Stone Key Fob

by Judy Larson

Category: Non-Jewelry Items
Technique(s): Dapping, Butane Torch Techniques, Design
Skill Level: Intermediate

A key fob can be a personalized unisex gift. These key fobs were made to thank a group of retired men and women who stepped up and volunteered for a task no one really wanted to do.

Using local elements connects the gift to the community. The rocks were all found locally on a walk, and local leaves were roller printed in silver to make the embellishments.

The state tree, a pine, is soldered to the back of each fob. The turquoise beads were purchased at a trading post near the Grand Canyon in 1973. Each was wrapped with a story card and given with appreciative thanks.

Materials

24 Gauge Dead Soft Argentium Silver Sheet - 6 Inches

H19-24SM6

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
Price: $42.72
Gold Club Price: $32.04

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16 Gauge Square Dead Soft Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-16SQD

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $11.39
Gold Club Price: $8.55

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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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Memory Wire Cutters - Pack of 1

G2-36

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $10.38
Gold Club Price: $7.78

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Multi-Size Wrap 'N' Tap Pliers, Small Barrels

PLR-746.02

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

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Steel Bench Block 4x4 Inch - Pack of 1

G17-10

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each
Price: $21.95
Gold Club Price: $16.46

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Brass Hammer - 1 Pound

HAM-456.10

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $24.97
Gold Club Price: $18.73

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Blazer Big Buddy Turbo Torch, White

TRCH-8012

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

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Silver Solder Paste Medium SS70 - 1/4 T.O.

SOL-822.15

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $18.95
Gold Club Price: $14.21

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Magnesia Soldering Block

SOL-455.00

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $7.95
Gold Club Price: $5.96

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WET/DRY PAPER 9 X 11 ASST- 20PC- 2EA GRIT 180-3000

ABR-500.90

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

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Sparex Number 2 Pickling Compound

SOL-802.10

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $6.95
Gold Club Price: $5.21

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Pickle Pot, 16 Ounces

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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Stainless Steel Shot - 1 lb Bag

G24-4

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $43.95
Gold Club Price: $32.96

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Thumlers Tumbler Model AR-1 Rock Tumbler Kit

G34-102

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $204.18
Gold Club Price: $153.14

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Tools

No tools listed

Instructions

Step 1

Read through the tutorial before starting the project. Follow all safety precautions for the space you are working in as well as all safety precautions pertaining to the tools and supplies you will be using to complete the project.

Decide on the main focal, which could be small rocks like those used here. A bead was used for color, but also because the height of the bead was similar in height to the rocks being used.

The secondary set stone does not have to be a bead. However, if a round bead is used, it must not be larger than 8mm and should not have a large hole or the bezel wire will not be tall enough to cover it.

Judy Larson's Stone Key Fob - , Hair Accessories, Zipper Pulls, Christmas Ornaments, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, choose your stones

Step 2

Think about embellishments. My first thought was to use water scrap cast silver bits and pieces. Although a few looked fine, it just did not seem personal enough. Now, if I were making it for me, I would probably go crazy with the scraps!

Judy Larson's Stone Key Fob - , Hair Accessories, Zipper Pulls, Christmas Ornaments, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, designing your key fob

Step 3

When I was in the middle of replenishing my leaf embellishments, I came across some local leaves picked and pressed throughout the summer. Perfect!

After roller printing on silver, they were cut to fit. An alternative would be to cut leaf shapes and stamp the midrib and vein lines on them.

The silver balls shown in the first photo were each made with 1-1/8" of 18 gauge wire, but scrap wire or sheet can be used. Smaller balls were added-shown in the finished pieces in the second photo-when the pieces were assembled with paste solder on the backing in Step 11.

Judy Larson's Stone Key Fob - , Hair Accessories, Zipper Pulls, Christmas Ornaments, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, metal embellishments

Step 4

Make the hanging loop. Being careful to not allow the wire to twist, wrap 16 gauge square wire around the largest section of the small Wrap N Tap pliers-first photo.

Use a memory wire cutter-my favorite cutter for heavier gauge wire-to cut the wire in a rounded horseshoe shape-second photo.

Step 5

Anneal the square wire hanging loops created in Step 4.

