removing internally threaded earring (barbell) back?

Question

Hi, I had my ear lobes pierced professionally about a year ago. I like the small barbells that I was originally pierced with so I have not removed them since they were put in. Now that I want to change them out, however, I have been unable to twist out the back ball for one of the barbell earrings; the other twists off just fine. I have cleaned the area and ensured there is no build up preventing the small ball from twisting. I have also had friends try to help twist it off with no luck. My ear is also not infected, so the only problem seems to be with the screw-back. The front ball is stationary, whereas the second back is the one that should turn off eventually. For the one that works, I can simply hold the front ball and turn the back one counter-clockwise and it comes off easily. Any advice for how to get the other one moving, and ultimately remove the backing? Thanks! -liz

Answer 1

Wait, are you saying that one piece of jewelry has one ball that comes off and the other one won't? That could just be the jewelery. A lot of my older stuff would have a stationary ball and the other can come off and on.

If you meant that you can't get either of the balls off of one of your piercings, sorry! I would recommend going to the piercer. They usually charge about $5 to take off jewelery. I was a wimp and always had them do my captive beads for my orbital.

Answer 2

Internally Threaded Barbells

Answer 3

Sounds like you cross-threaded the earring. I don't know how you did this, but once you get it off, next time screw it back on a little, then unscrew it a little, and screw it back on to prevent cross-threading. I'd go to a piercing place, maybe the one where you had it put in, and tell them about it.