Lapidary_Journal_Jewelry_Artist_-_February_2016_

Photo 17 To add an end knuckle to the

back ledge next, place the front and

back domes together with ledges lined

up, pick up a knuckle with a piece of

20 gauge wire, and then fi t the wire

through the already attached center

knuckle. Carefully move the end knuckle

in line with the center one and then add

paste or syringe to secure the newest

knuckle on the back ledge. Dry.

Photo 18Add the third hinge knuckle

also seated on the domed back ledge.

This time, use a 1-mm drill bit to pick up

the knuckle.

TIP: I fi nd that the stiff ness of the drill

bit works to my advantage in aligning all

the knuckles and keeping them in posi-

tion while securing the fi nal one.

Pick up the third knuckle with the

drill bit and then fi t it through the

already affi xed front center and back

edge knuckles. Carefully move the new

knuckle in place and secure with syringe

or paste. Dry. Reinforce all knuckle

connections as needed and dry again.

Photo 19Test the movement of the

hinge by feeding the drill bit or a wire

through all three knuckles. Carefully

open and close the locket several times.

If the movement is not smooth, sand

the sidewalls of the knuckles as needed.

Once you are happy with the hinge

movement, separate the pieces and add

a decorative element to your bottom

dome. Dry.

Create the Locket Clasp

Photo 20To hold the closed locket

securely, a wire tension clasp is

built. This requires the placement of

a knuckle on the back dome piece

approximately ⅜ inch below the 12

o’clock edge. Secure with paste or

syringe and dry.

Photo 21 To the front dome, add a

wedge of clay that will act as a catch for

the wire clasp. Ball up ½ gram of clay,

fl atten to 8 cards thick, and place on

the front dome centered approximately

½ inch below the 12 o’clock edge.

Secure with paste or syringe and dry.

Did you know that

you can use metal

clay to make your

own jewelry find-

ings? Learn how

in Noël Yovovich’s

video, “Make Metal

Clay Findings for

Pins and Pendants.”

Available at http://www.

interweavestore.

com.

OTHER USES

FOR METAL

CLAY

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lapidary journal )( Jewelry artist