Coin Focal

by Judy Larson

Category: Metalwork
Technique(s): Butane Torch Techniques
Skill Level: Beginner

When I was younger, I loved sending a penny through the machine that would roll it into an oval shape impressed with a design reflecting where my family and I were visiting.

Now I have coins from all over the world, many from places I have never been! Do you collect coins from different places you visit? Turn one of them into a focal of a new piece of jewelry.

Materials

coin

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

18 gauge sterling silver jump ring, 3mm

Lesson Quantity: 3.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

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Tools

Copper Solder Paste, 1/2 ozt, Soft

SOL-824.10

SOL-824.10
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $9.95
Gold Club Price: $7.46

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Magnesia Soldering Block

SOL-455.00

SOL-455.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $7.95
Gold Club Price: $5.96

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GROBET FILE - BARRETTE CUT 2, 6"

FIL-31.030

FIL-31.030
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $31.20
Gold Club Price: $23.40

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Large Wood Dapping Block with 5 Channels

DAP-145.00

DAP-145.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $44.97
Gold Club Price: $33.73

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Basic Soldering Kit

G15-4

G15-4
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $58.95
Gold Club Price: $44.21

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Multi Angle Cutting Jig

VIS-512.00

VIS-512.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $84.95
Gold Club Price: $63.71

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Dead Blow Brass Hammer - 2 lb. Brass Hammer

HAM-456.20

HAM-456.20
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.97
Gold Club Price: $24.73

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Pickle Pot, 16 Ounces

CLN-584.00

CLN-584.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $31.95
Gold Club Price: $23.96

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NATURE'S TOUCH CITRIC PICKLE, 2LB PLASTIC JAR

CLN-163.00

CLN-163.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $17.95
Gold Club Price: $13.46

Out of Stock

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Instructions

Step 1

When choosing coins for this project, don't use coins that are in mint condition or have value, even if not in mint condition, as their value would be destroyed.

If the coin has sentimental value, it might be best to use a different coin until you are confident in your soldering skills and have practiced attaching a silver bail on a different coin. The soldering process will remove any patina the coin obtained through years of use.

The coins made into focals here are a Colombian 200 peso coin and a Japanese 50 yen coin.

Coins are covered in dirt, grime, and hand oils from all the years they have been in circulation. They should be thoroughly cleaned with soap and water with a soft toothbrush, dried, and then cleaned again with an alcohol-soaked pad.

Judy Larson's Coin Focal - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, coins for focals

Step 2

Center the coin on a polar graph. Use an ultra-fine point Sharpie to mark four equal quadrants at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock on both sides of the coin.

Note: Soldering and soldering coins can produce harmful fumes. If you have inadequate ventilation and no respirator, you may wish to drill holes in the coins instead of adding rings or loops. If this is the case, make sure to make a dent in the coin where you want to drill so the bit does not go sliding all over the coin.

Judy Larson's Coin Focal - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, polar graph

Step 3:

Option A

Place a jump ring in a miter jig and vise with only a very tiny bit of the jump ring seam facing out-first photo. Tighten the jump ring in place. File the jump ring smooth, even with the face of the vise-second photo. Doing this will provide a bit more connection area to the coin rim when soldering.

Step 4

Decide how the coin is to be oriented. Place the coin wrong side, NOT RIGHT SIDE, up right side up on the soldering surface.

Place paste solder for base metals on opposite ends of the coin. Push the flat sided of the jump rings flush to the rim of the coin. Scrape away the excess solder with a toothpick.

Note: This was my practice coin. The next step is a show-and-tell why the wrong side should be face up.

Judy Larson's Coin Focal - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, use baste solder for base metals

Judy Larson's Coin Focal - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, solder the jump rings to the coin

Step 5

Heat around the coin with the butane torch head on a butane canister until the solder flows. Allow the piece to cool before moving it.

I used easy paste solder for silver on the practice coin, thinking it would be a better choice - NOPE! Be sure to stick with paste solder for base metals.

When the solder finally flowed, even though all the excess solder was cleaned away with the toothpick, it still overflowed and the coin also started to melt a bit-first photo.

Why did the back side of the coin look better - second photo? Because solder follows heat, and the coin was heated from above, not below, the coin.

In the third photo with a back side facing up coin, the rings were added along with balled 3/8" bits of 18 gauge wire used as embellishments. The added balls also were extra connection points to make the assembly stronger. The solder still overflowed a bit but was easily sanded away later.

Judy Larson's Coin Focal - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, solder flowed onto the coin

Judy Larson's Coin Focal - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, solder jump rings to the coin

Judy Larson's Coin Focal - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, solder flows onto the coin

Step 6

I tried to clean up the overflow of solder on the front of the practice coin by heating it, thinking I could move some of it back. It flowed over the coin and covered some of the characters - big mistake - first photo.

The overflow was sanded away, but the characters also had to be removed.

The second coin, soldered wrong side facing up using paste solder for base metals, turned out much better. There was minimal clean-up. Lesson learned.

Judy Larson's Coin Focal - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, cleaning up solder

Judy Larson's Coin Focal - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, jumps rings soldered to a coin

Step 7:

Option B - partial ring loops

The larger Colombian coin benefited from the addition of extra ball embellishments. Choose from balled ½", 3/8", and ¼" bits of 18 gauge round wire.

Pro Tip: Check the hint CONNECTING AND HANGING LOOPS for how to make 18-gauge 3mm ID jump rings in loops exactly the same size with a miter jig and vise, sewing pin, flush cutter, and file.

Judy Larson's Coin Focal - Option B - partial ring loops, Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, added embellishments to a coin

Judy Larson's Coin Focal - Option B - partial ring loops, Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, embelliishments soldered to a coin

Step 8

The coins will be dark or black after soldering. Pickle in super pickle-1/2 hydrogen peroxide and half regular pickle.

If super pickle is not used, there is a risk of copper being deposited on the surface of the focal. Even when trying to clean it off, there can still be a pinkish cast to the metals. Make sure the focals are dry before continuing.

Judy Larson's Coin Focal - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, added embellishments to a coin

Step 9

Use a variety of sanding pads and files to clean and refine the solder joins. Make sure the solder joins are secure.

Step 10

Place the coin right side facing down in the largest channel of a large wood dapping block with five channels. Make sure the connecting loops are facing right and left, as shown.

Place the largest dap on top of the coin. Heavily tap the dap several times with a brass mallet. Check the coin. Is it curved enough for your purposes? With my small wrist, I needed to go down one more size.

Note: If shaping breaks a join, flatten the coin and resolder and clean the join. Pickle the focal again. Curve the piece again.

Pro Tip: Previously when working with coins, I tried curving them with a bracelet bending pliers. Because the coins are so thick, doing this chewed up the nylon jaws. That is why I purchased the large wood dapping block with five channels.

Judy Larson's Coin Focal - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, use a dapping block to curve the coin

Judy Larson's Coin Focal - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, dapping coins

Step 11

Tumbling the coin focals for several hours will bring up a shine.

Judy Larson's Coin Focal - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, tumble the coins

Step 12

The coin focals are ready to use!

Judy Larson's Coin Focal - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, coins as focals

Reviews

Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!