Attaching Earring Posts
Attaching earring posts can be one of the trickier steps when you are starting to make polymer clay jewelry. I had originally read that E6000 glue was good to use, but over time I found that the glue failed. I’m not sure if it’s something in the polymer clay like maybe a plasticizer that interacts with the glue, or if it is because the glue doesn’t flex with the clay over time.
In any case, I have found Gorilla Super Glue Gel to be useful. Make sure it is the gel kind. I use just a little bit on the back of the posts and then place it on the polymer clay piece. I let it cure for a little bit and then I go in with resin.
Earring backs encased in resin.
Using the precision tip applicator bottles I talked about in a previous blog post has been a total game changer for resin application. As you can see in the picture, if the earring is a single stud I usually cover most of the back in resin. If it will connect to something else, I leave a space around the drilled hole. I suppose you could do the resin before you drill the holes, but I find it trickier to drill through resin, and the added thickness of the resin may impact the size jump ring you use to make the connection. After I apply the resin I pop any bubbles with a lighter and then cure under the UV light. I’ve also been putting my pieces outside to cure for an extra bit of time in natural sunlight.
I have found this method to be super secure for attaching posts. I was at a market last year where it got very windy and my display went flying. Two pairs of earrings were damaged. The resin did not fail. Instead, the post itself took the force and bent. I was able to straighten the post out with pliers and while I would not sell them to customers anymore I still wear them myself.
I want to try other methods for encasing the posts. Really, encasing the posts by whatever method you choose is going to give you the most secure attachment. I’d like to get away from using as much resin as I do, so I’m thinking of trying embedding the posts using a thin sheet of clay on the back, or using liquid clay. Either method would require additional baking time.
How do you affix your posts to your earrings? Do you avoid the issue all together using ball posts with loops or other findings? Let me know what you have found to work the best!
