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Abby Hook's Simple T-bar and Toggle Clasp, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin. Filing, Finishing, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop. A clasp that is very quick to make.
Simple T-bar and Toggle Clasp
by Abby Hook
  • Category: Findings
  • Technique(s): Filing / Finishing, Forging, Making Loops
  • Skill Level: Beginner
A clasp that is very quick to make. It adds great detail to any necklace or bracelet. The bar fits into the ring when turned on its side but can't easily slide out once it has been secured inside the ring. The loops on the ends of the bar lock it into place.

This project is made from 2 lengths of 16 gauge wire, it teaches you to form a ring and how to hammer sections of the finished clasp.

Once you have mastered this finding, you can make a toggle clasp in any shape you fancy, circles and squares tend to be more secure than ovals.

Materials

16 Gauge Round Dead Soft 1/10 Sterling Silver Filled Wire
H10-16D
  • Lesson Quantity: 7.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $2.93
  • Gold Club Price: $2.20
Out of Stock
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Tools

Chain Nose Wire Pliers
G2-508
  • G2-508
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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Round Nose Wire Pliers
G2-507
  • G2-507
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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Flat Nose Wire Pliers
G2-506
  • G2-506
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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C.H.P Milano Small Sprue Cutter, 6-1/4 Inches, Flush Cut
PLR-488.00
  • PLR-488.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $24.95
  • Gold Club Price: $18.71
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Stainless Steel Ring Mandrel Sizes 1-15
G7-2
  • G7-2
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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Double Horn Anvil
ANV-220.00
  • ANV-220.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $21.97
  • Gold Club Price: $16.48
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6 1/2 Inch Solid Stainless Steel Ball Peen Hammer
G3-18
  • G3-18
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $5.97
  • Gold Club Price: $4.48
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5 1/2 Inch Nylon Flat Jaw Pliers with Replacement Jaws
G2-1
  • G2-1
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $9.97
  • Gold Club Price: $7.48
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Instructions
Step 1:
Form the bar.
Cut a piece of 16 gauge wire 2" long and straighten the wire. Form a loop in the centre of the wire by grasping the wire at the centre point with the round nose pliers and wrapping each end over the top of the jaw.
The wires should form a straight line under the loop.
Abby Hook's Simple T-bar and Toggle Clasp - Form the bar., Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Filing, Finishing, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, form the bar
Abby Hook's Simple T-bar and Toggle Clasp - Form the bar., Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Filing, Finishing, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, form the bar
Step 2:
Form the loops.
Form a small round loop in each end of the wire, so that they point the same way as the central loop (see coiled earwires).
Set aside.
Step 3:
Form the ring.
Cut and straighten a 5" length of 16 gauge wire. Wrap it around your ring mandrel on size UK D or US 2 (or so that you have a ring that is 2/3"across), by holding ½" of the wire in place against the mandrel and wrapping the length of wire around to form a ring.
Abby Hook's Simple T-bar and Toggle Clasp - Form the ring., Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Filing, Finishing, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, form a ring
Abby Hook's Simple T-bar and Toggle Clasp - Form the ring., Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Filing, Finishing, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, form a ring
Step 4:
Prepare to form the second loop.
Bend both straight wires 90° upwards by grasping with the flat nose pliers at the point they cross each other. Trim the short wire to ¼" from the bend.
Abby Hook's Simple T-bar and Toggle Clasp - Prepare to form the second loop., Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Filing, Finishing, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, trim the short wire
Step 5:
Form the second loop.
Bend the long wire 45° outwards, level with the top of the short wire.
Form a loop using the round nose pliers. The loop should be the same size as the one on the T bar. The straight wire should form a 90° angle across the 2 straight wires.
Hold the small loop with the flat nose pliers and wrap the straight wire around the 2 parallel wires 4 - 5 times, securing them in place.
Do not wrap too tightly as they will not sit next to each other.

Pro Tip: - use the chain nose pliers to help you wrap the wire.
Abby Hook's Simple T-bar and Toggle Clasp - Form the second loop., Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Filing, Finishing, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, bend the long wire
Abby Hook's Simple T-bar and Toggle Clasp - Form the second loop., Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Filing, Finishing, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, form a loop
Abby Hook's Simple T-bar and Toggle Clasp - Form the second loop., Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Filing, Finishing, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, wrap the neck of the loop
Step 6:
Trim.
Trim the tail so that the end is tapered, by positioning the wire cutters as shown.
Tuck the end in with the chain nose pliers, so that it does not catch. To avoid marking the wire, straighten the loops using the nylon jaw pliers.
Abby Hook's Simple T-bar and Toggle Clasp - Trim., Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Filing, Finishing, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, trim the tail
Abby Hook's Simple T-bar and Toggle Clasp - Trim., Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Filing, Finishing, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, trim the tail
Step 7:
Hammer.
Using your anvil and hammer, flatten the top edge of both loops on the ring and all 3 loops of the T bar, by positioning the pieces on the edge of the anvil, so that only the bit you want to hammer is on the flat surface.
Give the pieces lots of little taps, working your way round the loops and ring evenly. Remember one or two big whacks may irreparably spoil your work. You want to achieve the same thickness as 20 gauge wire.
Notice how the bar is no longer straight and the loops have opened. Close the loops but leave the bar this shape, ensuring it locks into place in the ring.
You've finished!
Abby Hook's Simple T-bar and Toggle Clasp - Hammer., Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Filing, Finishing, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, hammer
Abby Hook's Simple T-bar and Toggle Clasp - Hammer., Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Filing, Finishing, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, close the loops
Abby Hook's Simple T-bar and Toggle Clasp - Hammer., Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Filing, Finishing, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, simple t bar and toggle clasp

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