How to make jewelry chains

Introduction

How to make jewelry chains? Making jewelry chains can be done mechanically. However this is the instruction to make jewelry chains with soldering and a frame saw. This is a more traditional way to create beautiful jewelry. This is basically a silversmith skill that will improve over time. This is a basic project for learning.

Instructions

Difficulty -Challenging

Things you will need

• Pick for manipulating the silver when soldering
• Torch for heating the metal
• Sharp tweezers
• Pliers
• Frame saw
• Saw blades the easiest is the 3/0
• Bench pin
• Needle files
• Soldering board
• Charcoal block
• Steel wool
• 2 x 3" deep clear glass dishes; 1 for pickle and 1 for rinse
• 1 lb of the pickling compound
• Small bench vice
• 1 oz, hard wire solder
• 2 oz of sterling silver
• 14 gauge half round wire and the 1 oz gauge round wire
• Flux
• Popsicle sticks

Step by step

Step one

Starting with the hard wire solder, you will want to begin with this, however in time it will be easier to go on to other sized wire.

Step two

Cut off about 6 inches of the wire. Clean the wire with the steel wool.

Step three

Cut the solder into the large bowl. Then store it in a small glass bottle.

Step four

Now you will want to take your sterling silver and create a circle of about 3 inches to 3 ½ inches. Do not bend it or link it. Curl it around in a circle in two spots. This should hold the circle in the shape needed.

Step five

Put this into the charcoal block and heat with torch until dull red. Take away the torch and let it cool. When it is cool you will need to put it into the pickle acid. This will be the agent that cleans the wire.

Step six

Cut off about 6 feet of the wire, and then place that into the vice. Take the other end and wind it around the Popsicle stick. Pull the wire tight, without stretching it. Now wrap the wire closely around the entire stick.

Step seven

At this point it is time to cut the wire. You can do this by simply placing the wrapped stick around the edge of the bench pin. Now cut down the center of the upright side of the edge.

Step eight

This will need to be done with the 3/0 blade. This is a little tricky with the saw. However, using caution it should be ok. It is one of the few times you will cut at a slant.

Step nine

You will need to repeat this process until you have enough chains for the jewelry you are making.

Step ten

Use the pliers to assist you in linking the wire together. It will take a little work and a strong hand. However, it should be relatively simple. The tweezers are also used to help line up the chains.

Step eleven

Finally make a hook with the additional wire. This will be used to fasten the jewelry into place.

Overall tips and warnings

• Keep in mind that this is a hot craft. Therefore parental supervision is necessary for younger crafters.
• Even if there are imperfections the first time you create some type of jewelry, you will find that the more you practice this process, the easier it will get.
• It is always easier to make more of the chains than to not have enough. Keep this in mind when you are measuring out what it will take to make the jewelry you are designing.