Sterling and Gemstone Disc Earrings Tutorial
Page 3: Balling Wire and Piercing
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Step 1: Mark your discs Decide where you want your gemstone beads to go. Make a dot with your permanent marker |
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Step 2: Make your headpins(optional)
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Step 3: Use your center punch Always make a depression with a center punch before drilling into metal. This will give the drill bit something to bite into instead of sliding all over the place.
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Step 4: Pierce the discs A foot-controlled flex-shaft tool like a Foredom is your #1 choice for this job. Unless you're a professional jeweler, you probably don't have one of these handy. I used my Dremel with a drill press workstation attachment and a 0.8mm jewelers drill bit Drill holes into the discs following either the drill press or flex-shaft tool instructions below.
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Step 4 - Instructions for using a drill press setup:
Step 4 - Instructions for using a flexible shaft tool
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The pierced discs should look similar to these. You can wipe the black marks off with rubbing alcohol but if your beads will be covering them up, then don't bother. |
Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: Tools and Materials List
Page 3: Balling Wire and Piercing
Page 4: Attaching the Beads
Page 5: Making a Wrapped Loop Eyepin
Page 6: Make a Simple Forged Loop
Page 7: Assemble Components and Make a Steel Brushed Patina
Related Pages
Return from Balling Wire and Piercing to How to Make Silver Jewelry
Return from Balling Wire and Piercing to Earring Making
Return to How to Make Jewelry Home Page





