Adding Screw Eyes to Polymer Clay Charms and Pendants

Рет қаралды 49,755

8 жыл бұрын

Video #724: Have you ever lost a jewelry charm becasue the eyelet came loose? Well... today's video addresses that problem... More Info: www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?... Polymer Clay Tutor.
If you have ever made a polymer clay charm, pendant or earrings that you wanted to hang from something, you will need to add some sort of loop to it.
What a lot of people do is take their charm and stick an eye pin into it before baking, and leave it at that. But before long, that eye pin will fall out and you (or your customer) will lose the charm :(
I do have a tutorial on how to make those eye pins work better, by bending the end before inserting into the unbaked charm. But an even more secure way to attach a loop to a charm is to use a screw eye.
You may have seen them before... they are kind of an industrial looking little fastener that you wood get at the hardware store or jewelry supply store. They come in different sizes and finishes.
Here is a tiny one I found years ago at a jewelry supply place that is about 1/16" OD (Outside diameter)... and one that is about 3/16" OD I found at a hardware store (I mistakenly said 3/8" in the video)... and one that is about a 1/4" OD made by Tim Holtz that I got at Michaels. The nice thing about the Tim Holtz ones is that they come in three antique finishes and there are 36 in the pack.
There are lots of places you can buy screw eyes. The nice thing about them is that they screw into the polymer clay and are very secure.... especially if you put them in the way I show in today's video... by adding a drop of super glue to "lock" them in.
I show you some examples of how I used the screw eyes in a Leopard Cane Pendant with a Copper Tape wrap... and on a Happy Camper Cane charm bracelet.
The advantages of using screw eyes instead of eye pins on a polymer clay charm (especially charms that will go onto a charm bracelet)... (1) They are much sturdier and they don't get bent open with all the twisting that a charm does on a bracelet... and (2) they don't pull out since they are screwed into the clay and secured with a drop of glue.
There are different reasons why you may want to use a screw eye on a particular shape of polymer clay charm or pendant. Perhaps your piece is too large to drill all the way through... or an unusual shape that does not work well with a bail type finding. In these cases, a screw eye may be the perfect solution.
Just like putting a screw into wood, it is best if you pre-drill a small pilot hole into your polymer clay piece before threading in the screw eye. This will ensure that the finding goes in nice and straight without cracking the clay.
However, it is important that your drill bit is smaller than the outside diameter of the threads, so that the screw shank ends up with just enough material to "bite" into. If the hole is too big, the screw will just fall out.
In the video, I show you what drill bits I use, and how to drill into the polymer clay. I got a great set of tiny drill bits for only $6 at Contenti, which is a Jewelry Making Tool Store Online.
You will also need to add a drop of super glue or something similar, to secure the screw eye and keep it from turning and unscrewing from your piece. I show you how to do that as well in the video.
You have put a lot of effort into making your polymer clay jewelry and charms... so make sure you put some care and attention into installing eyelets that will keep your pieces secure.
Related Video: Securing Eye Pins in Your Polymer Clay Charms... www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?...
Related Video: Polymer Clay Leopard Print Cane... www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?...
Related Video: Copper Foil Wrapped Pendants... www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?...
Related Video: Happy Camper Cane Polymer Clay Tutorial... www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?...
Related Video: Aurora Northern Lights Polymer Clay Tutorial... www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?...
And... more info about today's video is at my blog... www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?...
Cindy Lietz & Doug Lietz Social Links:
/ polymerclaytutor
/ polymerclay
/ pctutor
/ polymerclaytips
Polymer Clay Tutor... "Make what you love... Love what you make."

Пікірлер: 100

@Jimaiah3576 8 жыл бұрын

Perfect timing. I just purchased some small screw eyes for button shanks. They'll need to be able to stand up to lots of use and stay put! Thank you again!

@Surfchickoxo Жыл бұрын

Hi Cindy! Love your videos! Question, When putting the Screw Eye in and making the pilot hole, Is the clay baked or unbaked? Thanks!

@lifeisgood7740 3 жыл бұрын

Great video. I love the way you present the information without any theatrics.

