Mixed Metal Sampler Bracelet 5 - River Walk

by Judy Larson

Category: Metalwork
Technique(s): Cutting, Hole Punching, Sawing, Texturing, Butane Torch Techniques, Design
Skill Level: Beginner

Here's another design idea for your mixed metal sampler bracelets. You can decorate your links with lots of different pieces of metal scrap, in a number of designs. This one looks like meandering rivers to me!

Materials

24 Gauge 0.020 Dead Soft Copper Sheet Metal - 6x12 Inch

MET-705.24M

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $11.34
Gold Club Price: $8.51

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4mm Fine Silver Bezel Cup - Pack of 20

F9-01

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

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Tools

Xuron Sheer - Non Serrated

SHR-691.81

SHR-691.81
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $31.95
Gold Club Price: $23.96

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French Shears, Straight, 7 Inch

SHR-530.00

SHR-530.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $17.44
Gold Club Price: $13.08

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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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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
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $21.95
Gold Club Price: $16.46

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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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WireJewelry Single Barrel Rotary Rock Tumbler Brazilian Mix Starter Kit, Includes 1.5 Pounds of Rough Brazilian Stone Mix and 1 Batch of 4 Step Abrasive Grit and Polish with Plastic Pellets (2021 Version)

G24-1V2-KIT119

G24-1V2-KIT119
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $126.60
Gold Club Price: $94.95

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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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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 is 5/8" wide and 1" long. The link sections can be printed out and turned into stickers if you wish to cut the river pieces in the shapes on the template. If using these templates, draw them longer than the length needed. There will then be no worries about them fitting on the links if the river angle placement is changed. The excess can be cut away after soldering.

Step 2

Place the sticker templates on 24 or 26 gauge sheet metal. I found a piece of wavy wire last summer on an early morning walk and brought it home. I used it to draw wavy lines on a piece of paper that I turned into a sticker. The waves were too close together to cut with shears so I had to use a saw. The river template pieces in Step 1 can easily be cut with shears.

Step 3

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 4

Cut a ¼" x 1" piece of 20 or 22 gauge brass for the T-bar. Round the ends of the piece before texturing the edge with a Mini TruStrike Designer/Texture hammer. Stamp designs across the top. Refer to PREPARING THE BRACELET LINK PIECES-Part 2 for directions for finishing the T-bar.

Step 5

Cut out the river sections. Just because the template links have the river sections meandering in all directions does not mean you have to. Place the river pieces on the copper links in a manner that pleases you. See Step 19 for embellishing the river sections. It will be much easier to do this to each river section now rather than after soldering everything in place.

Step 6

Sand the backs of three 6mm bezel cups and four 4mm bezel cups. Besides flattening the backs slightly, sanding also helps them adhere better to the link when soldering. The second photo shows the sanded bezel cup back on the right. Arrange the bezel cups on the bracelet links.

Step 7

Cut a variety of small silver or nickel silver discs to use as embellishments. The tiny little discs punched out of the jump ring corners can also be used for embellishments. Place them on the bracelet links. Now you have an idea of where the river sections and embellishments will be soldered to each bracelet link.

Step 8

Flatten all the embellishment pieces after cutting, stamping and refining the edges.

Step 9

Butter the backs of a river pieces with copper paste solder. Press each in place, solder side down, on the bracelet links.

Step 10

Place a small amount of paste solder on the backs of a bezel cups. Push the bezel cups into place on the copper bracelet links.

Step 11

Place copper paste solder dots on the copper bracelet links in the places where the small discs will be soldered. Press the small capper dots into the paste solder.

Step 12

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 13

Place the links in a pickle pot with super pickle until the fire scale is removed. Rinse the pieces. 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 14

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

Step 15

Trim the excess river metal from the links. Because brass is a much harder metal than copper, use the flush cutter made for heavier metal.

Step 16

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

Step 17

Place the links in the tumbler with shot, water and a drop of dish detergent. After tumbling for several hours the links will be bright and shiny.

Step 18

You can set the chosen cabochons onto the bezel cups (don't press into place) to see how they will look. The cabochons will be secured in place after the bracelet sections have been patinated.

Step 19

I decided the rivers looked too plain. If I had been thinking, I would have embellished them in Step 5 before soldering them in place. First, stamp the river edge "weeds" in a few places. Then add different size dot "rocks" between the weeds.

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!