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Soldering

Jewelry-Making DIY – Soldered and Stamped Mixed-Metal Word Charms

July 16, 2021

I am not a fantastic metal stamper, and sadly, practice doesn’t always make perfect. I am the queen of stamped four-letter words, and even those are crooked. But actually, what I need is a process that camouflages my imperfections as rustic charm and offers the opportunity for do-overs. If this sounds too good to be true, it’s not–read on to learn how in this step-by-step tutorial.

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Jewelry-Making Classes

February 19, 2018

Ready to try something new this Spring?

Check out the free projects in our design gallery! Click the learn tab on our website for technique info. Peruse the blog for design inspirations. Or, take a class in our Spokane Showroom! We have great instructors, small class sizes and exciting projects. Techniques offered this spring include torch-fired enameling, BRONZclay, soldering (copper and silver), crystal clay, ICE Resin and metal etching. Visit www.rings-things/classes or subscribe to the NW Regional News to learn more.

Tempest Clasp (shown above) is an advanced class taught by author and award-winning designer Sarah Thompson of Sarah ‘n Dippity! Stay tuned for her new beginner level classes this fall.

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Copper Soldering Tutorial – Part 2

March 7, 2013

Today’s DIY: How to solder copper links with beads

If you like bead-embellished wire links, but wire wrapping is not your forte, then this is an excellent project for you!

See previous blog post for basic soldering instructions, including links to torches, soldering surfaces, basic tools and setup.

  1. When cutting or soldering, wear eye protection to protect your eyes from flying bits of wire or solder.
  2. Make a few coils: as many as you can comfortably fit on your ring-bending pliers, a suitable size of Wubbers bail-making pliers, or the fun new shapes of Wubbers mandrel pliers. For round links, I prefer ring-bending pliers for 20-22mm loops (3/4″ – 7/8″), and the X-Large bail-making pliers for 12mm and 15mm links.

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How to make ball-end head pins with a micro torch

November 28, 2011

Little butane torches are sweet, and not just because they are often used to caramelize sugar on fancy desserts. Micro torches are great for a ton of jewelry making techniques – soldering, fusing fine silver, sintering small Art Clay Silver pieces, even enameling. One really fun and easy project for the micro torch is balling up wire to make your own ball-end head pins.

Supplies needed:

tools for balling silver wireNon-plated wire (I’m using fine silver wire. Sterling silver and copper wire also work. Brass, nickel silver, steel and coated craft wires do not.)

Micro torch

Butane (sold at most hardware and general stores)

Cross locking tweezers

Bowl of water

Making DIY head pins is addictive. Using the locking tweezers, simply hold the wire vertically above the bowl of water. Heat the end of the wire with the torch.

balling-fine-silver-wireAs the wire starts to melt, it crawls up the wire. Once you have a good size ball, quench the wire in the water. Ta da!

If you get too ambitious, the ball might get too big and drop off the wire. Not a big deal. The little balls make cute additions to other projects, and the water ensures you’re not burning down the house. A little practice is all it takes to consistently make the balls the same size.

homemade-ball-end-pinsThe balled wire also makes nice French hook ear wires. Don’t have a torch? Rings & Things micro torch kit contains everything you need to get started, except the fuel. A book such as Soldering Made Simple: Easy techniques for the kitchen-table jeweler or Melissa Manley’s Jewelry Lab will provide loads of inspiration and how-tos for more complicated projects that take full advantage of your new tool’s powers! ~ Cindy