In this video, I demonstrate how to make pearl stud earrings using round wire, pearl beads and the Zapp micro welder. This method works for any bead and micro welder that has low power setting.
The trick to creating a ball at the end of a piece of wire so as to stop it from slipping through the hole of the bead. You can do this with lower power and blunting the electrode. It is always a good idea to have a separate electrode that is blunt, and you can keep this aside for your fabrications.
For most people, the best thickness for stud earrings or hooks is 19ga (0.9mm), however, you can use as thin as 22 gauge (0.65mm) because there are silicone backings that are super grippy. What you do not want is a wire that is too thick because it will be uncomfortable to wear.
It will be much easier, if the hole of the bead cap, or the bead itself, to be similar in diameter to your wire. However, if the hole of the bead is very large, you can use a bead cap that has a smaller hole.
In the video, I show how to weld bead cap to the post. However, if you find this either difficult or you don’t want to do it, you can use jewelry glue and here is a video where I tested the strength of different jewelry glues on the market.
