9 thoughts on “How to Make Ear Wires”

  1. Hi Sharon, Thanks! It doesn’t matter what it is because when you solder the post in, it becomes annealed. Give it a little twist, after soldering, with the pliers to harden it for use. You don’t want soft ear posts – the stiffer the better! Good luck and hope this helps. Take care, Nancy

  2. Hi Nancy. Loved this video! It helped me solve my challenge with how to make posts. Do you use dead soft, half hard, or hard 20 gauge wire?

  3. Hi Helen, Don’t you just love a new Rio catalog! Hmmm… Alas, the only similarities between that lovely anvil and mine are the shape. Mine is the cheapie from Harbor Freight which is cast iron, not cast steel. It also looks like the Rio Anvil has a finished surface while I had to spend a few hours grinding, filing, sanding and polishing mine. Also, mine is only 15lbs while Rio’s is 35lbs. That’s a great deal on a beautiful anvil. But, I’m not buying a new one! I really like the Fretz Miniature Forming Stakes (on pgs 111 and 112). The plain ‘ole steel block does the job – most of the time. I like the bigger steel blocks – more room to roll. Those Fretz Bench Anvils look interesting too (pg. 110). Ah, so many lovely tools, so little money… Have a great New Year. Take care and have fun. Thanks for the post! It’s appreciated. Nancy

  5. I really enjoyed this video, Nancy. I was just looking through my new 2013 catalog from Rio Grande last night and landed on the anvil page where the large anvil is located. Wow! A thing of beauty, huh? I believe it is the same size as the one on your workbench. For now, I have to make do with with my itty bitty offspring that is serving me quite well for my skill level. Wishing you a very happy and healthy New Years! <3

  6. Hi Nancy
    Re Earwires
    You’ve taught me something new today, I like your tutorials
    v much.
    Thank you
    Becky

  7. Hi Crystal, The balled up wire is the actual wire melting. Fine silver makes the smoothest ball, sterling often has little cavities – copper and brass too. When you heat the wire just above the end, the end melts and because of physics (the stuff i don’t understand) it melts into a ball. If the balls aren’t perfect, I use a ball bur to round them out and remove any blemishes. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching and writing and take care. Nancy

  9. Hi!
    When you “ball up” the wire, is that solder that has hardened on the tip of a wire or is that a ball that has been attached?

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