Jump rings, connector holes, and swing clearance
Plan the shape and its connections together. Slab thickness, hole placement, and jump ring size affect how the pieces hang and move.
Worktable tips for multi-piece builds
Small slab and ring choices decide whether the dangle swings freely or catches and twists. Use these material checks to reduce catching, twisting, and weak links.
Punching connector holes too close to the edge can make the clay tear through. Leave a few millimeters of solid clay between the hole and the edge, then check that the jump ring has enough room to swing without rubbing.
Check hole placementLay out your multi-piece dangles flat on a tile to check alignment. Open and close jump rings by twisting them sideways with two pairs of chain-nose pliers; pulling them apart can weaken the metal and stress the baked clay hole.
Compare jump ringsA jump ring settles perpendicular to its hole, so a front-to-back hole turns that segment sideways on the chain of links. Run holes side to side through each tier, and the whole dangle stacks facing forward with one ring per join.
Hole and ring mechanicsRoll a scrap strip at your batch thickness and slide it into the jump ring before you cut anything. If the ring will not close flat around the clay, drop one pasta-machine setting or pick a larger inner-diameter ring so the dangle has room to swing.
See pair layoutsHeavy clear coats or UV resin can pool in connector holes and clog them. Before curing or baking a topcoat, run a headpin or needle tool through the holes to clear out excess liquid.
Finish without filling the holeDangles often fail because the hardware was bought before the layout was tested. Sketch the tiers, choose hole direction, then use the kit page to keep the first order focused on the rings and hooks that layout actually needs.
Build a dangle kitDangle examples
Use these examples for shape and movement first: single drops, linked pieces, stud-top drops, and hooks. Then check the hole placement and edge thickness before making your version.
Dangle resources
Use these when the hole is too close to the edge, the ring scrapes the clay, the hook turns the wrong way, or the finished pair feels heavy.
Learn how to measure jump rings, choose a size that lets your clay earrings swing freely, and open and close the rings with pliers.
