Hinges

[Patstone]

For almost two years I have struggled to make a hinge for a locket I started to make when I attended my beginners course, the lady teaching the course had no idea how to make one so i left it, and have had several attempts to make it, and put it in my "to do later" box. My skills and confidence have improved a bit so I took it out to have another go at it today. Eventually I managed to solder the tube on, but did it in one piece and tried to cut it after, that didnt work very well, but not really bothered whether it looks ok, as long as it actually works. I would love to know the easiest and correct way of making a hinge because one day I would like to make another locket. I have a lot of books but they dont make much sense. Any help would be appreciated.

[Goldsmith]

May I ask what shape and size your locket is?

James

[Patstone]

its round and about 3cm across

[solitarysmagick]

I have been wanting to try making a hinged locket for a while, I'd love some advise on this too!

[Goldsmith]

I have done a sketch, I hope it makes sense. If not let me know.
Hinges are easier if you have the correct files and a joint filing tool, but if you are not fussy about the hinge quality then you can do without a joint filing tool:http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery-Tools/Joint-Filing-Tool-prcode-999-596
A correct size joint file is a parallel round file that is the same diameter as the tube you are using, or slightly smaller;http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery-Tools/Parallel-Round-File-Cut-2-2.4-Diameter-20cm-Overall-Length-prcode-999-564
You can cut a groove with a half round scorper or file it roughly with a round needle file if you are not fussy. File the grooves to a depth that is half the diameter of the tube, cut three tube lengths, one shorter than the other two, solder the shortest tube onto one side, pickle and clean, then use this half to position the other two tubes before soldering them in place.

James

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[medusa]

A quick question, James, The soldered bearer wire is the part which is filed away and which you solder the tube to? Sorry if it's a really stupid and obvious question.

[Goldsmith]

A quick question, James, The soldered bearer wire is the part which is filed away and which you solder the tube to? Sorry if it's a really stupid and obvious question.

Yes, it's called a bearer wire in the trade, it may be easier to call it the tube supporter wire.
I looked through my photos and this apple I made shows an example of the bearer wires and tubes.

James

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[Patstone]

Hello James, thanks for the information, but what should it look like from the outside. I thought lockets had the hinge on the outside.
I have never heard of bearer wire before, and I wouldnt know how to fit it. Does it go inside the locket halves, or fit just in one half. In one of the books I have it shows a locket side view with a "V" carved into it where the tube part of the hinge is to go, but I tried it and it didnt work, well not for me anyway. Thank you for trying to help me, sorry but I dont really understand.

[Patstone]

I tried to get a photo but it wont download for some reason.

[Wallace]

Hello James, thanks for the information, but what should it look like from the outside. I thought lockets had the hinge on the outside.
I have never heard of bearer wire before, and I wouldnt know how to fit it. Does it go inside the locket halves, or fit just in one half. In one of the books I have it shows a locket side view with a "V" carved into it where the tube part of the hinge is to go, but I tried it and it didnt work, well not for me anyway. Thank you for trying to help me, sorry but I dont really understand.
Hi Pat,

there is a great (and fun) video by Nancy L T Hamilton - she has a variety of things to watch and learn by.... here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMxkp260Ox8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMxkp260Ox8 and the video - worth a watch.

kindest

Wallace

[Didi]

I've made a few hinges now. The tricky bit seems to be getting all the tubes to line up so when you come to put all the bits together they're still in a straight line. If you put pencil leads (the sort they sell for propelling pencils) through the tubes you can keep them lined up while you solder them. The other thing to use is thin wire covered in cooking oil, the solder won't stick to it and the tubes stay lined up.
Didi

[Dennis]

Hi Pat,
If you have looked at Nancy's video, you will know that her hinge is for joining two flat units of a bracelet. She does show how to paint antiflux (tippex) on the knuckles and make small bevels to hold back the flow of solder, although I would use even less solder. You can always separate the parts afterwards and add a little more solder if required. If you need to do this it helps to put put a pencil lead into the twin knuckles first.
Pencil leads come in various sizes upto 1.0mm and you can even split a wooden pencil for this.

Now when you come to a hollow locket and use the jointing file, you will most likely end up with a gap and not enough metal to solder knuckles to. Hence James has shown a bearer wire split between the to halves to give a more solid base for the hinge. This can also be made from a half piece (lengthwise) of tubing to match your file, soldered into both parts glued together with superglue and then cut through to separate them again . This leaves each half of the locket with a quarter tube for the bearer.

In the locket I made below I added an inner flat rim, which gave me enough solid metal to add the knuckles without a further bearer. You will see that although I tried hard the result is not that even. Dennis.

