Judy Freyer Thompson's Curvaceous Copper Swirl Earrings, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder. Sawing concentric circles in copper discs and annealing will allow you to make some really cool swirl earrings.

Curvaceous Copper Swirl Earrings

by Judy Freyer Thompson
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Cutting, Filing / Finishing, Hole Punching, Sawing, Butane Torch Techniques
  • Skill Level: Beginner
Sawing concentric circles in copper discs and annealing will allow you to make some really cool swirl earrings. Copper can also be beautifully colored by just torching it. Finish your earrings with color, or not!

Materials

22 Gauge 0.025 Dead Soft Copper Sheet Metal - 6x12 Inch
MET-705.22M
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $14.78
  • Gold Club Price: $11.09
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Tools

Basic Sawing Kit
G15-7
  • G15-7
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $34.95
  • Gold Club Price: $26.21
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WireJewelry - Ultimate Wire-Pliers Jewelry Pliers with Case, Set of 5
G15-20
  • G15-20
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $170.72
  • Gold Club Price: $128.04
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Lindstrom Multi-Purpose Shear, 5-3/4 Inches
G2-6000
  • G2-6000
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $39.95
  • Gold Club Price: $29.96
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Euro Tool Metal Hole Punch Pliers, 1.8 Millimeters
PLR-133.50
  • PLR-133.50
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $11.98
  • Gold Club Price: $8.98
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Solderite Soldering Board, Hard, 6 Inch by 6 Inch
SOL-420.10
  • SOL-420.10
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $14.97
  • Gold Club Price: $11.23
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Jumbo Max Flame Butane Torch
SOL-310.00
  • SOL-310.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $49.95
  • Gold Club Price: $37.46
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Instructions
Step 1
Clean the copper sheet with 400 grit sandpaper if necessary. Using the circle template, draw two circles on the copper, tracing with a fine tip marker.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Curvaceous Copper Swirl Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, copper swirl earrings
Step 2
Print the sawing pattern and cut along the lines. Using the fine tip marker, transfer the cutting lines within the circles.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Curvaceous Copper Swirl Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, copper swirl earrings
Judy Freyer Thompson's Curvaceous Copper Swirl Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, copper swirl earrings
Step 3
Fit the jewelers saw frame with a metal cutting blade and run the blade through the beeswax.
Using the bench pin for support saw out the circles.
Using the bench pin for support, saw along the drawn lines. Repeat with second circle.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Curvaceous Copper Swirl Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, copper swirl earrings
Step 4
Lay the sawn shapes on the soldering block or brick and anneal using the butane torch.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Curvaceous Copper Swirl Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, copper swirl earrings
Step 5
Once the shapes are cool, place them in the safe pickle to remove the fire scale. Remove and wash with soap and water.
Lay the shapes on the bench pin, and carefully use a piece of 600 grit sandpaper to create a matte finish.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Curvaceous Copper Swirl Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, copper swirl earrings
Step 6
Using round nose pliers, grab the interior tab created when you sawed and bend it toward you, creating a gentle curve.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Curvaceous Copper Swirl Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, copper swirl earrings
Step 7
Grasp the other end and gently 'unwind' the shape, using your fingers to coax the shape to swirl.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Curvaceous Copper Swirl Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, copper swirl earrings
Step 8
Repeat with second shape. Keep in mind these are free form and don't need to match exactly.
Using the Lindstrom shears, cut off the tang left from cutting the swirls.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Curvaceous Copper Swirl Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, copper swirl earrings
Step 9
Tear a small piece of sandpaper and carefully touch up the edges of the swirls to remove and burrs.
Use the hole punch to make through holes for the ear wires.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Curvaceous Copper Swirl Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, copper swirl earrings
Step 10
Attach ear wires.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Curvaceous Copper Swirl Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, copper swirl earrings