Work-hardening ear posts on studs

[Former_Member]

Hello, and thank you for allowing me to join this awesome team!
i'm having a silly little technical issue that i am sure has an easy answer. when making stud earrings, i make my own posts with half hard 18 or 20 g square wire. After soldering, they are so soft that i hammer gently on a tiny bench block to harden. they are still pretty flimsy. What do others do or use? should i be less concerned about being handmade and just epoxy bought ones on?

[khmetalwork]

take a pair of pliers and twist the posts a few times.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the suggestion. What guage do you use for posts?

[khmetalwork]

I use 20 round. I do solder to a pad (make my own, not commercial findings) or solder thru the earring depending on the design.

[Former_Member]

I use commercially-made (with a solder pad). Soldering anneals them, but a few twists with pliers hardens them up. Don't overdo it, though... I have broken one by twisting too much!

[kalicat]

0.9 mm wide