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Albina Manning's Kidney Ear Wires, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin. Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry. Ear wires really take a lot of abuse! Often a simple French hook will work itself out of an ear, and a customer - or you - loses a beloved earring.

Kidney Ear Wires

by Albina Manning
  • Category: Findings
  • Technique(s): Wrapping
  • Skill Level: Beginner
Ear wires really take a lot of abuse! Often a simple French hook will work itself out of an ear, and a customer - or you - loses a beloved earring. Named for their shape, try making and using these Kidney Ear Wires as a more secure way to wear and save your lovely handcrafted earring designs.
Special Instructions: Tip: If you make one ear wire according to the pattern while making another in its mirror image, you will create a matching pair.

Materials

21 Gauge Round Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-21H
  • Lesson Quantity: 8.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $3.00
  • Gold Club Price: $2.25
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Tools

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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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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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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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches
PLR-487.00
  • PLR-487.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $16.97
  • Gold Club Price: $12.73
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Mighty Crimper
PLR-584.00
  • PLR-584.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $14.97
  • Gold Club Price: $11.23
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6 1/2 Inch Bail Making Pliers
G2-18
  • G2-18
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $12.78
  • Gold Club Price: $9.58
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12 Inch Stainless Steel Ruler
G7-30
  • G7-30
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.97
  • Gold Club Price: $2.23
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Marker -extra fine
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
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Instructions
Step 1
Albina Manning's Kidney Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, 21 gauge sterling silver wire measured to a ruler
Step 2
On the shorter wire, measure ¼" from the loop and use round nose pliers to make a sharp U turn.
Albina Manning's Kidney Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, 21 gauge sterling silver wire eye wire
Step 3
Using either chain nose pliers or crimp pliers, squeeze the U so the wires lie tightly next to one another and parallel.
Albina Manning's Kidney Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Crimp with chain nose pliers or crimping pliers
Step 4
Using either bent nose or chain nose pliers, hold both the wrapped loop and the crimped U. With fingers, wrap the end wire of the crimped U around the end of the wrapped loop wire, twice. Trim and tuck this wire end.
Albina Manning's Kidney Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Use Bent nose pliers or Chain nose plier for looping
Albina Manning's Kidney Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Bent nose or Chain nose pliers to bend
Step 5
Bend the remaining long wire 45° in the opposite direction of the U. Then bend this wire around an object such as a round pencil, the small jaw of double barrel bail pliers, or the largest section of round nose pliers, heading back toward the U, forming the ear hook.
Albina Manning's Kidney Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, 21 Gauge Sterling Silver ear wire
Albina Manning's Kidney Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, 21 Gauge Sterling Silver ear wire
Step 6
Use chain nose pliers, no more than ¼" from the end of the ear wire, to bend the end out slightly.
Albina Manning's Kidney Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, 21 gauge sterling silver wire eye wire
Step 7
Use round nose pliers on the end of the U to make a small hook, heading around the ear hook. This hook is what will keep the ear wire from working itself out of an ear. Finish the ear wire ends as you usually finish them.

You've made your own secure Kidney Ear Wires!
Albina Manning's Kidney Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Sterling silver ear wire
Albina Manning's Kidney Ear Wires - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Sterling silver ear wire

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