Silver Flame Bail
Metalsmiths: How would i make a sterling silver bail larger (diameter) with household products?
I need a bail to be bigger. The chain i have is too large fer it to pass through. The chain is about 10 or 11mm big (diameter). The bail is about 5mm big (diameter).
How would i be able to make the bail larger? I'm not a metalsmith so i doubt i have the necessary items in my house right now. Could i heat it up just a little bit (enough fer it to become malleable) then use a metal bar and push it outward (using a circular motion)? I think an open flame would be best. Proper saftey equipment like thick padded, heat proof gloves and goggles.
but are there ways to do this without having to pay a metalsmith to do it fer me?
Any help appreciated. Thanks.
**I actually have one of those flat range stoves, not an open flame one.
EDIT: Hey Thanks Chirp, that was a very informative explanation. I'll definitely have to check out those findings shops if i can't find a metalsmith. much appreciated.
Unless there is a LOT of metal in the bail, it probably isn't possible to do this with out breaking or severely weakening the metal. Jewelers often enlarge rings by stretching them (by hammering) on a mandrel, which is a cone-shaped piece of metal - there's no heating involved because silver is pretty ductile (stretchable), but they only change them this way by 2 sizes at MOST. You're talking about doubling the diameter of the bail, which will probably leave it at less than half its current thickness. You could TRY doing something similar at home, but realize that it's very likely to break.
The best DIY solution is probably to add one or two sterling jump rings to the bail. If it's ok to rotate the item on the bail by 90 degrees (like it's a sphere, say), you need just one ring big enough to hold the chain plus the bail. If the item shouldn't turn (like it's a flat pendant, say), you'll need a 2-ring setup - one big enough to hold the chain plus another jump ring (maybe 15-16mm? bigger won't hurt), and then a second jump ring to connect this one to the bail. You can get this sort of finding in many of the national chain craft stores like Hobby Lobby, etc., or there are a number of good online sites for ordering them, like Fire Mountain Gems and Shipwreck Beads (look in the 'findings' section). If you decide to use jump rings, here's a tip: to open a jump ring, TWIST the ends away from each other - never spread them apart (it's harder to do and they never go back together right). This approach is quick, easy, low-cost, and can't hurt your piece.
But, the BEST idea is to first take the piece to a jeweler who does repairs and talk to him/her about options and get estimates - most jewelers will talk to you for free, and seeing the piece in person might suggest a simple and inexpensive fix.
Good luck!
