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1. Here you see a couple different clasps used
for silk cording I purchased ages ago. For a
closer look, click on the thumbnail. |
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2. To secure them to the end of the stringing
material, you simply glue them on! So I looked at the wire one carefully and figured out
the following steps in order to build my own. For
a closer look, click on the thumbnail. |
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3. I found a dowel about the same size as the
stringing material to wrap the wire around and set it aside. |
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4. I folded about an inch of the end of the wire
back on itself and pinched the bend with the needlenose so the two lengths were lying
right against each other with no loop. If you want to get
fancy or have a more finished look, make the short length a little longer and then wrap
the end around the longer wire a couple times to keep the two lengths together and tuck
the end out of the way. |
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5. On the longer length, I gripped the wire just
below where the shorter length ends and bent it over at a 90 degree angle. |
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6. Lay the folded end of the wire along the stick
and wrap the wire 12 times around the dowel. Bring the last wrap straight out and remove
the looped wire from the dowel. |
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7. Opposite the folded end, bend the wire at
another 90 degree angle. |
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8. Measure down the wire about an inch and snip
off the excess wire. Bend the end so it lays across the opening of the wire loops. |
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9. Using the round-nose pliers, place the very
tip of the wire at the base of the grip where the round nose is largest. (If you're making
a smaller clasp, place your wire along the round nose in the appropriate location to get
the size you need.) Turn the end of the wire until it meets itself. |
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10. At the other end of the loops, place your
round-nose pliers about halfway between the base and tip. I judged the size for the loop
would be about halfway down the length of the round nose, you can choose how large or
small you want your hook to be. |
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11. Place your finger on the tip and pull
the end down so it wraps around the pliers and runs parallel to the bottom half of the
end. |
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12. Now move the pliers down to the end and, with
the flat-nose pliers, squeeze the tip so it bends out a little. |
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13. Place the dykes right in the center of the
loops and snip. Voila, you have your hook and eye clasp set. |
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14. Place some glue inside the loops and then
place your stringing material inside the loops too. If you need to double the stringing
material over, be a little generous. When the glue dries, trim the excess off flush with
the end loop. For a closer look, click on the
thumbnail. |
