Triangle Shield Earrings, Pendant and Bail

by Judy Larson

Category: Metalwork
Technique(s): Filing / Finishing, Hole Punching, Oxidizing / Antiquing, Sawing, Texturing
Skill Level: Beginner

Today we feature another great sheet metal pattern from Judy Larson. This easy to make sheet metal project is a great addition to your sheet metal jewelry collection.

Soldering and riveting experience is necessary to make this project.

Materials

24 Gauge 0.020 Dead Soft Copper Sheet Metal - 6x6 Inch

MET-705.24

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $9.42
Gold Club Price: $7.07

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20 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire

H11-20D

Lesson Quantity: 3.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $0.49
Gold Club Price: $0.37

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Ear Wires Copper

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

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Tools

Pro Shear

SHR-544.00

SHR-544.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $12.95
Gold Club Price: $9.71

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Round Nose Wire Pliers

G2-507

G2-507
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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Flat Nose Wire Pliers

G2-506

G2-506
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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Chain Nose Wire Pliers

G2-508

G2-508
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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Euro Punch Plier 1.50mm

PLR-133.70

PLR-133.70
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.97
Gold Club Price: $11.23

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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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Dimple Pliers - 3mm (Green Handle)

PLR-726.30

PLR-726.30
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $15.97
Gold Club Price: $11.98

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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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Bench Block Helper with Steel and Nylon Blocks

DAP-500.30

DAP-500.30
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $29.95
Gold Club Price: $22.46

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Nylon Bracelet Bending Plier

PLR-840.00

PLR-840.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $19.97
Gold Club Price: $14.98

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Basic Soldering Kit

G15-4

G15-4
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $58.95
Gold Club Price: $44.21

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SANDING SPONGES ASST- 5PC- 1EA GRIT 100-400

ABR-600.90

ABR-600.90
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

Marker -extra fine

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

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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Sparex Number 2 Pickling Compound

SOL-802.10

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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WireJewelry Single Barrel Rotary Tumbler, Jewelry and Metal Polishing Kit, Includes 1 Pound of Jewelers Mix Shot and 8 Ounces of Shinebrite Burnishing Compound (2021 Version)

G24-1V2-KITSS

G24-1V2-KITSS
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $159.93
Gold Club Price: $119.95

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Steel wool

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

6 Piece Assorted File Set with Wooden Handle

G14-7

G14-7
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $5.57
Gold Club Price: $4.18

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Instructions

Step 1

Copy the three triangle and one bail templates. You can find Judy's Jewelry Component Templates:

Judy's Jewelry Component Templates

Step 2

Transfer the designs to your sheet metal.

Step 3

Cut the triangles out using your preferred method for cutting sheet metal.

Step 4

File any sharp edges.

Step 5

Use a 1.5mm hole punch to make holes in the center top of each piece.

Step 6

Decide on the position of the design elements you want for your pieces. Use an ultra fine point permanent marker to draw these lines on the front of each piece. Mark the center line on the front and back of each piece.

Step 7

Place each triangle shape on a bench block. Use the narrower side of the Mini TruStrike Sharp Designer Hammer to texture the lower edge of each triangle piece.

Step 8

Use the larger side of the Mini TruStrike Embossing Hammer to texture the center area of each triangle piece.

Step 9

The metal pieces will no longer be flat after texturing. Place each piece on a bench block and use a rubber or plastic mallet to flatten them.

Step 10

The first decorative dimple should be formed right on the center line. Place the indented cup side of the dimpling pliers on the FRONT side of the metal piece. The edge of the metal piece should be on the edge of the indented cup. When you close the jaws of the pliers, the hook portion should be just inside the edge of the metal piece right on the line on the BACK side of the piece.

Step 11

To make each succeeding dimple along each side of the bail, place the edge of the indented side of the dimpling pliers jaw against the previous dimple. As in Step 10, the edge of the metal piece should be on the edge of the indented cup. When you close the jaws of the pliers, the hook portion should be just inside the edge of the metal piece.

Step 12

Remove the marker lines from the pieces with an alcohol soaked pad.

Step 13

Cut nine 1/8″ pieces of 20 gauge wire. Lay them side by side on a fire brick. Use your torch to melt them into balls. Note: If you want all large metal balls used as decoration, use three 1/8″ pieces. If you would like slightly smaller metal balls, use two 1/8″ pieces.

Step 14

After the balls have cooled, hold them with your chain nose pliers and un the back of the ball over the sandpaper. This will remove the fire scale and any bits of brick they may have picked up.

Step 15

Solder the balls in place using your preferred method.

Step 16

Pickle the pieces to remove fire scale.

Step 17

Tumble the pieces in steel shot to shine them up or use 0000 steel wool to polish them.

Your pieces will look like these.

Step 18

Optional: Use a nylon bracelet bending pliers to shape each triangle, being careful to not flatten the dimples.

Step 19

Attach ear wires to the earrings and the bail to the pendant.

Step 20

You can leave your pieces bright and shiny or use liver of sulfur to patina them. Buff with 0000 steel wool to bring out the dimension of your texturing.

Congratulations! You've made your first Triangle Shield Earrings, Pendant and Bail.

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!