Hydraulic Die Forming Discussion Group
More Microfold Beads and Fans

Jack Berry
berry2000@prodigy.net

Here is a pair of sterling fan-fold earrings and miscellaneous beads. The sterling bead(at far right) had 3 primary folds of which the 2 outside ones were pleated toward the center. The secondary folds were then placed. I have found that if I simply place the secondary folds over the primary ones (without pleating) there is often an ironing effect so that the primary folds will be a little further apart at the end of the sheet compared to the beginning. In the past I overcame this fairly well by placing the secondary folds at the center of the sheet and working toward both ends from there. Sometimes the same ironing effect still occurs but equally at both ends so the seam matches. The center bead had a T-fold made and a sterling strip inserted before microfolding and fan-folding the ends.
The 2 left beads ("back-bone beads") had bi-folds made (like the "Cupromedusa" sculpture in my book) before microfolding. They present a little more of a problem because the overlap at the seam changes direction at the "back-bone". The smaller bead has one bi-fold and is very sturdy but the "triptych" bead (2 bi-folds) has a concave central area which can be compressed if you squeeze with force. I think I'll try tacking with solder here also next time to strengthen the area. The convex areas have the usual innate strength of a fold form. The fan-fold earrings had the edges folded under before processing so there are no raw edges.

Micro-FanFold Beads and Earrings

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