How to Create Your Own Ear Gauges

Ear gauges are large plugs put into piercings in the ear lobes that gradually stretch and distort the lobes into accepting larger and larger objects. Gauges range in size from .8mm, which is about the size of a pencil lead, to 10mm, about as big around as a Chapstick. Ear gauges can be purchased at body jewelry shops or trendy stores but for truly personal style, you can make your own in your favorite colors and with different designs.

Things You'll Need

• Ear gauge of the size you need
• Polymer clay like Sculpey or Fimo
• Cornstarch
• Baking sheet
• Foil
• Oven
• Toothpick

Instructions

1. Make a mold for your gauges (plugs) out of polymer clay. Make two squares of clay about one-half-inch across. Push the squares until they become more rectangular and both are the same length. Coat each rectangle of clay with cornstarch.

2. Push your ear gauge into one of the blocks of clay. Make sure that the plug is about halfway into the clay. Cover the plug with the other block of clay. Push the two blocks together so that the plug is enclosed.

3. Carefully peel the two blocks apart, making sure that you leave the holes that the plug has made and don't distort their size or shape. You will now have two blocks of clay with a half-plug mold in each one.

4. Place the blocks of clay onto a baking sheet lined with foil. Place the baking sheet into a 250 degree oven for 15 minutes. The clay molds will harden while baking. When the baking is complete, remove the pan from the oven and allow the molds to cool.

5. Choose a small amount of polymer clay in the color you want your new plug to be. Form this clay into a cylinder about the size of your plug. Coat this clay with cornstarch. Push the clay into one half of the mold. Make sure that there is enough clay sticking up from this mold to fill the other mold.

6. Push the second mold down over the clay and so that it is touching the first mold. The clay inside should spread into all of the spaces in the second mold. It will be fine if you have a bit too much clay, as it will simply squash out between the two mold halves and can be easily removed on the next step.

7. Carefully separate the two molds, keeping the clay inside the same shape and size and not distorting it. Carefully remove the clay from the first mold. If you have extra clay hanging off of the clay plug form, remove it with a toothpick. Gently smooth the clay with your fingers, making sure that it is the same size and shape as your original ear gauge.

8. Place the new gauges onto a foil-lined sheet and place in a 250 degree oven. Bake the gauges for 15 minutes. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool.

Tips & Warnings

• You can vary the design of your plugs by drawing on the ends with a toothpick or by mixing colors of clay into stripes or swirls.

• Don't try doing this project in a microwave. Polymer clay needs to bake in a conventional oven.

References

• Ear Gauge Info: What are the Typical Ear Gauge Sizes?

Resources

• Polyform homepage for Sculpey clay