How to Make a Pin Back
Although many jewelers purchase commercial findings, hand made pin backs add value to art jewelry. This tutorial will explain how to make your own pin back for inclusion in your art jewelry.
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Instructions
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1
Gather your jewelry making tools and supplies.
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2
Decide what type of wire you want to use and what gauge wire you will use.
You can use the same metal as your pin is constructed (in this case sterling silver) or you can construct the pin back from stainless steel. The advantage of making the back out of the same metal as the pin is that the entire piece will be made of a precious metal. The advantage of using stainless steel is that it is a harder, stronger metal that is better suited for the wear and tear of a pin back. Steel is also less expensive.
The gauge metal you decide is directly related to the type of metal you chose. Often jewelers will use 18 gauge precious metals and 20 gauge stainless steel when constructing pin backs.
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3
Cut a piece of 18 or 20 gauge wire. Shape the wire into a "u" shape. Solder the wire to either side of the pin.
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4
Cut the "U" after it is soldered. On one side, use your round nose pliers to form the catch. File the end smooth. We like to use a Foredom flex shaft and cup burr to smooth the ends.
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5
On the other side of the soldered wire, measure about 1/8 of an inch. Wrap the wire around your needle nose pliers two and one half times to create a spring for the pin stem.
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6
Test the pin in the catch to determine check the length of the pin stem. The pin point should stick about 1/4 inch or so beyond the hook. Trim the wire if it is longer than appropriate.
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7
File the end of the pin with a needle file until it is very pointed and sharp.
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8
Hit the pin stem with a raw hide or plastic mallet to harden the pin stem and make it nice and springy.
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9
Bend and adjust the wire so that the pin back is completely straight and sits parallel to the surface of the pin.
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Tips & Warnings
You can put the piece in a tumbler to be sure the pin stem is hard and has a nice spring. We like to use the Lortone tumbler.
Take fire safety precautions when working with a soldering torch.
Resources
- GeltDesigns
- Tutorials by GeltDesigns
- How to Solder Using a Small Butane Torch
- How to Make Pickle
- How to Buff and Polish Jewelry
- How to Smooth Sharp Edges on Copper, Brass and Sterling Wire
- Lortone Lapidary Double Barrel Rock Tumbler 33B
- Lortone 3A Lapidary Rock Gem Rotary 3 Lb. Tumbler New
- LORTONE 45C Lapidary Rock Rotary Tumbler
- Photo Credit © GeltDesigns 2009 All rights reserved
