Shiney Lounge

FREE Tutorial, Make your own findings – Toggle clasp Part 1

Have you ever wanted to make your own findings? A hand-crafted piece becomes truly handmade when you can craft all the elements of the design, including the findings.

As long as you have a reel of 0.8mm wire, a pair of snipe nose pliers, round nose pliers, flat nose pliers, flush cutters, nylon jaw pliers, a ring mandrel and tape measure to hand, you can make all sorts of wonderful findings to add to your jewellery designs.

This article focuses on making the hoop for the toggle clasp set. Look out for Part 2, where we will feature making the bar to complete the pair.

Materials

• 0.8mm craft wire

Tools
• Round nose pliers
• Snipe nose pliers
• Flat nose pliers
• Flush Cutters
• Nylon jaw pliers
• Ring mandrel


Step 1
Straighten a piece of 0.8mm wire with nylon jaw pliers and cut a 40cm piece to work with. Hold the wire at Size J on the mandrel so that 10cms is one side and 30cms the other. Wrap the longer side around the mandrel twice. Where the wires begin the third wrap, make a bend upwards on the shorter wire with the flat nose pliers so the shorter wire is perpendicular to the mandrel.


Step 2
Take the long end and wrap it tightly around the base of the shorter wire once, to secure it.

Step 3
Slip the wire off the mandrel. With one finger inside the hoop and your thumb on the outside edge, grip firmly as you wrap the long end of the wire around the hoop at regular intervals until you reach where you started as shown.

Step 4
Using the tip of your round nose pliers, grip the short wire 2mm above the base and bend at a right angle.



Step 5
Slide your round nose pliers into the angle about 3mm from the tip and grip. Bend the wire over the top jaw of the pliers with your fingers, so the wire is pointing downwards.



Step 6
Change the grip of the pliers so that the loop is positioned on the lower jaw and bend the wire towards the back of the loop.



Step 7
Before wrapping the loop if you want to add the toggle to your jewellery, gently open the loop and slide onto your piece. Continue by gripping the loop flat with nylon jaws pliers. Wrap the wire around under the loop once and snip the end. Then wrap the long end without over lapping the wraps and snip the end. Squash any sharp edges with your snipe nose pliers.

Look out for the next article on making a bar to go with your toggle loop.