@angelabonidemarco7532 8 жыл бұрын

Love it! Just about to do this on a charm so now I'm good to go. Thanks Cindy, loving your work! 👍😁👏

@polymerclayinspired7248 6 жыл бұрын

Always love your tutorials

@joyceparkes2678 5 жыл бұрын

You are a clear gem! Thank you for your excellent tutorials 😘

@PolymerClayTutor 5 жыл бұрын

You are so welcome Joyce! 💖🙂💖

@dianethompson8079 8 жыл бұрын

So helpful, as always! Thank you for this.

@sifouniospottery 8 жыл бұрын

I enjoy the video.Thank you for sharing with us.

@elizabethvallely4044 8 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your tips very helpful! Thank you for sharing!!!

@racheleprojects 2 жыл бұрын

This is very helpful. Thank you!

@lornapayne1872 8 жыл бұрын

Oh how envious I am that you have Michaels!! I am in UK and many of the products you get I have to send to the US for and then they take an age to arrive - sometimes it costs a fortune in tax too. Maybe I should emigrate?? Thank you Cindy. Love all your tutorials.

@jude1515 6 жыл бұрын

Very helpful video. I have used wire for various projects and sometimes it comes out of the project I am working on.

@lindeclark65 6 жыл бұрын

Id love to see tutorials on bangle making; both copper and polymer

@theresadupnaipitaluh6742 2 жыл бұрын

Very informative. Thank you so much. ❤️

@PolymerClayTutor 2 жыл бұрын

You are so welcome!

@yasmincourtney9830 5 ай бұрын

so easy to understand

@laurarox80 5 жыл бұрын

That was helpful. I found some miniature birds I wanted to turn into charms, but idk how a drill bit would do on them. I was thinking there might be a piece I could just glue onto them? Thanks for the videos!

@PolymerClayTutor 5 жыл бұрын

You're welcome! 💖

@user-dn9vd9xg9p Ай бұрын

Can I insert the eyescrew before i bake the polymer, and will it stay in? Thanks. 😊

@GB58able 8 жыл бұрын

I have the need for some advice, he has made some really nice pendants, with matching earrings, but he has made the pendants with a small eye pin hole. I want to attach these to some nice chains and would prefer using bails in order to make the necklace much nicer for selling. Most of the time, the chain is thicker than the small eye on the bead. I tried attaching a jump ring and then attach the bail to the jump ring, but they do not look very nice. (I like using the bails that have a soldered section to attach to the pendant) I've had to use Pinch Bails but don't like that the bail might open up and the pendant could fall out easily. Any suggestions on how the handle the pendants he has already done? I've asked him to make the pin longer and not to make the loop so that I can close the loop onto the bails that I like, but he has already made such pretty ones and the pin has been glued to the bead, so nearly impossible to remove the pin without damaging the pendant.

@annacarrie269 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I made a necklace out of polymer for my cousin, but made the band out of polymer as well. The band broke the first day she wore it. Why didn't this work? I thought I made it thick enough, and baked it attached to the rest of the pendant. I didn't attach the pendant to a chain, but to string

@cruisegirl60 7 жыл бұрын

Can you use screw eyes in the hollow beads, if wanting to do just a lone pendant?

@angelasartori8706 2 жыл бұрын

Can I just say when ever I have a question I can always find a tutorial you have done that answers it! Thank you for all the information you share with us! 😘😘😘❤️

@PolymerClayTutor 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much Angela! I am happy to hear the videos are helpful for you!

@janiewarre9941 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much

@keseanmcdonald99 8 жыл бұрын

dope I mean amzing!

@jaykess7933 4 жыл бұрын

Is inserting the eye screw in this video, before or after the clay charm has been completely finished/made/ baked? Thanks!

@PolymerClayTutor 4 жыл бұрын

After they have been completely finished.

@jaykess7933 4 жыл бұрын

@@PolymerClayTutor thank you!! :)

@wyattgibson2559 3 жыл бұрын

A tip : you can watch movies on flixzone. Me and my gf have been using it for watching lots of of movies recently.

