A Guide to Bails
by Barbara van Look, Marketing Content Development Group
Bails expand jewelry-making options by making it possible for most focal pieces to be easily transformed into pendants without the use of metalsmithing or soldering equipment. Learn which bails work best for what jewelry projects in this informative resource guide.
| | Folding Donut Bails- Clamps over any small and medium-sized gemstone or glass donut and can be beaded directly into a necklace. These bails can also be hung from chain or cord for a quick-change necklace: remove from chain, open bail, replace donut, close and re-hang.
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| | Bond-On Donut Bails- Gives a donut the illusion of weightlessness. Bond donuts with 5-minute epoxy.
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| | Wire Wrap Donut Bails- Turns any donut into an . This sterling silver wire piece works especially well for uncalibrated donuts, freeform donuts and go-go shapes.
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| | Fold-Over Bails- Manufactured with two flat pads on each end of a straight portion, often with a leaf design. Metal folds in half. Epoxy or E-6000 is used to glue the pads to the item to be suspended. These bails work especially well for irregularly shaped flat items.
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| | Bell Caps with jumpring- Can make any object into a drop earring or pendant. Legs of the bell cap are bent to follow the shape of the object and are bonded in place with epoxy or E-6000. Add a jumpring. These bails work especially well for freeform three-dimensional items such as undrilled tumbled stones.
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| | Flat-Backed ''Y'' Bails- Has double loops to suspend it evenly along the stringing wire, cord or chain. Has one pad for gluing on an undrilled item (epoxy or E-6000 are recommended glues). An excellent choice to turn cabochons or other flat-backed components into quick pendants.
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| | Screw Eyes with jumpring- Is bonded into the holes of half-drilled items with epoxy or E-6000. Add a jumpring.
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| | Upeyes with jumpring- Is bonded into the holes of half-drilled items with epoxy or E-6000. Add a jumpring.
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| | ''Y'' Bail with Pegs- Has double loops to suspend it evenly along the stringing wire, cord or chain. Has a vertical peg for gluing into half-drilled beads (epoxy or E-6000 are recommended glues).
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| | Ice Pick, Pinch or Prong Bails- Has horizontal prongs which are pinched into the hole of a top-drilled bead. For extra security, use a bit of epoxy or E-6000 to glue the prongs in place.
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| | Hidden Loop Pendant Bails- Is cast metal with a decorative accent which conceals a hidden loop which accommodates small or narrow pieces. Easy to use and refresh with new pieces.
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| | Standard or Snap-On Bails- Can be quickly snapped open to make a pendant attachment. Some styles use a magnetic clasp-style loop, some a hinge and a clip -- others use simple tension to remain stable.
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| | Interchangeable Hinged Bails- Opens and closes with a snap or magnetic closure. The centerpiece is hung from the loop, hole or jumpring at the bottom of the bail for easy transfer from one necklace to another. Ideal for focal pieces that work with different outfits.
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| | Hidden Loop Pendant Bails- Is cast metal with a decorative accent which conceals a hidden loop. Open the loop, insert wire loop or jumpring, and reclose. Easy to use and refresh with new centerpieces.
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| | Bead Hanger Bail Components with jumpring- Makes large-hole beads into pendants, quickly and easily. String bead onto shaft, add a jumpring to the hole on the top.
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| | Drop Pin Bail Components- With a quick twist, turns handmade beads into pendants and earrings. Twist off ball-end, add bead and re-attach the ball-end. Easy to use and refresh with new centerpieces.
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| | Headpins with jumpring- Turns beads into pendants or pendant drops.
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