Jun
24
I am a beginner in DIY jewellery so i hope you guys can help me out. What metal do you recommend to use for headpins/earring hooks???????? 1) Bronze alloy 2) Silver plated 3) Gold plated
Which is the best in terms of non-corrosion/rust(very important!!!) mallaebility(sp), durability, allergy senstive and just general long wear without side effectsIm trying to make a pair of earrings. Also, do you know a good thickness for the heapins? I really don’t want a thin, breakable metal and i want the thickness to accomodate most beads. i would appreciate any advice.
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5 Responses to “a question for DIY jewellery experts?”
gold-plated all the way
Hmm…Most likely Gold plated.
If you can afford it, go for real gold or sterling silver. 10k or 14k isn’t horribly expensive and is very durable and long lasting. Sterling silver is even less expensive and still beautiful. I order all of my materials from a company called Rio Grande. You can get their contact info off of riogrande.com. You can’t make internet orders but you can request a catelog. They have everything you could possibly need for whatever level of a jewelrysmith you are. They not only have findings but they also have faceted gems and gem beads. They are by far the best source out there.
i prefer sterling silver or gold.
there are same great deals on jewelry findings in sterling silver
on ebay express and they except paypal.
Sterling is your best bet all around for durability, sensitivity, workability, and cost. It’s a little more expensive, but it’s easy to work with and much higher quality (and significantly cheaper than gold). It does tarnish after time, but if you’re looking to sell jewelry, people know that. For sizing–if you have a choice, 22g or 20g will probably work best, although if you do anything with pearls you’ll probably want to go down to 24g. (if you want to make your own earwires, use 20g.)