Split rings question

Is there an easy way to 'open' them up to use?

I'm working on the necklace I posted a mock up
picture of a while ago, it requires 5 of these
difficult little bu**ers. If anyone would like
to see the piture again, here it is
http://melinda-mullen.fotopic.net/p50507261.html

Thanks

There's also another pair of earrings there, the
present for my friend. I need to take pictures
of a couple other things I've done since, but I'll
probably leave uploading until I've got this necklace
finished.... if I can work out these split rings...

--
Melinda
http://cust.idl.com.au/athol

I HATE split-rings! I never can get them open without a great deal of work,
and I always seem to tweak them so they don't close right. I'm not real
tidy with wire work either, but I do a much better job with that. I'll use
a head pin (or wire) with a heavy enough gauge to just curl over into a
simple loop. Or I'll use finer wire and make a wrapped loop, where you curl
the end around the stem after you make the loop.

Tina

"melinda" wrote in message
...
Is there an easy way to 'open' them up to use?

I'm working on the necklace I posted a mock up
picture of a while ago, it requires 5 of these
difficult little bu**ers. If anyone would like
to see the piture again, here it is
http://melinda-mullen.fotopic.net/p50507261.html

Thanks

There's also another pair of earrings there, the
present for my friend. I need to take pictures
of a couple other things I've done since, but I'll
probably leave uploading until I've got this necklace
finished.... if I can work out these split rings...

--
Melinda
http://cust.idl.com.au/athol

On Jul 26, 7:23 am, melinda wrote:
Is there an easy way to 'open' them up to use?

If anyone would like
to see the picture again, here it ishttp://melinda-mullen.fotopic.net/p50507261.html


Melinda,

not sure I'd call it easy, and it depends on the split rings.
The plated ones I first grab with round nose pliers, grip tight
and wiggle back and forth a bit in case the rings are stuck
together. To actually open them up I use my thumb nail
(non-dominant hand). Some of them are a royal pain, but
those are usually the nicer looking ones. I haven't used
sterling or gold filled ones, when I connect something with
those I usually wrap or coil. Split rings for me are to connect
clasps,
eye glass leash ends, or sometimes earrings to make the ear hooks
exchangeable (in case somebody wants a pair of earrings I'm wearing,
to make it easy to put new hooks on. And in case somebody wants
clip-ons. I have the findings, but I don't usually make earrings as
clip-ons.)

Aloha,
Maren
HiloBeads: Beads - Beading Supplies - Hand-made Jewelry
http://www.hilobeads.com/
Blog at: http://hilobeads.blogspot.com/

On Jul 26, 10:00*pm, Maren at google wrote:
On Jul 26, 7:23 am, melinda wrote:

Is there an easy way to 'open' them up to use?
*If anyone would like
to see the picture again, here it ishttp://melinda-mullen.fotopic.net/p50507261.html

Melinda,


If you are going to work with split rings, you need to buy yourself a pair of split ring pliers - Beadsmith makes excellent ones and they are under $10.00. In the long run, that investment is a small one compared to all the frustration you will save yourself and your fingernails.
Sterling split rings are much easier to open than plated ones.

Patti

Patti wrote:
On Jul 26, 10:00?pm, Maren at google wrote:
On Jul 26, 7:23 am, melinda wrote:

Is there an easy way to 'open' them up to use?
?If anyone would like
to see the picture again, here it ishttp://melinda-mullen.fotopic.net/p50507261.html

Melinda,


If you are going to work with split rings, you need to buy yourself a pair of split ring pliers - Beadsmith makes excellent ones and they are under $10.00. In the long run, that investment is a small one compared to all the frustration you will save yourself and your fingernails.
Sterling split rings are much easier to open than plated ones.

Patti

Thanks everyone, I'll have a look for the pliers
mainly because I have enoug trouble with nail
breakage with out damaging them first :-(
Inevitably I will end p making matching necklaces
to go with the earrings I make. (No plans on selling,
just for myself, friends, and family)

--
Melinda
http://cust.idl.com.au/athol

Those of you who are new to this newsgroup may not have seen the "BFNR"
occurances before, or seen 'em and not known what they are. Well, it is
"Beads For No Reason" that sometimes we send to each other..just because.
Because we can, because we want to...because we like the person on the other
end. I have so many good friends right here that are dear to me, and yet
that I wouldnt recognize if met on the street as we've never actually SEEN
each other.

