Deborah Mortlock's Fish Tail Chain, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder. This is fairly simple chain with a great finished look.

Fish Tail Chain

by Deborah Mortlock
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Chain Making, Butane Torch Techniques
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
This is fairly simple chain with a great finished look. You can use a butane torch to ball the ends of the wires.

Materials

16 Gauge Round Dead Soft .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-16D
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 feet
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
  • Price: $41.74
  • Gold Club Price: $31.31
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Tools

Dual Size Round Nose Plier
G2-719
  • G2-719
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $34.95
  • Gold Club Price: $26.21
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Deluxe Soldering Kit
G15-5
  • G15-5
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $116.97
  • Gold Club Price: $87.73
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Wire Rounder Set, 3 pieces
G14-20
  • G14-20
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $13.95
  • Gold Club Price: $10.46
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Instructions
Step 1
Take a manageable length of 16 gauge silver wire and ball up one end.If you have never balled the end of a piece of wire before simply hold the piece in a pair of tweezers and gently move the flame from your torch up and down the bottom of it until a ball forms. Holding the wire straight up and down in the flame will ensure an even ball.
After you have made the ball you can round it out using a cup bur which matches the gauge of wire you’re using. If you are using fine silver this step won’t be necessary as it forms a perfect ball when melted.
Pro Tip: The hottest part of your flame is the area just in front of where the smaller, inner flame, touches the larger outer flame. You can manipulate the heat you’ll need by watching this part of your flame.
Deborah Mortlock's Fish Tail Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, ball the end of the 16g wire
Step 2
The next step will be to make a loop as shown. You can do this by using your round nosed pliers or a mandrel. The loop shown here has an inside diameter of around 1cm.
Deborah Mortlock's Fish Tail Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, make a loop
Step 3
Solder the ball end at the spot it crosses over the other end of the loop and then make another, smaller, loop and cut off the extra length of wire.

Deborah Mortlock's Fish Tail Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, make another loop
Step 4
This loop is then turned and soldered just under the first soldered join.
Deborah Mortlock's Fish Tail Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, solder just under the first soldered join
Step 5
Take the remaining length of wire, ball up the end, and make another loop. This time you will thread the larger loop into the smaller loop of the first link before soldering it together.
Deborah Mortlock's Fish Tail Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, ball the end of the 16g wire again for the next link
Step 6
Now make the smaller loop and solder it as before. Continue until you have the length of chain you desire.
Deborah Mortlock's Fish Tail Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, make a smaller loop as before
Step 7
Now you can put a catch on it, put it in pickle to clean up the residue from soldering, and then buff or polish it to your desired finish. And you have a Fish Tail bracelet.
Deborah Mortlock's Fish Tail Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, finished chain