@alijahkohen7946 3 жыл бұрын

@Wyatt Gibson Yup, been using Flixzone} for since november myself :)

@LeslieNikulka 8 жыл бұрын

Hi Cindy! Did you make the heavy duty jump ring attached to the pendant eye screw?

@dikdebruijn5101 6 жыл бұрын

Could you please tell me where you got your pin vise? You say the same around 6:04, but I apparently didn't understand it as I can't find the store. Thank you for the information.

@PrismSoul 6 жыл бұрын

Hi where online did you say you purchased this drill set? Love all your helpful neat tips❤

@honeybunny5325 8 жыл бұрын

Hi it's me again I have bought some eye scews from Amazon and was shocked at how small they were, they are 8x4mm!! Could I still use for future projects as haven't started yet? I appreciate your expertise advice. ps I love you videos very useful😊

@lovedog49507 7 жыл бұрын

What if you clay is translucent will these eyelets work ?

@gaelewis6623 Жыл бұрын

I'm making boar hog tusk necklace,do you think while using risen to fill the tusk will the eye screws dry in risen verses trying to screw them in after risen has dried?

@C0nv3rsL0v3r143 6 жыл бұрын

Can You Use Screw Pins Instead Of Eye Pins For All Polymer Clay Charms Ect.?

@jamjamgardens4677 2 жыл бұрын

For the thinner pieces, don't you find the screw eyes crack the bead?

@kathayiskrzycki979 8 жыл бұрын

Hi Cindy, Where did you buy your drill......also have you demoed making salt beads using polymer clay? If not can you please demo them...Kathay

@Knorkooli 2 жыл бұрын

I know this is rather old video, but for glue that E6000 glue would be ideal here. It does take about 24 to maybe 48 hours to completely dry thru, but it won't ever come back out and the glue won't become brittle over time.

@ashlynoatley8563 6 ай бұрын

Just a question. Would this method work for ceramic aswell or just polymer.

@katiefelgar7377 6 жыл бұрын

Do you do this before or after baking

@richi6727 7 жыл бұрын

can i just put tls on the eye pin ?

@margaretgrell 2 жыл бұрын

What do i do if my clay pendant is already baked? Will this work?

@latinsweetheart8847 2 жыл бұрын

Can this still be done on earrings that are already made?

@tinperez7129 Жыл бұрын

What if there’s an existing hole already In my semi precious stones , How do i fit In an screw eye ? Do i just use a glue ?

@gaelewis6623 Жыл бұрын

Also what's the name of hand held holder for your drill bit?

@kreed2397 8 жыл бұрын

Your pieces are so beautiful Cindy! I really love your leopard & aurora borealis pieces. I was wondering is there any difference between "screw eyes" & "eye screws" or are they the same thing?

@PolymerClayTutor 8 жыл бұрын

+K Reed I believe they are the same thing.

@holliedufur2026 3 ай бұрын

So you do this before baking or after?

@deelicious084 Жыл бұрын

is this after baking and can I use liquid clay instead of glue?

@LilyZoe23 8 жыл бұрын

I've seen people put the eye screw into raw clay then bake, take it out, put on the glue and then put it back in. Is this method just as good as drilling the baked clay?

@PolymerClayTutor 8 жыл бұрын

+Megumi Zoe No... as you see in the videos out there, the clay bulges out where you screw the eye screw in and the hole is all messy. The cleanest way to put a screw eye in is to put it in after baking.

@stevegriffiths5364 5 жыл бұрын

No problems finding the screw in eyelets. I've been searching to buy the screw in hooks to match. Without any luck....

@GB58able 8 жыл бұрын

Does the screw in pin need to go in before or after baking the bead? My husband just asked a good question 'if you decide to use a regular eye pin and bend the end or twist it a bit so it can hold stronger, does the drilled hole in the bead need to be larger in order for the slightly bent or twisted pin can be glued in after it is backed'? Thanks for your help. (BTW, it is too funny, but I just this past week bought him some of those screw pins and told him that these would be better to use than the straight eye pins. Your videos always seem to come out at perfect timing. haha)

@PolymerClayTutor 8 жыл бұрын

+Gloria Borrero Did you watch the other video? The bent eye pin goes into raw clay... No need to drill. For the screw eye, it goes into a baked bead... you do need to drill.

