Power Up

by Judy Larson

A sign of quality workmanship on a jewelry piece constructed with any gauge of wire is finished or smoothed wire ends. It takes little time and makes a big difference in the final product.

Instructions

I make a lot of my own earring findings, two to four dozen at a time, so they will be on hand when I need them. That translates to a lot of wire ends to round and smooth out.

Judy Larson's Power Up - , General Education, Filing, Finishing, handmade ear wires

Originally, my tool of choice for rounding wire ends that go through ear piercings was a hand-held wire rounder or cup bur.

This tool is rotated by hand around the wire end to round and smooth it. It does a great job, needing only a few swipes with a fine sanding pad to finish.

Now imagine doing this by hand ninety-six times in one sitting for four dozen earring sets!

Judy Larson's Power Up - , General Education, Filing, Finishing, wire rounder

Judy Larson's Power Up - , General Education, Filing, Finishing, Hand-rotated around the wire end to smooth and round.

My wrist thanked me when the decision was made to start using a powered wire rounder/cup bur.

And what a time saver! Yes, it still takes time to make a pile of ear wires, but when I can knock time off the finishing end of the process as well as save myself some wrist and hand fatigue, I am more than happy.

Check out corded, cordless, and battery powered tools that will fit the two most commonly found bit shank sizes: 1/8" and 3/32".

Even though the original wire rounder is now in my travel case, I am looking at several small battery powered tools to replace it because it is so much easier to finish wire ends with a powered tool.

Materials

Wire - Wide variety of gauges and metals

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Tools

Wire Rounder Set, 3 pieces

G14-20

G14-20
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $13.95
Gold Club Price: $10.46

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Wire Rounder with Wooden Handle - Pack of 1

G14-19

G14-19
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $7.95
Gold Club Price: $5.96

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WireJewelry Ultra Pro Micro Abrasive Polishing Pads, 20 pack

G9-5-20PK

G9-5-20PK
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $8.95
Gold Club Price: $6.71

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Optional Tools

3.6 Volt Automatic Wire Twister (Cordless Screwdriver)

G5-15

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $42.97
Gold Club Price: $32.23

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Variable Speed Rotary Tool with Flexible Shaft

G26-51

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $49.97
Gold Club Price: $37.48

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Bur cups in desired sizes

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

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Category: General Education
Technique(s): Filing / Finishing

Reviews

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Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!

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