Make Woven Metal Strips to Use in Your Designs

by Judy Larson

Category: Metalwork
Technique(s): Weaving
Skill Level: Beginner

Do you remember doing the basket weave with paper strips in elementary school? Since our dexterity is so much better as adults, weaving metal strips will be a snap. And to make it even easier, 3/16" bezel wire is the perfect width to use for this project.

Materials

26 Gauge Copper Bezel Wire - 10FT

H30-11B

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $12.80
Gold Club Price: $9.60

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28 Gauge 3/16" Fine Silver Bezel Wire

H9-28BZL

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $11.26
Gold Club Price: $8.44

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26 Gauge Red Brass Bezel Wire - 10FT

H30-3B

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $13.20
Gold Club Price: $9.90

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28 Gauge 0.012 Dead Soft Copper Sheet Metal - 6x6 Inch

MET-705.28

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $7.50
Gold Club Price: $5.63

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30 Gauge 0.010 Dead Soft Copper Sheet Metal - 6x6 Inch

MET-705.30

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $8.18
Gold Club Price: $6.14

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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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Silver Solder Paste Soft SS65- 1/4 T.O.

SOL-822.10

SOL-822.10
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $16.95
Gold Club Price: $12.71

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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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Fire Brick

SOL-485.00

SOL-485.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $15.95
Gold Club Price: $11.96

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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

7 Piece Mini TruStrike Hammer Set with Stand

HAM-520.70

HAM-520.70
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $140.54
Gold Club Price: $105.40

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Steel and Rubber Bench Block 4x4 Inches

G17-44

G17-44
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $29.95
Gold Club Price: $22.46

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5/8 Inch Double Rubber/Nylon Head Hammer - Pack of 1

G3-26

G3-26
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.97
Gold Club Price: $3.73

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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.

Use 3/16" wide 26, 28, 30, or 32 gauge bezel wire for weaving, or tap into your creativity and use strips of sheet metal cut in varying widths to add more interest to the finished piece.

Since bezel wire is thin, it can be soldered to a backplate for more stability. Cut bezel wire strips into manageable lengths. Cut a piece of 28 or 30 gauge sheet no larger than 2½" x 2½". If cut larger, it will be difficult to heat the piece up enough to get the solder to flow using the butane torch head on a butane canister.

Judy Larson's Make Woven Metal Strips to Use in Your Designs - , Metalwork, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, woven metal strips

Step 2:

Version 1

Strips will be easier to weave if half of them are attached to a backplate. I was not paying attention when I ran a strip of paste solder for copper along one edge of a 2½" x 2½" square of 28 gauge copper sheet. I KNEW it was too much, was too lazy to start over, and thought I could control the solder spread. After spacing the copper strips out a bit on the copper backing, the piece was heated until the solder flowed. What a mistake the amount of paste solder I used was! A dot on the back of each strip would have been sufficient! The first strip woven over/under was pushed as far as it would go toward the soldered edge.

Step 3

Pull back the strips that are under the first strip woven into the piece. Lay down the next strip to weave and push tightly against the first strip. Press down the strips that were pulled back. Repeat the weaving process until the backing is filled with woven strips.

Step 4

Place the woven piece on a bench block. Lightly hammer the woven piece flat. This will help the pieces to hold together when lifted in the next step.

Step 5

Lift the woven section up enough to smear a layer of paste solder on the metal backing. Press the woven piece back down. A light hammering can help, if needed.

Step 6

Heat until the solder flows, using a solder pick to push down any areas that seem to not be flat enough to attach to the backing. Cool.

Step 7

Pickle, rinse, and dry the piece.

Step 8

If desired, texture the piece using Mini TruStrike Designer Hammers or Wubbers Artisan Mark Hammers-see Step 13.

Placing the strips as shown, leaving ½" of strip ends not woven, weave strips until no more can be added.

Step 9:

Version 2

Woven strips can be used without a backing. Strips can be woven together without attaching to a backing first.

Pro Tip: To make the weaving strips more stable, the ends of the strips on the left and the top of the unit made here can be taped to a bench block during weaving.

Placing the strips as shown, leaving ½" of strip ends not woven, weave strips until no more can be added.

Judy Larson's Make Woven Metal Strips to Use in Your Designs - Version 2, Metalwork, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, woven metal strips

Step 10

Bend the strip ends back over the edges to push the strips tighter together. Keep working around the unit until the desired look is achieved.

Step 11

Decide which side will show and which will be the back. With the back side facing up, place paste solder at all the corners where the woven strips meet. Here there is not as much concern about too much paste solder, although less could have been used. Place the piece on a soldering surface, back side with the paste solder facing up, and heat until the solder flows. Since solder follows heat and only the back side, which is facing up, was being heated, the solder cannot easily flow to the front of the weaving. Cool the piece.

Step 12

Pickle, rinse, and dry the piece.

Step 13

Pull the bent strips out flat. Place the piece on a bench block. Texture the piece using Mini TruStrike Designer Hammers or Wubbers Artisan Mark Hammers.

Step 14

When very thin metal strips are used and the piece of jewelry it will be used in will receive heavy wear, such as in a bracelet, it is a good idea to solder the weaving to a thin 28 or 30 gauge backing to make it more stable. Smear a thin layer of paste solder on the backing sheet. Place the textured weaving right side up on top of the backing. Press in place. Heat until the solder flows, using a solder pick to push down any areas that seem to not be flat enough to attach to the backing. Cool.

Step 15

Pickle, rinse, and dry the piece.

Step 16

The woven pieces are now ready to use in your creations. How will you use them?

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!