[Patstone]

I watched the video but as I could guess the basic principle, the one I am trying to do is on a circular domed item and although its the same principle, I filed a section around 2cm long on the round so it has a flat side where the hinge is to go, but the domed bits have to have a rim inside to hold the catch on the opening side, so there is nothing to hold the tube unless I hammer it flat where the hinge is to go (if that makes sense).

[Dennis]

there is nothing to hold the tube unless I hammer it flat where the hinge is to go (if that makes sense).

No, that is the point of the bearer. You file to make room for a hollowed rectangular wire or a half tube and solder it in with the locket super glued together. Then cut through, so they are separate again.

[Patstone]

so does the bearer sit inside the locket, I feel so stupid, as normally practically I am quite good, can lay my hands to most things, not all well mind you, but can do a bit of plumbing, woodwork and electricals, just basic stuff but useful none the less. Its surprising what you can learn if you have to, lived on my own for fifteen years, wasnt going down the married line again, and had very little money to do things, ended up buying a house that has been neglected for a long time, so got my tools and had a go. Ended up getting married again but to someone who cant do DIY so its still useful. Saying all that, I just cant get my head around this one.


No, that is the point of the bearer. You file to make room for a hollowed rectangular wire or a half tube and solder it in with the locket super glued together. Then cut through, so they are separate again.

[Goldsmith]

Yes the bearer is soldered inside the locket, if you look at my sketch (A) I coloured the bearer wire that was soldered in place red, a section like this is soldered into each half of the locket to give a nice thick area to be able to file the grooves to hold the hinge tubes. This is easier to show than explain. To hold the bearer wire in place while soldering, I use one of my small stainless steel soldering clamps. We call these hinges hidden joints as they do not show when the locket is closed, allowing the locket to retain it's original shape. In some cases the bearer wire can be soldered to the outside of the locket shapes, making the joint tubes visible, this method is used when you want a hinge that has 5,7 or even more tubes on the hinge/joint.

James

[Jazzy]

Hi James / dennis,

Didn't get the bearer initially, now I understand I'm impressed.

Thank you

[Goldsmith]

I had a look through my old boxes of bits and found this example of a simple three tube hinge, I think it was going to be a cherry and I was not satisfied with my hinge effort, so I re made it. But not being finished this was easy to photograph and perhaps show the hinge in detail. The filing of the tubes to shape is done after they are soldered in place.

James

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[trialuser]

That make it easier to understand thanks - a picture speaks a thousand etc.
It was the terminology which threw me, bearer wire - I pictured a length of wire.
I'll think of it as a reinforcing fillet.
Cheers

[Patstone]

That makes it very clear James, thank you. My locket had a thin disc inside around the perimeter (I copied my daughters shop bought one originally, until she lost it) and it had a small hole opposite the hinge to close it shut. Just out of interest how would you close yours. Just out of interest what do you call the round files that are the same size all the way down please, not sure what to ask for.

[Goldsmith]

I make spring clips or interior bezels for these items, a whole other lesson sometime. The files are called parallel round files, Cookson advertise one that is 2.4mm. diameter,
I do not know who else stocks them but I am sure other suppliers do. I have a box of many sizes that I bought from a tool stand at one of the Basel trade fairs, I think they call this fair Baselworld these days, but it is a major European show held every year around April.

James

[ps_bond]

I know Fischer do a decent range of joint files, I'd assume they have a similar selection of parallel rounds too.

[Patstone]

I am not sure if its worth me buying one because I doubt that I will do many hinges, and I have round needle files but the pointy variety, sorry thats not a technical term, not sure what they are called either. I dont think Cooksons do joint files. I bought a tube cutter the other day because I wanted to do tube settings and thought it may be easier, I also use it for cutting wire, and it seems to work with all shapes of wire too.

[Patstone]

James, without the lip inside the locket, how would you fit a closer on it?



I make spring clips or interior bezels for these items, a whole other lesson sometime. The files are called parallel round files, Cookson advertise one that is 2.4mm. diameter,
I do not know who else stocks them but I am sure other suppliers do. I have a box of many sizes that I bought from a tool stand at one of the Basel trade fairs, I think they call this fair Baselworld these days, but it is a major European show held every year around April.

James

[Goldsmith]

The photos showing the hinge are of an un finished item, yes I would have added interior fitting such as a lip around each half and perhaps also a bezel in one half.
Fittings like on this finished piece.
James

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[Dennis]

Cookson only have the one parallel round file, 999564 2.4mm diameter as described by James. This is rather large for most jewellery.

Karl Fischer, WWW.goldschmiedebedarf.de mentioned by Peter has four "starke", starting at 0.5mm and going up to 2.0mm. This might refer to diameter or it might mean cut, because a half mm diameter seems a bit unlikely. They are called 3893 zylindrische scharnierfeilen. Dennis.

