View source for Guide: Soldered Hanging Hardware

The purpose of this guide is to give an overview of how to hang projects with various types of soldered on hanging hardware.

{{Checklist|checkboxList=* [[Jump Ring|Jump Rings]] or Bare Copper Wire (other [[Solderable Metals]] will also work)
* [[Soldering Iron]]
* [[Solder]]
* [[Flux]]
* Needlenose, Hemostats, or some kind of pliers.
* Project to be hung}}

=== '''1. Deciding Hardware Mounting Location''' ===
The point that the hanging hardware is located is important! You want a solid and strong location to mount the hardware while picking a location that makes the project hang in the correct orientation.

==== '''1.1 Picking Good Locations''' ====
Getting good locations to hang something from can vary drastically on the pattern and size of the project. Depending on the project shape, type of project and border there's a few things to consider for picking the best places.

===== '''1.1.1 Finding Center of Gravity''' =====
You don't want to hang something too close horizontally to the center of gravity as it will want to lean forward or flip. Then depending on the size of the project you need to decide how many hanging points are required, small projects using one point need to be hung close to the vertical center of gravity else it will tilt when hung.

==== '''1.1.2 Identifying Strong Points''' ====
Once we have a rough idea of where to put the hangers we need to see what kind of structure we have to take advantage of.

* Any projects using [[Rigid Came]] and are a regular polygon can be hung at corners (or anywhere on a circle) in most cases.
* Vertical joints that run deep into the panel are better than short joints.
* Any points with internal reinforcing are strong points to utilize.

==== '''1.2 Incorrect Placements''' ====
There's lots of places to attach hanging hardware and some of them are places you shouldn't hang projects. Here's an overview of the most common failure points.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Hanging Failures
!Example
!Failure Type
!Information
|-
|
|Edge Foil Failure
|Edge Foil isn't structural and the adhesive is the only thing keeping it in place, hanging hardware easily tears away if not on a solder joint.
|-
|
|Center of Span Elongation
|Hanging from the center of a [[Joint Span]] will allow the material to be pulled by gravity.
|-
|
|Clamped Jump Ring
|Jump rings that are opened, put around the edge and clamped in place before being solder do not provide enough surface area for a good bond.
|-
|
|Concave Elongation
|Unsupported concave sides can elongate from gravity as the distance following the edge is greater than a straight line from the two points across it.
|-
|
|Foil Overlap Failure
|If edge foil isn't sufficiently soldered the overlap where the foil wrap starts and ends can be a weak point that causes the edge to fail.
|}

=== '''2. Selecting Appropriate Hanging Hardware''' ===
Depending on the project you are working with, the hardware used to hang it will vary greatly. Picking hardware that is too weak could lead to the project falling to due to the hanging hardware failing. The ideal hardware is something that is easily soldered to the project, strong enough to hold up the entirety of the project without being too bulky.

==== '''2.1 Hanging Hardware Options''' ====
There's no real limit to what can be done with hanging hardware as long as it's secure, but here's the most common simple options to work with.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Types of Hanging Hardware
!Name
!Example
!Pros
!Cons
|-
|[[Jump Ring|Premade Jump Ring]]
|
|
* Fast to place.
* Very cheap.
* Easy to source.
* Lots of various ring sizes and finishes.
|
* Quality can be questionable.
* Materials could be unknown causing difficulty when soldering.
* Smaller sizes aren't very useful.
* Often made with fairly small wire reducing strength.
* Rings have a split in them.
* Difficult to use with came.
|-
|[[Hand Made Jump Ring]]
|
|
* Simple to make in bulk.
* Fast to place.
* Cheap to make.
|
* Getting clean round rings without a mandrel can be difficult.
* Producing many of them can be time consuming.
* Rings will have a split in them.
* Difficult to use with came.
|-
|[[Tailed Hanging Point]]
|
|
* Simple to make.
* Much stronger than Jump rings.
* Easier to attach than Jump rings.
* Can't be orientated the wrong way like the split in jump rings.
* Easily pass over camework and other edge finishes.
* Can be placed inside of [[Border Came]] channels.
|
* Don't work well with very thin joints.
* Can be bulky.
|-
|[[U Hook]]
|
|
* Extremely easy to make.
* Extremely strong.
* Reach over any type of border.
|
* Very bulky.
* Can't be hidden very well.
|}

==== '''2.2 Tips for picking what hardware to use''' ====
Which one works best for your project will depend on a few factors, Here's a list of things to to consider when deciding.

* Are you putting any sort of came or similar border on the outside? Depending on the type of came or border your options may change, wide borders may need longer/larger hanging hardware. Came or borders often have channels you can take advantage of.
* How large is the project? Larger projects need more hanging structure.
* Are there any [[Structure Defects]]? If you need to pass over a weak point or help reinforce an area sometimes the hanging point can help.
* Is the project an irregular shape? Do you have a spot where you can solder the hanging hardware into the edge of multiple parts for even more strength?
* Are there hanging points at the top or do you need to extend them from somewhere else? Tailed hanging points can be very long when needed!

Keeping in mind these well help you pick good areas to set rings.

=== '''3. Making the Hardware''' ===
''If you have already bulk made hardware or are using premade hardware you can skip this step and move directly to attaching them.''

The easiest way to make hanging hardware is to buy [[Tinned Wire]] or to buy Bare Copper Wire, though you can use any [[Solderable Metal]] that you can source.

'''DO NOT USE YOUR LEAD CUTTERS TO CUT COPPER WIRE! It will destroy them!'''

==== 3.1 Jump Rings ====
Jump rings are easy to make in bulk when you need many rings of the same size.

# Find an object to wrap the wire around. You can make a special wrapping tool by taking a dowel, pipe or rod and cutting a slot in one end of it larger than the wire you are using.
# Wrap as many turns as you want onto the object keeping the wire tight next to each wrap.
# When complete remove the coil from the object by sliding it off.
# Use any cutting tool available to cut down the coil of rings to make individual rings.

If you don't need all the rings that instant and want an easier way to store the rings instead of a bunch of loose ones, you can just cut them as needed from the coil.

==== 3.2 Tailed Hanging Point ====
While these are easy to make and use, they are little harder to make in bulk as they need to be completed individually. But if you aren't picky about the shape, you can bulk make simple shapes relatively easily.

# Measure from the end of the wire to the length desired.
# Start bending any shape you desire that will be your attachment point.
# Once completed make sure where the wire continues meets where the other tail is.
# Cut it free from the wire matching the other tail length.

Bulk making simple shapes.

# Find an object to wrap the wire around.
# Wrap a U shape of wire to get a rough idea of how long the section of wire you need is.
# Cut a bunch of sections of wire to the length you just found.
# Take each wire, bend it into a U shape on the object
# Then pinch the open side together so the tails touch.

==== 3.3 U Hook ====
Easiest option to make!

# Measure a length of wire that sticks out from the project.
# Double that length and cut it.
# Bend the wire in the middle around an object for a specific shape or just bend them by hand around the edge of the project.

=== '''4. Attaching Hanging Hardware''' ===
Now we are ready to attach the hardware. Each option is a bit different when it comes to soldering it on but most of the time you will be manipulating them with a pair of pliers, hemostats or some other tool to hold them.