Doodads - Fun Findings

by Judy Larson

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

Doodad, coined sometime between 1898 and the early 1900's and a word similar to doohickey, thingumajig, or whatchamacallit, is used when we can't remember the name of a certain item. One of the definitions for the word DOODAD is a decorative embellishment, trinket, bauble. Since I had no idea what this type of embellishment is called, I settled on Doodad.

Materials

20 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-20H

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $3.68
Gold Club Price: $2.76

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18 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-18H

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $5.35
Gold Club Price: $4.01

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16 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-16H

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $9.03
Gold Club Price: $6.77

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Tools

6 Step Barrel Plier - Pack of 1

G2-503

G2-503
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.95
Gold Club Price: $11.21

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Acculoop Precision Round Nose

PLR-741.00

PLR-741.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $18.97
Gold Club Price: $14.23

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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches

PLR-487.00

PLR-487.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $16.97
Gold Club Price: $12.73

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Blazer Big Buddy Turbo Torch, Black

TRCH-8010

TRCH-8010
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $40.00
Gold Club Price: $30.00

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4.5 Inch Flat Nose Mini Pliers

G2-88

G2-88
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.97
Gold Club Price: $3.73

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WireJewelry Medium Duty Insulating Fire Brick, Rated up to 2600 Degree Fahrenheit

G32-20

G32-20
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $13.75
Gold Club Price: $10.31

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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

Thumlers Tumbler Model MP-1 Rock Tumbler Kit

G34-101

G34-101
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $119.11
Gold Club Price: $89.33

Out of Stock

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Instructions

Step 1

Read through the tutorial before starting the project. Follow all safety precautions pertaining to the tools and supplies being used and the space you are working in.

The photos show Doodad embellishments, left to right, made with 20 gauge, 18 gauge, and 16 gauge wire. To give you a better idea of the size of the doodad embellishments, they were spaced between round beads 6mm in diameter. To make the doodads, cut 20 gauge wire into 1" long pieces; 18 gauge wire into 1¼" long pieces; 16 gauge wire into 1½" long pieces. There is no need to worry about flush cutting either end of the pieces. All the Doodad embellishments are made in the same manner following the directions below.

Judy Larson's Doodads - Fun Findings - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, doodads findings

Step 2

In this tutorial the barrels of the 6-Step Barrel Pliers are numerically labeled from smallest to largest. A barrel size will be referred to by number in the tutorial. Bend the wire as shown around the appropriate barrel of the 6 step barrel pliers. 20 gauge on Step 1, 18 gauge on Step 2, and 16 gauge on Step 3. While the wire is still on the plier barrel, use flat nose pliers to pinch the wire ends together making a cotter pin shape.

The wire tails do not need to be even in length but should cross over each other and touch at that point. If they do not touch, a ball will not form with the two wire tails but on the two separate wires. If the wire tails make an upside down V, the balled wire "bead" will be closer to the upper ring. If the wire tails are close together, they will ball in more of a teardrop shape.

Step 3

A cross locking tweezers applies too much pressure on the wire ring when heating the wire tails to ball them. Use a light touch to hold one small portion of the ring with a chain nose pliers you do not mind getting heated with a torch-sacrificial pliers. They will not be ruined, but will look terrible. A small micro torch works well when balling 20 gauge wire, but the butane torch head on a butane canister provides enough heat to ball the 18 and 16 gauge wires. At the beginning, the wires will ball separately. When the balls touch each other, they will connect and continue to travel up to the ring. Be careful to not go too far. Lightly hold the finished doodad until the ball portion is no longer red. At that point, it can be dropped on the soldering surface. Repeat the process with all the wires.

Step 4

Pickle, rinse, and dry all the pieces.

Step 5

You will notice that the balled ends are not centered over the rings. Grasp the ring with a flat nose pliers and press the ball on a flat surface until it bends into line with the ring. If the ring is not as round as you would like, press it down the smaller barrel of Acculoop precision round nose pliers

Step 6

Tumble the pieces to bring up a shine. String the doodads on a piece of wire and connect the ends of the wire. Place the unit in a tumbler with tumbling medium. Tumble the doodads for several hours to bring up a shine. The wire will make it easy to remove all the doodads from the tumbling medium without having to dig through it to find them. All the doodads will be different shapes, which is what makes them so fun to use. They impart a true artisan look to your pieces. How will you use them in bracelets, necklaces, and earrings?

Option:

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!