Lobster Plate

9 Feb, 2009 in art pottery by admin

Lobster Plate

Handmade Jewelry-Making Basics - What is a Split Ring?

Knowing the terminology of basic jewelry findings will help the novice jewelry designer to make quality jewelry pieces faster. Split rings may look similar to jump rings, but they are not interchangeable.

What is a split ring?

A split ring is a round jewelry finding made of wire that does not have a gap all the way through the ring, so jewelry components do not fall through a cut. The wire curves over almost two whole circles -- 720 degrees. At the first circle, the wire makes a bend, then the second circle is right next to the first. If you have ever purchased a plain key ring and "wound" your keys onto the ring, then you have already used a split ring.

Jewelry Making with split rings

An obvious use for split rings are as key rings. Key rings themselves can be decorated with charms or pendants fit directly onto the key rings (if they have big holes); if not, they may be placed on a smaller ring before decorating the larger ring.

For putting charms on bracelets, choose rings with diameters smaller than the beads on either side if you want the charms fixed in place. Lobster claw clasps and toggles may be attached to either bead wire projects or chain projects using small split rings.

Some people will use split rings as the target for a lobster claw clasp on bead wire projects -- crimping the ring into place at the end of the jewelry piece. However, the "transition" point from the two wires of the ring to the one wire may damage a stranded bead wire.

Split Ring Materials

Split rings used in DIY jewelry making will most often be made of low karat gold, gold-filled, sterling silver or plated metals over brass, steel or aluminum.

Many sterling split rings are not tempered hard enough to let them to return to shape after having jewelry components "wound" onto them. Plated and gold-filled split rings do not have as much problem "springing" back into shape.

Small split rings of thick wire are difficult to open. Large rings with small wire diameter may not have the strength one needs for a jewelry piece.

Tools for Split Rings

Many jewelry makers will open split rings with split ring pliers. These pliers have a "hook" jaw bent toward a flat jaw that makes these pliers more safer and easier to use than teeth or fingernails.

Split rings are basic jewelry-making findings. A jewelry designer should quickly learn when split rings are permissible or recommended.

About the Author

Paul Brandon knows split rings and writes for OhioBeads.com, which sells bulk jewelry chains and jewelry findings (in sterling, gold-filled, antique brass, antique copper, gunmetal, silver-plate and gold-plate) to the U.S. market.

Do you get outraged about animal abuse - and eat veal?

It amazes me how many people get all worked up about animal rights and animal abuse, but the same people pay no attention at all to the meat on their plate and how it got there. Even though these animals are killed for food that doesn't mean we need to torture them too - like what happens to those poor veal calves. Ever since I found out how veal is produced I haven't eaten a bite of it - and that was years ago. Also if you are willing to pay a little more you can buy eggs laid by free roaming hens, not hens that are packed into a cage so tight they can hardly move. And don't even get me started on live lobster. How many days do they sit in those tanks with nothing to eat before being purchased?

i don't eat veal and i buy free range chicken and eggs along with other meat products. there are many horror stories that i could tell you about the animal neglect and cruelty that goes on b4 you buy your "food" although if i did, it would nearly make a person that cared vomit at the sight of their "meal"
organic, and free range chickens are way more expensive, although they taste better and give me a peace of mind knowing they had a good life b4 they made it to my plate.

Catie Curtis - The Lobster License Plate Song