Mixed Metal Sampler Bracelet 4 - Words Matter

by Judy Larson

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

We begin embellishing our Mixed Metal Sampler Bracelet in this tutorial. We'll cover several techniques for decorating the links in this, and subsequent lessons.

Materials

26 Gauge 0.016 Dead Soft Copper Sheet Metal - 6x6 Inch

MET-705.26

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $7.83
Gold Club Price: $5.87

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Tools

Designer Stamp Set--1/8 Lowercase Block Letter Set

PUN-205.90

PUN-205.90
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $99.97
Gold Club Price: $74.98

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Verona Alphabet Stamp Set, Upper Case, 2mm, 27 Piece Set

PUN-735.00

PUN-735.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $40.00
Gold Club Price: $30.00

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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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Steel Bench Block 4x4 Inch - Pack of 1

G17-10

G17-10
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
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Price: $21.95
Gold Club Price: $16.46

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7 Piece Mini TruStrike Hammer Set with Stand

HAM-520.70

HAM-520.70
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
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Price: $140.54
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Brass Hammer - 1 Pound

HAM-456.10

HAM-456.10
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Price: $24.97
Gold Club Price: $18.73

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Xuron Sheer - Non Serrated

SHR-691.81

SHR-691.81
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $24.95
Gold Club Price: $18.71

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Steel Brush

BRS-967.00

BRS-967.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
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Price: $8.25
Gold Club Price: $6.19

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Small Brass Brush

BRS-966.10

BRS-966.10
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Price: $10.97
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Tweezer Utility Set

TWZ-700.00

TWZ-700.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
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Price: $9.97
Gold Club Price: $7.48

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Basic Soldering Kit

G15-4

G15-4
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
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Price: $58.95
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Copper Solder Paste, 1/2 ozt, Soft

SOL-824.10

SOL-824.10
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Price: $9.95
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Instructions

Step 1

Read through the directions before beginning. Note: Save all the metal scraps, no matter how tiny, for the last project.
Scale the design template up so that the top left link (HOPE) is 5/8" wide and 1" long. The templates between the two rows are sized to fit the 1" and ¾" links. Turn the templates into stickers. If a disc cutter is not available, make a ½" circle sticker as well as a small heart for the heart link and a ¼" circle sticker for the smallest link. Note: I only have five word stamps so that determined the number of links I made.

Judy Larson's Mixed Metal Sampler Bracelet 4 - Words Matter - , Metalwork, Stamping, Stamps, Mixed Metals Sampler Bracelet

Step 2

Attach the oval and circles (if needed) stickers to a piece of textured 24 or 26 gauge copper sheet. Attach the small heart to a piece of silver or nickel silver 24 or 26 gauge sheet. Flatten all the pieces after cutting and refining the edges.

Step 3

Cut the heart, ovals, and circles out. Sand and refine the cut edges of the pieces.

Step 4

If a disc cutter is available, use an ultra fine point retractable Sharpie to draw a ¾" square on the textured copper sheet. Draw lines from corner to corner. Center the "X" inside the 5/16" hole of the disc cutter. Cut the hole. Center the cut hole inside the ½" hole and cut out the washer. Cut a ¼" disc in the remaining textured copper.

Step 5

Flatten all the pieces after cutting and refining the edges.

Step 6

There is an 1/8" faux rivet on each end of the textured metal word ovals. Cut and flatten enough 1/8" brass discs for each link plus one extra onefor the toggle "O" ring link. An alternative would be to use real rivets to attach the ovals to the copper base links.

Step 7

Use word stamps to stamp a 24 or 26 gauge sheet of silver or nickel silver. Cut the words out. Sand, refine and flatten them. Sand the backs of each.

Step 8

Place the "O" ring toggle link on a bench block. Dividing the washer into four quadrants with an ultra fine point retractable Sharpie makes it easier to use the Mini TruStrike Sharp Designer Hammer to hammer even lines radiating out from center.

Step 9

Using the directions in Step 4, cut a 5/8" washer with a 3/8" hole from the textured copper piece. Cut the piece into three pieces. Only two will be used.

Step 10

"Butter" the back of one of the cut washer pieces with copper paste solder. Place the piece, solder side down, on the toggle, as shown. Repeat for the other piece. The excess metal hanging over the edge of the link on both ends of will be cut away after soldering. Place a small amount of solder on the 1/8" brass disc and place it solder side down, pressing it into place between the two jump rings and on top of the textured pieces.

Step 11

For the T-bar, an eighth inch wide piece of 24 or 26 gauge copper is attached to a ¼" x 1" piece of 20 or 22 gauge copper. Refer to Mixed Metal Sampler Bracelet - 3 for directions for finishing the T-bar.

Step 12

Butter the back of each oval textured piece and the ¼" textured disc with copper paste solder. Center each piece, solder side down, on a bracelet link.

Step 13

Butter the back of each word with copper paste solder. Center each piece, solder side down, and press into place on a textured piece.

Step 14

Place a small amount of paste solder on the back of the ½" textured copper washer with a 5/16" center hole. Center the washer solder side down on a ¾" link and press into place. Press the heart solder side down inside the washer.

Step 15

Place each embellished link onto the soldering surface. Heat each piece separately until a flash of silver is visible when the solder flows. Immediately remove the heat and go on to the next piece until all are soldered.

Step 16

The pieces will look terrible after soldering. Place in a pickle pot with super pickle and they will come out looking much better. Rinse the pieces. After rinsing, some people like to place the pieces in baking soda water to neutralize the pickle and then rinse them. Dry the pieces before going to the next step.

Step 17

A quick brush with a soft bristle brass or steel brush will make the links look even better. This is not necessary, but you will get an idea of how the pieces will look after they are tumbled.

Step 18

Trim away the excess metal at the top of the washer on the "O" ring toggle piece. Trim off the corners of each link using a flush cutter. File and refine each link so there are no sharp edges that can scratch the skin or snag on clothing.

Step 19

Place the links in the tumbler with shot, water and a drop of dish detergent. Tumble for several hours and they will come out bright and shiny.

Pro Tip: Hold off on doing any patina to the pieces until all the bracelets sections are done.

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!