Step 6

Work with one hanging loop at a time. Center it between two bench blocks. Use a dead blow brass mallet to give the top bench block a whack or two. This should flatten the loop. Repeat the process with all other loops.

Judy Larson's Stone Key Fob - , Hair Accessories, Zipper Pulls, Christmas Ornaments, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, flatten the loop of wire

Step 7

Place two hanging loops side by side as shown. Place the bead bezel on top of the loops. Using an ultra-fine point retractable Sharpie, mark the curve of the bead bezel on the loop.

Judy Larson's Stone Key Fob - , Hair Accessories, Zipper Pulls, Christmas Ornaments, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, position two loops next to each other

Step 8

The lines drawn on the loop show the angle at which the loop ends should be filed. File each end back at that angle until the loop fits as well as possible against the bead bezel.

Step 9

Set the parts on a piece of 24 gauge sheet metal. Draw a Sharpie line around the pieces. Cut the backing out, making sure to leave a bit of space around the edge in case some of the parts need to be moved during assembly.

It is not necessary, but texturing the back side of the backplate is a nice added touch. Use texture hammers, or as seen in Step 17, small pieces of laser cut texture sheets left from other projects.

Another nice touch would be to stamp the initial or initials of the recipient on the backplate.

Step 10

Prepare the backplate for soldering. Make sure the backplate is flat. Lightly sand the top surface. Remove sanding residue with an alcohol-soaked pad.

Step 11

Assemble the parts on the backplate using medium paste solder. Place paste solder along the bottom edge of the rock bezel. Press into place on the backplate.

Add solder along the bottom edge of the bead bezel and press into place on the backplate. Notice there is room between the rock and bead bezels. That will make it easier to press the bezel edges in during finishing. That process is very difficult if the bezels are too close together.

Decide where the hanging loop should be placed to center it above the heaviest element, the rock. Butter the back of the hanging loop as well as the filed ends with paste solder and press it into place.

Holding the bead bezel down on the backplate, push the cut ends of the hanging loop tightly against it.

Butter the back of the lower leaf with paste solder and press into place. Do the same with the upper leaf. Drag the back of the balled silver piece over the paste solder-second photo. Press the ball into place on the leaves.

Step 12

Move the piece to a solder block. At this point the key fobs did not look done so a couple smaller balled bits of silver were added as seen in the finished piece-first photo-and I forgot to take a photo.

Because paste solder bubbles when heat is directed at it, the torch flame should be circled around the piece, away from the edge as indicated by the blue line, until the smoke and flames dissipate.

If anything moves during that time, remove the heat and nudge the piece back in place. Resume heating, gradually moving the heat in and over the piece until the solder flows. Allow the piece to cool before moving it.

Judy Larson's Stone Key Fob - , Hair Accessories, Zipper Pulls, Christmas Ornaments, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, stone set key fob

Step 13

Pickle the key fob. Neutralize the piece in baking soda water immediately upon removing it from the pickle. Rinse and dry the fob before continuing.

Step 14

A saw was used to cut excess metal away around the edge of the key fob. Punch or drill a hole in the metal inside the fob hole to insert a saw blade to cut away the metal.

Clean and refine the edges of the fob with files and sanding pads.

Step 15

Optional designer touch: Solder something personal on the back of the piece with easy paste solder like the trees seen in Step 17. If this is done, repeat Step 13.

Step 16

Tumble the key fob for several hours to bring up a nice shine.

Set your stones in place, one at a time, and burnish the bezel around the stones to set.

Judy Larson's Stone Key Fob - , Hair Accessories, Zipper Pulls, Christmas Ornaments, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, bezels set on backplates

Step 17

Adding liver of sulfur patina will highlight all the design and texture of the key fob. Remove the patina from the high areas with a fine sanding pad or 0000 steel wool.

Step 18

To bring back a shine, the piece could be tumbled for 20 to 30 minutes. However, during use the key fob will get dinged and scratched by keys.

The satin finish imparted by the fine sanding pad or steel wool will help disguise that.

Judy Larson's Stone Key Fob - , Hair Accessories, Zipper Pulls, Christmas Ornaments, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, tumble for shine

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!