Head pins

[isabeads]

Does anyone know how to make a small glass ball on the end of a piece of silver wire? How is this done without making the silver wire melt? Thank you for your knowledge.

[dclutter64]

I make them sometimes. It is easiest with 18g wire or 16g, though I have made them on 20g. I put the wire in a pin vise and add the glass on the end and rotate the pin vise. Keep the silver out of the flame! Just heat the glass and add it to the wire. it takes some practice. You can also use high temp wire which won't melt.

This is a picture of a headpin with High temp wire. I ended up wrapping the wire with silver to hide the high temp wire.


This one is made with 20g wire.


I hope this helps.

[SharonP]

I make my headpins on the end of a mandrel, then epoxy the silver wire in afterwards. *s*

[glassymom]

Very Pretty Debra
Sharon, those bright ones are right up my alley. What size mandrel and wire are you using, they look so big. The orange/yellow one is my fav!!
sue

[dclutter64]

I like that Idea Sharon! That would give you more control and allow for more design elements. I am with Sue, what size mandrel are you using?

[Flaming Glass]

What about using enamels? I read something in a magazine once. Heat the end, pick up enamel, melt enamel, and repeat. That way you can make the ball as big as you want. I'm not sure what gauge of wire would be the best to use. I would use the same as you would have used to wire wrap your bead. Good luck.

Tara