I've only been making jewelry for the past 2 years or so. I'm only using silver plated wires and buy mass produced silver plated head pins. However, I find that sometimes the ready made head pins may not be long enough for what I need to use them for and I'm recent toying with the idea to make my own head pins instead.

I did a search on the internet and found instructions to make them but using sterling silver wires. Sterling silver wires are a bit pricey for a newbie like me. So, I'm wondering if those silver plated wires can be torched instead? I think the base metal is copper.

Also, I've read that there would be oxidation from the heat and would require some cleaning and polishing work in a tumbler which would also help to harden the head pins. Gosh! That sounds a lot of work! Do I really have to?

I've also read about pickle solution which is a mild form of acid. Now, that sounds more feasible to be done by me. But does anyone know exactly what is the name of the solution? The scientific name or something and what are the possible places that I can find them.

But my primary concern is this. All the instructions and info I found to making the head pins  are for sterling silver wires. Can all that still apply to silver plated wires? Can we use a butane torch to fire it? Will it also oxidize like sterling silver and clean it the same after heating?

 Can someone more experienced enlighten me on this?

Hi Wendy Sue

No I don't think there is anyway you can torch silver plated wire without damaging the plating (also I think copper has a higher melting point so won't ball very easily. 

I make a lot of my own headpins and dangles by balling silver wire and it does mean you need to "pickle" the wires after to get rid of the oxidation (I use a powder form safe pickle) and then tumble them to get them shiny again.  If you want to avoid all the work in cleaning and tumbling you could use fine silver - I use .5mm fine silver a lot for small dangles and it needs no cleaning or tumbling.

If you want to stick with silver plated wire you could scroll up the ends like this (not a great picture but hopefully it shows you what I mean).

Karen

Thanks Karen! I guess I'll probably stick to your scrolls suggestion. Thanks a lot!