@stacycurrin Жыл бұрын

Hi :) how do you stop your baked polymer clay from cracking when you use a screw eye? So many of my charms crack :( I usually drill a small hole first with a hand drill then twist is the screw eye and the hole cracks. Thanks in advance.

@PolymerClayTutor Жыл бұрын

Hi Stacy, if your charms are cracking when you add the screw eye, it could mean a few different things... the brand of clay you're using isn't a strong clay (SculpeyIII is very brittle)... the clay has been undercured (clay needs to be baked at the correct temp for long enough to properly cure. See my baking videos for tips.)... the hole you're drilling is too small for the size of screw eye you are screwing in. Try these tips and see if that improves the situation. Good luck!

@lisajarvis3820 7 жыл бұрын

Do you do this before or after you bake the clay??

@karrezza 5 жыл бұрын

Looks like its after. Seems easier to just screw and bake in.. 275 degrees is not going to hurt the metal!!

@iluvfigs4712 6 ай бұрын

Please link the drill bits

@honeybunny5325 8 жыл бұрын

Hi I was just abit confused I thought you said using an eyepin was best with the bend when polymer is raw, and using glue leaves marks. Therefore does an screwpin prevail the eyepin?

@PolymerClayTutor 8 жыл бұрын

+Hanife Cizer The best way to use an eye pin is to bend it like I did and to not use glue. On the screw eye, the best thing to do is to put the tiniest drop of glue on the end, so it doesn't end up leaving globs around the hole. There are places where you may want the look of the finer wire eye pin... such as on a necklace that has many dangles on it. There are other places where you may want the extra strength of the screw eye, like on a charm bracelet, or a backpack charm. It really is up to you.

@honeybunny5325 8 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much

@PrismSoul 6 жыл бұрын

Ok where did you get your tool for the tiny drill bits? Do you have a link by any chance?

@PrismSoul 6 жыл бұрын

@ Elise P....Wow, why did you even bother responding to me, If I was asking her a question! You started out rude then you go on to be helpful. I was taught to be kind & respectful to people. Guess, not all of us are taught mannerism. Anywho, grant it I would have made an effort to look up the info had I known the name of the tools she uses. So, next time please don't even bother trying to be helpful to anyone if your gonna be rude to them for not putting forth "the effort" as you so say...When we all learn from others & learn by asking questions....Geesh I sure hope your not a teacher trying to teach students. How about upbuilding people rather than putting them down for not having knowledge in certain things. Next, time dont say anything to someone, if you have nothing nice to say to them!

@MoonyagamiAndCatears 7 жыл бұрын

Can screw eyes go in the oven I'm a beginner and bought those instead of eye pins ,also is it possible to cook my charms without an oven thermometer? Also thanks for the video really helpful (:

@PolymerClayTutor 7 жыл бұрын

yes screw eyes can go in the oven. It is possible to bake without an oven thermometer, but I wouldn't, you risk either under curing or burning your pieces unless you have the temp right. You can get them anywhere that sells kitchen gadgets (Safeway, Walmart, Target, online). They are super cheap and well worth buying.

@MoonyagamiAndCatears 7 жыл бұрын

PolymerClayTutor thank you so much for your help ! I will wait to bake my charms until I get a thermometer,and keep them in ziploc bags until then. I'm using sculpey 3 , next time I buy clay I would like to get a stronger brand ,do you have any you would recommend for long lasting charms (i want to give them as gifts and not have them break when the person handles it too much)

@PolymerClayTutor 7 жыл бұрын

The strongest clays are Premo, Fimo Classic and Kato Poly Clay. I love Premo the best, but if the others are easier for you to get then they are great too!

@Azblondie63 8 жыл бұрын

could you put them in before you bake the clay, or do you suggest that we do it after like you showed?

