Open and Close Bracelet Project Download

Description

A hand-carved metal clay bracelet with a hinge hiding among the details.

Skills: Intermediate soldering, Stone setting, Basic metal clay

Materials Needed to Complete this Project:

• 26mm x 26mm crazy lace agate
• 45 grams One Fire PMC sterling metal clay
• 15 grams PMC Flex metal clay
• Fine silver bezel wire
• 6mm round bezel cup settings (2ea)
• 6mm round cabochon garnets
• 16 gauge round Argentium sterling silver wire (5")
• 14 gauge round sterling silver wire (½")
• Glue Dots® Adhesives Super-Strength
• File folder cardboard
• Clear packing tape
• Masking tape

Tools Needed to Complete this Project:

• DESIGN:
  • Scanner/photocopier
  • Pencil
  • Fine tipped permanent marker
  • Scissors
• METALSMITHING:
  • Bracelet mandrel
  • Flex shaft/rotary tool
  • Steel or brass brush
  • Torch
  • Pickle pot
  • Copper tongs
  • Rinse water
  • Flush wire cutters
  • Flat-nose pliers
  • Flat medium grit file
  • Radial bristle disc 80 grit
  • Punch
  • #55 (1.27mm) drill bit
  • #38 (2.53mm) drill bit
  • #52 (1.55mm)
  • 5/8" diameter grinding wheel
  • Burnisher
• SOLDERING:
  • Soldering setup
  • Third hand with self-locking tweezers 
  • Extra pair of self-locking tweezers
  • Flux
  • Hard silver solder
  • Medium silver solder
  • Pickling solution
• CLAY:
  • ?Acrylic work surface,
  • Roller
  • Needle/pin tool
  • Thickness guides for 1mm (4 playing cards)
  • Craft knife
  • Dental tool carver
  • Tiny needle files
  • A block to lift the work up off the table top while carving
  • Brass millimeter gauge with sharp points
  • 4mm round ball bur
  • Fiber bowl
  • Vermiculite
  • Lubricant for working clay
• FIRING:
  • Kiln

Originally Published: Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, March/April 2018