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Bracing For It

by Susan LeGuyader
I was in the studio this weekend and made these earrings. I call them the "Hoops Not Hoops". Hoops can be a challenge to latch if your fingers don't work like they used to. So I came up with a design that gives the look of hoops but made with a simple ear wire.
Instructions
One of the challenges that I came up against was how to drill a hole, while already shaped.

I did not want to flatten/straighten them out again, trying to keep tool marks to a minimum. These hoops are at about one inch.
Susan LeGuyader's Bracing For It - , General Education, Tools, , straighten them out again
Looking around for what I can use to brace/stabilize the ring to both hold the hoop and be able to be drilled into, I saw this cork and the hoops fit PERFECTLY.
Susan LeGuyader's Bracing For It - , General Education, Tools, , Looking around for what I can use
Susan LeGuyader's Bracing For It - , General Education, Tools, , stabilize the ring to both hold the hoop
I slid both hoop earrings onto a cork and tapped out guide holes for the drill bit.

Bonus: the cork fit perfectly in my GRS Multi-purpose vise.

This made drilling holes for the ear wires easy and precise!
Other options for bracing metal while drilling are wooden dowels.

There are always other ways to accomplish what you need to do. Look outside the box.
Susan LeGuyader's Bracing For It - , General Education, Tools, , I was able to slide both hoop earrings onto the cork
Susan LeGuyader's Bracing For It - , General Education, Tools, , Then tap out a guide hole for the drill bit
Susan LeGuyader's Bracing For It - , General Education, Tools, , bracing your work

Materials

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Tools

Center Punch, 4 1/2 inches
PUN-450.00
  • PUN-450.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.95
  • Gold Club Price: $2.21
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Auto Center Punch
PUN-430.00
  • PUN-430.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $8.97
  • Gold Club Price: $6.73
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Variable Speed Rotary Tool with Flexible Shaft
G26-51
  • G26-51
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $49.97
  • Gold Club Price: $37.48
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  • Category: General Education
  • Technique(s): Tools, General Education

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