Double Wire Link Chain Bracelet

by Judy Freyer Thompson

Category: Contemporary
Technique(s): Chain Making, Butane Torch Techniques
Skill Level: Intermediate

We all like chains, and the more interesting the better. Take your creativity to a different level by using hardware that is not necessarily considered for jewelry components. Time to have some fun and take a stroll through the plumbing aisle at your local big box home improvement store. Grab a piece of ¼" copper tubing and copper wire and you will be on your way to making this cool linked bracelet. You can cut the copper tubing using a jeweler saw and metal blade, but I find it so much easier (and less frustrating!) to use a tubing cutter. This is an inexpensive tool that you can also pick up in the plumbing aisle.

This chain looks great if you choose to apply Liver of Sulfur or a salt and ammonia patina; it even looks cool if you leave it natural.

You can easily make this chain shorter or longer depending on your preference

Materials

14 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire

H11-14D

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 feet
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $7.61
Gold Club Price: $5.70

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1/4" copper tubing

Lesson Quantity: 12.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

11mm copper lobster clasp

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

heavy counter weight bead

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

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Tools

Wubbers Jumbo Round Mandrel Pliers

G2-1305

G2-1305
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $35.97
Gold Club Price: $26.98

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Wubbers X-Large Round Mandrel Pliers

G2-1304

G2-1304
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $35.97
Gold Club Price: $26.98

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Blazer GB4001 Stingray Torch, Blue

TRCH-4002

TRCH-4002
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $49.95
Gold Club Price: $37.46

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WireJewelry 9 Inch Rotating Turntable with Fire Brick

G32-9910

G32-9910
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $39.95
Gold Club Price: $29.96

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EUROnomic 2K Cutter, Sidecutter with Pointed Jaw, 4-3/4 Inches

PLR-380.16

PLR-380.16
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $29.55
Gold Club Price: $22.16

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Tube Cutter with 45 Degree Angle Slot

HOL-109.00

HOL-109.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $29.97
Gold Club Price: $22.48

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6 Piece Assorted File Set with Wooden Handle

G14-7

G14-7
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $5.57
Gold Club Price: $4.18

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4.5 Inch Flat Nose Mini Pliers

G2-88

G2-88
Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each
Price: $4.97
Gold Club Price: $3.73

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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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Premium Steel Bench Block 2 1/2 X 2 1/2

G17-9

G17-9
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $15.97
Gold Club Price: $11.98

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Small Brass Brush

BRS-966.10

BRS-966.10
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $10.97
Gold Club Price: $8.23

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Chasing Hammer with Wooden Handle, 1 1/8 Inch Face

G3-27

G3-27
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $13.95
Gold Club Price: $10.46

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Renaissance wax

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

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Instructions

Step 1

Clean the copper wire using 400 grit sandpaper. Using the 25mm mandrel, wrap the 14-gauge wire around 6 times and trim the wire.
Using the 12mm mandrel, wrap the 14-gauge wire around 14 times and trim the wire.

Judy Freyer Thompson's Double Wire Link Chain Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Double chain wire link bracelet

Step 2

Cut the jump rings apart using flush cutters, you will need (13) 12mm and (5) 25mm rings.

Step 3

Using the flat-nose pliers on the jump rings, push one side away from you and pull the other side toward you.

Step 4

Make sure the cut ends meet flush with no gap.

Step 5

Measure ¼" on the copper tubing; using the tubing cutter, cut (17) ¼" pieces of tubing. You will find it easier to measure then cut versus measuring and marking all the pieces.

Step 6

To remove the burrs on the tubing pieces, slide them all on a small round file and tape them together with painters' tape. Slide the pack of tubing pieces back and forth on the file to remove the burrs.

Step 7

Assemble the smaller chain using (13) 12mm jump rings. Install a ¼" piece of tubing in between jump rings, on one end, install the lobster claw clasp.

Step 8

Before soldering check each jump ring for a tight joint.
Lay the chain on the soldering brick and solder the rings closed. You may find it easier to solder every other one to minimize heat exposure; then return to solder the rest. After all the jump rings are soldered, place the chain in pickle solution. Remove, wash with soap and water and dry.

Step 9

Assemble the larger chain using 5) 25 mm rings. Install a ¼" piece of tubing in between the middle three jump rings.
Slide the end rings through the second tubing piece on each end of the smaller chain, solder the links closed.

Step 10

After all the jump rings are soldered, place the chain in pickle solution. Remove, wash with soap and water and dry.
Using the steel bench block and chasing hammer, lightly hammer the larger rings to work harden them and to add a bit of texture.

Step 11

If desired, patina the chain in Liver of Sufur then remove some of the patina with a brass brush and 400 grit sandpaper; alternatively brass brush the rings to bring back the shine to the copper.

Step 12

Thread the large bead on the head pin and make an eye using round nose pliers, trim as necessary.
Using flat nose pliers, open the eye and secure the big bead on to the next to the last link on the chain opposite the lobster claw clasp.

Step 13

Seal the bracelet using a spray sealant or Renaissance Wax.

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Judy Freyer Thompson

Judy Freyer Thompson has been creating since 2006 and is mostly self-taught. She is an artist with a diverse background ranging from farming to mechanical manufacturing to aerospace. Her jewelry and small sculpture reflect both her experience and fascination with materials that are earthy. More often than not she loves to 'think outside the box'. She loves to incorporate found objects and objects such as bones, teeth, fur in her work. These desires feeds her desire to design and create one of a kind pieces of art to wear. Her work has been in various galleries as well as being featured in magazines and books. Along with Kalmbach Publishing , she released Simple Metalwork Jewelry in October 2016. She is a freelance designer and writes projects for Wire Jewelry and other on line publications. By day, she is the Assistant Director of a School Readiness Program. She lives in CT with her husband Mel, daughter Madison, and kitties Truman, Binky and Layla