How to Make Balled Head Pins

by Judy Larson

If you use head pins in your jewelry making, you know that sometimes you can't buy what you need. Well, today we have a fantastic tip about making your own balled head pins right in your studio.

Instructions

I use a small butane micro torch on 20 gauge and lighter wire to make balled head pins. I went through several of these torches before I discovered that my fuel was possibly "gumming" up the works as it was not super refined. I then started ordering 5x refined butane and am still using the same torch.

Product ID: SOL-300.00 - Our top-quality Micro-Flame butane torch is six inches tall, features electronic ignition (no lighter necessary), a maximum temperature of 2450 degrees F and a 90 minute burn. Easy-adjust feature assures the right flame for any job with precision accuracy.

Judy Larson's How to Make Balled Head Pins - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Tools, , Small Butane Torch

When I ball the ends of 18 gauge or heavier wire, I use a larger torch. The larger flame makes it easier to ball the ends of the wire. I purchased a Eurotool Handy Flame torch head when they were first introduced because it fits on a Coleman butane fuel can, which fits comfortably in my hand. Also, the fuel was readily available at one of our local hardware stores.

Product ID: SOL-315.00 - One-touch ignition multi-purpose butane torch head attaches directly to fuel canister so you can start working immediately. Adjustable flame control up to 2,375 degrees F. Lightweight, compact design attaches easily to a butane canister with a simple push and twist motion. Uses 8 ounce butane canister (not included).

Judy Larson's How to Make Balled Head Pins - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Tools, , multi-purpose butane torch

Before using torches, I suggest that you view every Kate Richbourg video you can find on torch use and safety. She is an expert in the field and imparts a wealth of information.

I also suggest you watch videos on how different people make balled head pins. You will pick up many tips and may find some ways of doing things that work better for you than others.

TIPS:

You can never be too careful when working with fire. Always have a fire extinguisher handy and wear eye protection. Keep your hair tied back and do not wear loose clothing.

I do not have ventilation in my basement laundry room/studio so I make my headpins in my garage at my woodworking workbench. I open the garage doors and the back door for ventilation. I put my fire brick on a large metal bar pan, which sits on a fireproof surface on my workbench over the cement floor of my garage.

Since my garage is only warm enough to work in from very late Spring to early Fall, I make tons of headpins during that time so I will have them handy to use during the winter months here in northern Minnesota.

I use an easily replaceable cheap chain nose pliers to hold my wire. I always have a metal cup or deeper dish of water on my bar pan to immediately quench the balled wire.

What you see here is just a general overview of how headpins are made, along with a few tips and other information you may not find elsewhere.

ON TO THE MAKING OF A HEADPIN:

Cut your wires about 1″ longer than you want the finished head pin to be. You will not need 1″ to ball up, but it is better to have too much wire than too little.

Notice that the tip of the wire is positioned barely outside the tip of the blue flame. That is the hottest part of the flame so that is where you want your wire tip to be.

You may think that the torch is directly under the wire, but it is not. I personally do not point the torch flame at the side of the wire tip. I prefer to come at it from a bit of an angle so the ball does not get blown or pushed by the force of the flame. NEVER use your torch directly under the wire.

If you use a slight angle on your flame, more of the wire will get heated, meaning that the ball can form more quickly. You can see this happening in the progression photos, where just the tip of the wire turns red, and then more of the wire becomes red hot. At this point, the ball starts to form.

mmediately quench the balled wire.

Judy Larson's How to Make Balled Head Pins - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Tools, , Heating Silver wire with butane torch

An important thing to remember here is to not let the ball get too large or it will drop off the wire. If it cools too much before it hits the fire brick, it can bounce and hit you, burning a small hole in your clothes and/or burning you. Hint: You can see why it is a good to work on a fireproof surface, or one that you do not care about, and wear clothing you do not worry about too much.

You may find that the ball of your head pin droops to one side. An easy fix is to firmly grasp the headpin as close as you can to the ball with the tips of a flat nose pliers. Gently press the ball on a flat surface, moving the ball to a more centered position on the wire.

Judy Larson's How to Make Balled Head Pins - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Tools, , Dropping silver wire ball

Judy Larson's How to Make Balled Head Pins - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Tools, , Using flat nose pliers on silver wire ball

Types of Wire:

Argentium: Here you see a balled head pin made with Argentium wire. It makes a beautiful, smooth round ball. Fire scale does not form on Argentium so it remains silver. I tend to pickle everything, including Argentium, but it is not necessary. Argentium head pins will, however, have a more satin finish after you fire and cool them so you will probably want to tumble them in steel shot to bring back the shine and to work harden them.

Judy Larson's How to Make Balled Head Pins - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Tools, , Argentium balled head pin

Sterling Silver: When balling sterling silver wire, you may end up with a "dimple" or two on the ball surface, which is normal. Also, fire scale forms on the wire so it is necessary to pickle each piece. As with Argentium, you may want to tumble the head pins in steel shot to bring back the shine and to work harden them.

Copper: "Dimpling" is much more common on copper than on sterling silver balled head pins. As with sterling silver, you need to deal with fire scale. Tumbling in steel shot will bring back the shine.

Pro Tip: Hint: Liver of sulfur patina will disguise the dimpling a bit on both sterling silver and copper.

Materials

Wire

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Basic Soldering Kit

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Category: Findings
Technique(s): Butane Torch Techniques, Tools, General Education

Reviews

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!