Tina is one such friend to me. I love her for many reasons, mostly for the
insights and words she shares here in the newsgroup. But ALSO because she's
a sweetheart that has gifted me several times--and now with a lovely GFNR
package. Yep, labled right there on the envelope, "GFNR" and it was Ginseng
extract, for no reason other than she cares about me! What a great present.
I havent had any for many years, but on opening the cute glass jar (not
teeny, either) the smell was instantly recognizable and oh so welcome.
Rooty! Earthy! Warm! and energising in a such a gentle yet stimulating way.
Just like Tina (well, not the rooty part, and not the smell....but you know
what I'm going for here.)
Thank you my friend, this is a wonderful addition to my summertime. I feel
better already.
((((((((((((((SMOOOOOCHES!!!!)))))))))))
Sarajane

Too often, I have tweaked a split ring because what I'm putting on it is too
thick, and the ring won't lie nicely together any more. So I don't use
them. IF I did, I'd definitely get the pliers. Good investment.

Tina


"Patti" wrote in message
...
On Jul 26, 10:00 pm, Maren at google wrote:
On Jul 26, 7:23 am, melinda wrote:

Is there an easy way to 'open' them up to use?
If anyone would like
to see the picture again, here it
ishttp://melinda-mullen.fotopic.net/p50507261.html

Melinda,


If you are going to work with split rings, you need to buy yourself a pair
of split ring pliers - Beadsmith makes excellent ones and they are under
$10.00. In the long run, that investment is a small one compared to all the
frustration you will save yourself and your fingernails.
Sterling split rings are much easier to open than plated ones.

Patti

(re-sending)

Oh my! I just feel wonderful all over!! And you said those things about me
that I feel about you. I have so often gotten such useful information about
herbs from you, and you speak so eloquently on many subjects. And that
doesn't even address you as an artist.

I noticed we had plenty of Ginseng, and we'll be going to China town in San
Francisco in Sept, so I thought sending it to you would be the best use I
had for it. You know, you're a little like ginseng yourself. Earthy and a
little kick-ass, but gently.

Tina


"Sarajane Helm" wrote in message
. ..
Those of you who are new to this newsgroup may not have seen the "BFNR"
occurances before, or seen 'em and not known what they are. Well, it is
"Beads For No Reason" that sometimes we send to each other..just because.
Because we can, because we want to...because we like the person on the
other
end. I have so many good friends right here that are dear to me, and yet
that I wouldnt recognize if met on the street as we've never actually
SEEN
each other.

Tina is one such friend to me. I love her for many reasons, mostly for the
insights and words she shares here in the newsgroup. But ALSO because
she's
a sweetheart that has gifted me several times--and now with a lovely GFNR
package. Yep, labled right there on the envelope, "GFNR" and it was
Ginseng
extract, for no reason other than she cares about me! What a great
present.
I havent had any for many years, but on opening the cute glass jar (not
teeny, either) the smell was instantly recognizable and oh so welcome.
Rooty! Earthy! Warm! and energising in a such a gentle yet stimulating
way.
Just like Tina (well, not the rooty part, and not the smell....but you
know
what I'm going for here.)
Thank you my friend, this is a wonderful addition to my summertime. I feel
better already.
((((((((((((((SMOOOOOCHES!!!!)))))))))))
Sarajane

Does anyone do group BFNRs here anymore?

~ Sooz

On Jul 31, 9:23*am, "Sarajane Helm" wrote:
Those of you who are new to this newsgroup may not have seen the "BFNR"
occurances before, or seen 'em and not known what they are. Well, it is
"Beads For No Reason" that sometimes we send to each other..just because.
Because we can, because we want to...because we like the person on the other
end. I have so many good friends right here that are dear to me, and yet
that I wouldnt recognize if met *on the street as we've never actually SEEN
each other.

Tina is one such friend to me. I love her for many reasons, mostly for the
insights and words she shares here in the newsgroup. But ALSO because she's
a sweetheart that has gifted me several times--and now with a lovely GFNR
package. Yep, labled right there on the envelope, "GFNR" and it was Ginseng
extract, for no reason other than she cares about me! What a great present.

What happened here that we can't say "buggers"? Is there some
moderator who'll bust us up? Or has it just gotten really ladyllike
while I've been away?

```````````````````````````````````````

On Jul 26, 10:23*am, melinda wrote:
Is there an easy way to 'open' them up to use?

I'm working on the necklace I posted a mock up
picture of a while ago, it requires 5 of these
difficult little bu**ers. *If anyone would like
to see the piture again, here it ishttp://melinda-mullen.fotopic.net/p50507261.html

Thanks

There's also another pair of earrings there, the
present for my friend. *I need to take pictures
of a couple other things I've done since, but I'll
probably leave uploading until I've got this necklace
finished.... if I can work out these split rings...

--
Melinda
http://cust.idl.com.au/athol