making your own hand-crafted jewelry can be extremely enjoyable and satisfying. Some people like to take their jewelry creations one step further and create their own clasps and findings out of wire. You can make different clasps for closing necklaces and bracelets, as well as findings for making earrings.
With a little guidance and practice, you can learn how to make beautiful jewelry clasps and findings out of a variety of wire.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Flat nose pliers Round nose pliers Wire clippers Jewelry File Wire (20 gauge) Jump Ring

Make a Hook Clasp

1. Cut a 5-inch length of wire with the wire clippers.

2. Bend the wire in half using the flat-nose pliers.

3. Use the flat nose pliers to squeeze the two halves of the wire together so that they are right next to each other coming down from the bend in the center.

4. Use the round nose pliers to bend the very tip of the bent end of the wire.

5. Use the round nose pliers to continue bending the tip into a hook shape. Place the wires at the back portion of the pliers so that your hook is rounder and larger than it would be if you used the very tip of the pliers.

6. Measure 1inch down from the hook you created in Step 5 and clip the wire at this point.

7. Use the round nose pliers to create a loop on the end of the wires for connecting the hook closure to a necklace or bracelet link.

8. Attach this hook into a jump ring on the other end of a necklace or bracelet to form a closure.

Make an Earring Finding

9. Cut a 3-inch length of wire with the wire clippers.

10. Use the round nose pliers to make a simple loop on the end of the wire.

11. 

    Shape the rest of the wire gently into an earring finding shape. This shape can be the standard shape or you can vary it to your taste. See image for a suggested shape.

12. Clip any excess wire and file the end of the finding to make sure it is smooth.

13. Repeat Step 1 through Step 4 to make a second finding. Be careful to make the second finding the same size as the first.