Stiff lobster claws

On Mon, 1 Sep 2003 16:07:46 -0400, Christina Peterson wrote (in message ):

Might just be stiff from the manufacturing process. Try opening and closing the clasp a few times and see if it gets easier. If I did the WD-40 thing, I'd use a Q-tip to get at the mechanism of the clasp without making the whole thing slippery.

There are newer styled lobster clasps with two prongs to push instead of one, which are supposed to be easier to use. You might want to give those a try, too.

Kathy N-V

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Christina Peterson" :

]I don't know if it's just me, but I find lobster claws hard to work.

it's not you. so does everyone i know, which is why i've gone out of my way to avoid them totally, Tina. **HUGS** i hope you get some good answers!

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

's not what you take, when you leave this world behind you;it's what you leave behind you when you go. -- Randy Travis

I'd switch to hook and eye, or sliding clasps.

Oh, and the new MAGNETIC clasps that are becoming more widely available are even better. :-) I bought some in sterling silver and use them for my older, arthritic customers and they love them...

Those Neodimium magnets are amazing.

K.

But magnets can cause problems. Can interfere with medical devices. Can mess with computers (especially with bracelets). Can attatch themselves to a different piece of metal (eg, bracelets to shopping carts). Unfortunately it is the elderly who have most trouble with findings and also have most medical devices.

Tina

I like ones that screw. For security. Toggles too. But neither of those are amenable to adjustment. Only solution I can think of for that would be split rings, with an option to add more split rings. I don't wear hooks if I can help it (which, of course, I can). But I guess most other people don't have that preference, and I should just do it.

Tina

well-engineered

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Christina Peterson" :

]But neither of those ]are amenable to adjustment.

ah! you're looking for adjustable! i did that with one of those Karen necklaces, but i haven't tried that with a bracelet yet. interesting thought.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

's not what you take, when you leave this world behind you;it's what you leave behind you when you go. -- Randy Travis

I've been waiting for that, too...

Deirdre

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from Deirdre S. :

]I've been waiting for that, too...

me, too. talk about straight lines!

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

's not what you take, when you leave this world behind you;it's what you leave behind you when you go. -- Randy Travis

Well, I do. :-)

Tina

It's odd- for myself I actually prefer the lobster claw. The first toggle necklace I made I couldn't figure out how to close it :) But I know others aren't crazy about the lobster claw so I am starting to use different clasps.

I haven't needed to try WD40 on any- but it sounds reasonable.

Kathy K

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "KDK" :

]It's odd- for myself I actually prefer the lobster claw.

**smile** i'm like Sooz. the only ones i've ever LOST were the "screw" types. i've gotten rid of them all and even replaced Jamie's for her. i've even started using the toggles on the dreamcatchers. which reminds me . . . i need to holler at Nicole again - i'm running out...........

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

's not what you take, when you leave this world behind you;it's what you leave behind you when you go. -- Randy Travis