Clasps

If you think finding a decent clasp for a bracelet would be pretty simple.... You'd. Be. Wrong.

I was lucky, and I somehow began with a clasp very well-suited to my bracelets right away. You can see what they look like in the photos below. It has one large loop (not always a circle) and one straight-ish part that you have to point forward to get it through the loop. This kind of clasp -- the toggle -- is on all of my earliest bracelets, and is still my standard.

Recently, though, the quest for cheaper and possibly differently-styled fastening devices drew me in some interesting directions.

These next two hook-and-eye variations weren't necessarily cheaper, but I liked their designs. The copper swirly clasp is neat looking, but this one wasn't made very well, so it swirl was a little too snug.

This silver one I knew was too big to be successful on a bracelet, so it went on my circuit board necklace.

I have also tried lobster clasps, as seen on my leather band bracelet, and on the copper bracelet with blue charms.

Personally, I usually find lobster clasps difficult to open with one hand, and have never liked them. I thought I'd give them a chance on my bracelets, to be open-minded. However there is a major problem, that has less to do with the "lobster claw" than the ring it hooks onto.

When the ring you are trying to hook on to is not very heavy, it swings around too easily, no matter if the hook is a lobster claw or some other shape. I've tried to think of a way to fix this problem without buying new supplies. (I like to keep my operation simple and low-cost.) But I am fairly certain that the solution lies in a heavier ring.

The last hook is one that I made myself, with the help, once again, of online tutorials.

I didn't buy wire that was stiff enough -- even though I DID purchase thick wire especially for this project. I also had the issue with the "destination ring" being too light again, so, until I get stiffer wire and a heavier ring, you will not be seeing this on my designs. (I might not even bother, though. I thought it was too much work for too little return. I'd rather by ready-made fasteners.)

If you were good enough to read this far into my ramble, perhaps you are a jewelry-maker or frequent wearer, and maybe you have some thoughts. If you have any tips or anything, put them in comments!