Tips and Information about making jewelry



With this blog, I hope to share my knowledge, successes, trials and errors, student's work, tips, and information about making jewelry.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Experiments in Metal Clay using Traditional Jewelry Working Techniques - Making a tounge clasp

I fired the metal clay clasp. It turned out fine. No warpage, just smaller due to shrinkage. I fired it for 2 hours at 1290 degrees.

Pictured on the left is an un-fired clasp box
and on the right the fired clasp box with tongue clasp.

I have a problem with the tongue clasp. The ball I attached as a press button is too close to the top of the box. I am unable to compress the tongue clasp.
So, I am going to cut off the tongue clasp and make this box the receiver box.

I have made a new tongue clasp box with a longer tongue and shorter button.

This is the top view of the new clasp.

This view shows how I have attached the clasp to the box.
Now its time to fire this one!

5 comments:

  1. Hm... I thought the foldy part was supposed to go in the slot. Have to go look at an example now. Looking forward to seeing the final outcome. - How will you get the spring back after you fire the .925?

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  2. The end facing out goes into the slot. It has a notch in on the top side edges that catches into the reciever.
    I will work-harden the clasp by pressing the metal with pliers and then a light hammering on the tip of the folded area.

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  3. Lesson learned: sometimes its just easier to solder! The sterling silver becomes too brittle after firing and I can't get it to become springy for the tounge of the clasp.

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  4. On the other hand, I can make the box fairly quickly in metal clay.

    ReplyDelete