How to Make Posts for Earrings

[@ceafva]

Thank you Nancy! Love learning about the twist to harden the post. Excellent tip!

[@amandathompson4692]

Thank you for sharing! You make everything look so easy. I had no idea how to make the little groove in the post and that it so easy. I've been buying all my post earrings to solder, but figured it was time to start making my own. In a few years a have learned so much and am confident making jewelry thanks to your wonderful videos and website along with a few books I bought. You are a great teacher!

[@allanthompson9695]

Thanks Nancy. Just twisting the post, work hardens it. Great. Lots of useful tips again.

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

Yes. If you just solder the wire, there is less surface area for the connection. That's why I either insert it into the metal or make the nail head. More metal to solder on equals greater strength and less chance of the wire snapping off. Thanks for writing (and watching). Nancy

[@liz-annawaugh955]

Thank you! You are always there when I need you!💕

[@lindabingham394]

miss nancy you are a good and knowledgeable lady so many times people are not willing toshare knowledge and tips with beginners i saw this in the horseshoeing trade back in the day when i was learning the trade not many guys willing to share info

[@SaadiaKaamalahD]

Thank you so much for posting such detailed tutorials. I'm self taught and just put together my jewelry studio and your tips and tricks have really helped me work through some questions I have had. Love your personality, it's a pleasure to watch your channel. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@silva7493]

You are so awesome and generous, and I've learned all kinds of stuff I can use in my life from you. What a GREAT lesson!

[@terrisidell7041]

Thanks for sharing!! Love all your tutorials!!

[@crystalfabulous]

Thank you Nancy you are a gift straight from God. Everything I struggle with you bail me out ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@CharlesStruble]

Some cool tricks in this one. I especially like the "un annealing" trick. As always, informative and amusing. Thanks!

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

Hi Renegade, Well thank you! I appreciate you writing and, of course, watching. N

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

Well, so are you! Thank you so much for the nice words and for watching. N

[@johnmimist]

These are great tips and that ring!!!

[@nefrett5115]

Brilliant! Thanks so much for this. I've tried a few ways for make stud backings, and never happy with the results - this ways so much easier and stronger. Cheers

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

Very glad it came in handy. Thanks, as always. Nancy

[@daydreamologist]

I love you and your tutorials! For any reference, I always check out your KZbin and website FIRST and, as expected, you never let me down. I ALWAYS find what I need! Thank you so much for your time, tutorials, and sense of humor, of course! Sooooooo truly appreciative, Nancy! P.S. Oh, and thanks to your camera man/woman for contributing in all this awesomeness too! ;)

[@RenegadeTimes]

I learned quite a bit in this vid and I like your style Nancy. Thanks for taking the time ~

[@EvelynC547]

Yes, exciting, fun and informative...YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!!

[@danceswithcake]

Brilliant Nancy , thank you for taking the time xxx looking forward to the ear nut tut already you're cool as ever ;) x

[@lynnebash2278]

I love your videos and your sense of fun and humor. I may never have all the fun tools you have but I love to watch and learn anyway. Lovingly Lynne

[@trekranger]

Great job Nancy. I don't make ear rings but i always wondered if i could make the post myself. I may do some now. It seems like something i could do. Thanks again

[@Methelinhill]

Nancy, your tutorials are very informative...thank you so much!

[@MultiJewelryLady]

Thanks Nancy, as usual you are awesome. cant wait to try it!!!!! Thanks for sharing and looking forward to the earring nut!!

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

Thanks MultiJewelryLady! I do appreciate the kind words. N

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

I like that: "unannealing" never thought of it that way but, it is spot on. Thank you so much for watching and commenting.

[@Christophersanchez1326]

Thank you for making this video.. I was looking for a way to do what your showing in this video.. Thank you thank you thank you...😘

[@kayzen76]

Thank you Nancy is always a pleasure to watch your your video tutorial!

[@wendyannh]

Another great tutorial that I am only just coming across! Nancy, what torch do you use, and what gas? I have torches on the brain right now as I'm trying to decide what to get, and I just noticed that you've only got one knob on there. Is it acetylene and air? And what do you do for ventilation down there in your little basement lair?

[@darrenaalami8121]

You are sooooo entertaining 😂😊

[@terryf3100]

Funny and informative!! Thank you!

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

Hi Kayzen, Thank you for watching me! N

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

Thank you! Sometimes the simple things can make such a big difference. Thanks for watching. N

[@brittanywitt640]

Just discovered your channel, I am having so much fun beige watching them on this lovely Saturday. Also, did anyone else notice We We Lou Lou sleeping in the background? (I hope I spelled that correct.) I bet that cat can sleep through anything! Thanks so much Nancy! xx Brittany

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

And you do it so well...