[Wallace]

Sorry to butt in, Fischer now have a link to make the wording in English too. For example put in: Joint file and it brings up this
http://www.goldschmiedebedarf.de/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=joint+file


or a for a joint file, visit to Walsh (sorry cookies)
http://www.hswalsh.com/Needle-File-.aspx?i=TF8132&c=248

but I could be missing the point - back to normal viewing. Sorry to interrupt :)

[Dennis]

Not butting in at all Wallace: every little helps as they say (guess where?). The parallel round files from Fischer as described on-line do include one 0.5mm in diameter but I can' imagine it lasting long in my hands, or what I would use it for.

The files for which you have provided a link are also called gapping files and are what Nancy Hamilton uses in her video. They are quite difficult to find in UK, although I once bought one at Euromounts And Findings. They will also perfect standard gaps. I needed mine to help with lettering, but it never clicked until now that they could cut channels for hinges.

The Walsh one is a needle file, but they don't give the dimensions. Regards, Dennis.

[Goldsmith]

It is a sign of the times when some tools are getting hard to find. I also have the gapping files in many sizes, they are good for starting off hinge channels, but I do like to use the parallel round files more as they can be used to file the tube groove when holding the two sides together to form the hole.
This company does stock some Vallorbe parallel files;http://www.gesswein.com/p-5447-swiss-precision-files-round-parallel.aspx?cpagenum=&sortfield=Price&sortdirection=DESC&perpage=

James

[Patstone]

Cookies sell a cut 2 in 2.4mm - not sure if it would be small enough for a locket hinge, should I attempt to have another go at it. At the moment I am trying to perfect stone setting, I can now do flush and tube settings, so hinges will be my next learning curve. If you are thinking about emigrating now is the time.



It is a sign of the times when some tools are getting hard to find. I also have the gapping files in many sizes, they are good for starting off hinge channels, but I do like to use the parallel round files more as they can be used to file the tube groove when holding the two sides together to form the hole.
This company does stock some Vallorbe parallel files;http://www.gesswein.com/p-5447-swiss-precision-files-round-parallel.aspx?cpagenum=&sortfield=Price&sortdirection=DESC&perpage=

James

[Didi]

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Hi Pat
I made this locket a while ago. It was trial and error, much swearing and it's not at all perfect. I think i fitted the hinge a minimum of 5 times. I wish I'd seen the video before I did it!!!
I fitted a 'washer' round the inside of both halves, this allowed enough metal to file the groove for the hinge which as you can see sits on the outside. I didn't know bearer tubes existed.
The clasp is a simple bit of bent wire that fits over the edge of the other half - not elegant I will admit but its lasted at least 2 years now.
At the time I had absolutely no specialised tools, no joint cutter or straight edge files, I didn't even know you could wire stuff together for soldering! it made it far more difficult but as you can see it worked. To be truthful I learnt so much doing this and I love it
Didi

[Patstone]

Didi that is lovely, when I started making mine it was in the last few weeks of the ten week course of one evening a week for two hours, so tuition was a bit limited, and I was trying to run before I could walk as usual. The tutor had never made hinges so it was a case of lets see who is wearing a locket and destroy it to see how it fits together. Well my daughter was attending the course as well, and guess who had the locket on. I copied it as best I could, but we ran out of time, as the class finished and at home we had no tools to complete. We both wanted to carry on with silver jewellery making so both have collected a lot of tools now, but time went on and I had put the locket in a "to do later" box. The other day I trying to get inspiration and saw the locket and thought about having a go at finishing it. I managed to get the hinge to stay soldered this time, and it has been a trial to say the least, but its stayed soldered. The next step is to put a silver pin through it as at the moment it has a piece of wire, but the hinge works although it looks very messy. I put a washer around inside mine too, but it was a bit too thin I think and I have to admit, not soldered on very well either. Did you pierce first and then dome or dome first then pierce?

[Didi]

Pat, ah, that would be another learning curve. Definitely dome first, pierce later. I can guarantee it will distort if you do it the other way round. :(|

[Patstone]

Very clever, beautiful work.


Pat, ah, that would be another learning curve. Definitely dome first, pierce later. I can guarantee it will distort if you do it the other way round. :(|

[caroleallen]

I'd be very happy with that Didi. Has it got stones set inside?

[Didi]

Yes,it's got 5 stones. I'm one of 5 sisters and there's one for each of us. Jolly fiddly to set and I made a bit if a mess polishing it to try and get the firestain off. All the resoldering I think, it was covered in the stuff!
Thanks for your comments
Didi