Jump Rings

Jump rings are essential findings for most jewelry makers and bead weavers. They are basically round rings that can be used as chain components, linking devices and connectors. You can also get quite creative with jump rings to make unique formations on your jewelry pieces. It is important to know what kind of metal a jump ring is made from, in terms of evaluating both the ring’s quality and its practical uses.

Gold Onyx Jewelry Making Supplies offers gold filled, gold filled soldered, sterling silver and sterling silver soldered jump rings. The difference between standard and soldered jump rings is that the soldered models have the cut soldered together for a permanent closure. They are a better choice to provide a more secure closure for heavier jewelry pieces. However, proper attachment of all jump rings makes all the difference in the world.

It is important to think about what you are using a given jump ring for and how you want to attach it. If you open and close a jump ring too many times (more than three), you will weaken it. One of the biggest mistakes people make involves the ways in which they pull jump rings apart. To open and close jump rings, you will need either jump ring pliers, chain pliers or needle-nose pliers.

You will use two pairs of pliers, one in each hand. Start by placing the jump ring in between the two pairs of pliers, and then slightly twist one hand towards you and the other hand away from you until you have created a small opening in your jump ring. Never pull a jump ring apart in a manner that increases its diameter. This will cause the ring to deform and will also make it less stable. After you have attached the jump ring, you close it tightly by reversing the process.

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