[@tammygurl64]

You're awesome! 👍 This tutorial is brilliant! I'm preparing to do my very first solder project. I'm a self starter trying to work with a slim budget and the last thing I wanted to do was buy those ready-to-solder disc/posts (as well as ball headpins) when I knew there was a better way. Thanks for sharing your tips and tricks. It was all very clear except for one thing. At aroun 08:15 into the video I didn't understand why you'd previously balled the end of the wire just to cut it off right then. What did I miss? Or was that just an example of using what one may have on hand from having made a bunch of headpins/posts in advance? Thank you and God bless you. This is EXACTLY what I needed and also I can't wait to see how you make the little wing backs. Cheers! 😊

[@MichellesHandmadeCreations]

thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU for sharing this info!

[@TJ-bf9jy]

What is meant by"pickling" wire and what do you use? Thank you for the very informative video.

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

Blush, blush. Thank you. N

[@digupstuff]

You ROCK lady! Thank you for showing us this stuff! One day I'm going to solder something too! I just need to get that fire tool thingy first! LOL!

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

Hah! When you get the fire tool thingy, let's talk. Thanks for the laugh and for watching. N

[@Lavonneification]

I love your videos! Question: I normally just solder the wire onto my piece without balling and flattening the end. Does that make the wire less sturdy?

[@MichellesHandmadeCreations]

Great tutorial. Now, where do I find the wire gauge with which you held your pin while you hammered the bead flat?

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

Was just perusing the Micro-Mark catalog this a.m. and found it. Part number 10123. Also, just in case: recommended metal gauges are 22 and 24 gauge. Going to put this info with the video description, just in case... Thanks N

[@karenosmond1807]

You are awesome !!!

[@CharlesStruble]

I'm always trying to invent words. My meager contribution to our language...

[@kellynichols6802]

Hi, Nancy! First- I love you! Your tips are great, and I listen to you daily on my commute to work- thanks for the laughs. :) I am at my wits end with stud earrings and the work-hardening of posts. I have followed your tips as closely as I can (don't have an anvil with a hole to flatten the ball-thingy on the end of the post, but have soldered to a small disc); regardless of how much I hammer the post with a rubber mallet after annealing, the post is weak. I have now thrice replaced posts on two pairs of earrings I made for friends and am about to lose it. I'm using 20 gauge, SS, but what the heck? Also--I have not tried the "insertion method." I'd like to avoid purchasing posts, but ugh...

[@jeanined9060]

Hi Kelly! I just watched another video on this same topic by another professional jewelry artist (Celtic Dreams). He work hardens his posts by putting them in a tumbler for 2 hours. Longer if needed. I bet Nancy does it that way too by now (this is an old video)! Hope this helps!

[@wendyannh]

Another video I just watched on earring posts recommends doing both, which makes complete sense to me.

[@CarolRaeburn]

Great tips :)

[@KremenaVenkova]

thank you...

[@AnneAndersonFoxiepaws]

You know I was totally baffled by what an earnut was until I watched the earnut making video. We tend to call them butterfly backs because they kind of look like butterflies or just earring backs (I tend to prefer plastic ones for my own use) but now I know how to make them I can use 925 as my lugs don't react to that...I have some awful allergies. ..principally nickel but I am suspicious of just about everything except 925 or fine silver. I never tried Argentium but I reckon it would be ok too.

[@ZaibsCollection1]

Can any one tell me which wire she used to make posts?

[@tammygurl64]

She said she used 20 gauge wire for the posts. Cheers! 🙂

[@MichellesHandmadeCreations]

IE, what you mention at about 1:20 in the video.

[@andym4695]

Mm - nice. I'm going to provide an argentium wire option for my pieces for people with copper allergies. I haven't had the nerve to see how much they'd cost.

[@tammygurl64]

I was curious if you did any Argentium pieces yet? What specifically were you going to make? I'm new to this and getting ready to solder and/or fuse for the very 1st time. I've done research and opted to use Argentium and fine silver because solder isn't needed (each will fuse to itself), it doesn't have firescale like regular silver, and it's less likely to tarnish. Argentium doesn't cost much more than sterling and those qualities I mentioned will save money in time and materials.... I hope. LOL! I hope your pieces turned out well. Cheers! 🙂

[@maryhemann2854]

you are a delight to watch. Hang on to that personality. P.S. I love your hair up.

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

Hey Artist Blade, you've got great videos too! Do you want to post your site address on my subscriber's page? Just need a photo, brief bio and your links. Just drop me an email. Thanks for all the great information on your site. I learned a lot and will eventually check out the rest of your videos - as I'm now a subscriber. Thanks for watchin' me too! N