Art Jewelry - Balling up the end of wire

[trekranger]

so how long do you leave it in the pickle as oppose to vinegar ?

[artjewelrymag]

@trekranger Freshly made, warm pickle could clean it in only a few minutes. Cool and/or older/used pickle would take longer than that. And vinegar might possibly take up to an hour or more, depending on its strength.

[trekranger]

@artjewelrymag thanks. that helps so much.One more question if i may.do you do any eyelet tivets? If so how or where do you get them from?and do you use just a hamer or pliers or what? thanks for the help

[artjewelrymag]

@trekranger To see a free tutorial on how to make a tube rivet, visit our website. Click on the "How to" tab at the top bar, then click on "Metals." I hope that helps!

[nrred]

Would the process be the same for copper wire?

[artjewelrymag]

@nrred It's a bit different. Copper has a much higher melting point than silver. And you'd need a great deal of flux to keep the oxygen away if you hope to achieve a round ball. Good luck!

[Xmoniquelauren]

Now I could save some money:) So simple

[sherriscreativemind]

What is pickling solution exactly and is it necessary to warm it? I have been toying with the idea of maybe mixing vinegar and water to use. I think I can make a flux paste with borax and water? I love doing this with .999 silver, it balls up so beautifully and nothing added ... BTW - love your videos, Jill. :oD

[artjewelrymag]

@sherriscreativemind Pickle is a mild acid. Many jewelers use vinegar instead and think it works just fine. You warm pickle so that it work better, and more quickly. If you're using vinegar you'll definitely need to warm it. I use a small crock pot to keep mine warm and ready.

And borax is the original flux. Many jewelers still mix up their own paste to use for soldering. Good luck!

[cirusinfabula]

Please, as I don't understand english very well, is it possibile to know the name of the two solutions you used before and after bulling up wire, writing them here? Thank you!

[artjewelrymag]

@cirusinfabula The first solution is called "flux." You can buy it in paste or liquid form. It keeps oxygen away from the metal.

The second solution is "jeweler's pickle." It's a mild acid that cleans off the metal after you're done.

[beadysam]

Ouch! This earwire has been flattened on the curve, the part that sits in your ear. The wire should only be forged at the front, not anywhere that it goes through the ear hole. As the earring moves it will potentially cut the ear causing infection and discomfort. This video should be removed and reshot.

[artjewelrymag]

That's a good point you brought up. You'd never want to hammer an ear wire until it was sharp. The angle on the video perhaps doesn't show the wire closely enough: it's only partially flattened. There are no sharp edges that could cut the ear. That would really hurt!

[tsf924]

Great video, short, concise and to the point. I just made my first balled wire thanks to your video!! I was wondering how these were done....so simple!

[artjewelrymag]

Glad to hear you found it helpful!

[utooth]

Well done

You don't need to flux the whole wire just were you intend melting it.

Depending on the flux used the silve will clean up in a cold solution of Hydrochloric acid.

Even better use pool acid. It works better and is less dangerous to have in the home.

Be careful using heated acid baths (pickles)

We use a small jar of acid not heated and have a larger jar of water for rinsing right beside it. Fast effecient and safe.

Thanks for the video

[1axvn]

OK OK 4.6

1axvn