@PolymerClayTutor 8 жыл бұрын

+Susie Angel No. I would do it after it is baked, not when raw. It will just mess up the shape.

@Azblondie63 8 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much.

@citrusbutter7718 Жыл бұрын

I'm practically dyslexic when it comes to super small measurements like those tiny thin drill bits. What would you say your range is from the smallest to the largest in your drill bit set? I'm shopping around in Amazon and feel overwhelmed. I can do inches, but the smaller the measurements get the more complicated for me. I mean the width of them not the length. I'm making charms for the first time and i don't know what drill bit would be smaller than the set of screw eyes i'll be buying. The Amazon measurements for the eyescrews are 0.39 * 0.18inch / 10 * 5mm (L * W).

@PolymerClayTutor Жыл бұрын

Hi there, it is a little hard to know what the diameter of the threads on your screw eyes are, but you will want a drill bit that is about one size smaller than the diameter of the threads. Here is a nice drill bit set on Amazon that are smaller and the perfect size for jewelry making projects. It's very handy to have a range of sizes, for lots of situations. Luckily they aren't very expensive. amzn.to/3YzCiw6 (Affiliate Link) Hope that helps!

@citrusbutter7718 Жыл бұрын

@@PolymerClayTutor Ty.

@christycherry9332 8 жыл бұрын

I'm planning making bracelet, this came in Nick of time:) . I'm beginner... Learning has I go!:) I'm looking for the Owl tutorial on your website to purchase, I can't find it...Thank you ..

@PolymerClayTutor 8 жыл бұрын

+Christy Cherry Hi there, we are in the process of making a new site that will be easier to find and but the tutorials. In the meantime, here is the link to where you can buy the Owl Necklace Tutorial: www.beadvideos.com/back-issues-03/vol-064/

@christycherry9332 8 жыл бұрын

+PolymerClayTutor , thank you!!! Also, does hot glue work with polymer clay? I read different stories.

@christycherry9332 8 жыл бұрын

+PolymerClayTutor I purchase the Faux wood pen, but I have a problem, I don't want to become a member, there is certain things I'm interested in, certain ones in the back orders only... so I can get the video I purchase without making another payment of 9.95 become member... I don't want videos interested in.... please help...

@PolymerClayTutor 8 жыл бұрын

+Christy Cherry I sent you an email about this ... be sure to check your junk folder if you are not seeing my emails in your main email in box. Discussing specific order details is always best to do via email :-)

@machineman6498 Жыл бұрын

👍

@lisajarvis3820 7 жыл бұрын

😂 just saw the answer below in others that have asked you!! I bake first!!

@rosey1965 8 жыл бұрын

I noticed your atlas pasta machine - what is the difference between the atlas 150 and the atlas 180?

@PolymerClayTutor 8 жыл бұрын

+Bridgette Roseman the 180 is wider. I believe the Atlas 150 has 150mm sized rollers (6 inches) and the 180 has 180mm (7 inches) sized rollers

@rosey1965 8 жыл бұрын

+PolymerClayTutor thanks

@loumckinney806 8 жыл бұрын

Can you also put the screw eyes into raw clay?

@PolymerClayTutor 8 жыл бұрын

+Lou McKinney No... I wouldn't. It just makes it distort the shape around the hole. It is much cleaner to put the screw eye into baked clay the way I did.

@emrose98 8 жыл бұрын

How was the charm in the thumbnail made?

@PolymerClayTutor 8 жыл бұрын

+Minji Kwon It was made using scraps of clay that had crackled paint on top of translucent clay. I made several layers of the scrap translucent. The little circles were cut from a sheet of the crackled paint on translucent and the just stuck on top. It was just something that I came up with when I was cleaning up my scraps.

@FriscoFittedFanatic 5 жыл бұрын

how big are your eye screws?

@PolymerClayTutor 5 жыл бұрын

The larger ones in the video are this kind: amzn.to/2DbnNbE Which are 10mm x 4.5mm and the tiny ones are 7mm x 3 mm (those are really hard to find tho)