Using a Center Finder

by Judy Larson

I love cutting circles to make my own end caps. It can be difficult to get the hole in the exact center. The smaller your circle, the more critical it is to put the hole in the exact center. "Eyeballing" it is not an option. I have used my center finder in my woodworking shop for many years and also find it very helpful in jewelry making.

Instructions

Here's how to get the perfect center mark:

Slide your disk into the corner of the center finder. Use an ultra fine point Sharpie marker to draw a line on your disk along the center edge of the center finder.

Hint: You can also use a metal scribe to scratch a line if that side will never be seen, such as on the inside of a bead cap.

Turn the disk 1/3 turn and repeat the process.

Do this again for a total of 3 lines. Where the lines intersect is the center of the disk.

You can then use a hole punch or a drill can to make a hole in exactly the right spot.

Remove the Sharpie lines using an alcohol soaked pad.

Judy Larson's Using a Center Finder - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Tools, Using a center finder

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CENTER LOCATOR

GAU-430.00

GAU-430.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

Marker -extra fine

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

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Category: Tools
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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!

Using a Center Finder

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