Craftzine.com blog: Metalwork Archives

Archive: Metalwork

February 5, 2010

Intern's Corner: How to Make "Silverwear" Earrings

CRAFT: Intern's Corner
Every other week, CRAFT's awesome interns tell about the projects they're building in the Craft: Labs, the trouble they've gotten into, and what they'll make next.

By Lindsey North, projects intern

The trend now -- and I love it -- is recycled accessories: earrings made of bottle caps full of resin, belts made from candy wrappers, purses from pull tabs, and a plethora of other cool things. In CRAFT Volume 02, Kathy Cano Murillo showed how to fashion earrings from recycled tin, and in CRAFT Volume 03, Casey Dougherty showed how to make Fishing Lure Earrings. And then I saw some really cool jewelry at Maker Faire made from funky old utensils, watch gears, and tons of other random things that you'd never think of.

Ever since Maker Faire, I'd been looking for the perfect something to make into a fun pendant or pair of earrings (I'm an earring junkie, a constant collector). While visiting my grandparents recently, I found my inspiration: a silverware set that had once belonged to my great-grandmother, the most beautiful utensils I have ever seen. They were aged to perfection, slightly tarnished, but that only served to enhance the delicate flower pattern that decorated the handles. And so I was inspired to create earrings out of spoon handles.

Of course I wasn't allowed, nor did I want, to make the earrings out of my great-grandmother's spoons -- they're a family heirloom. Instead I went to the local thrift store and purchased some mismatched utensils. You can find some very fun and inexpensive flatware at thrift stores. I also found some cool inexpensive silverware at the local Safeway grocery store.

Once you've found your pieces of silver, cut the utensils to the desired length. I used a band saw at the Craft: Labs but you can also use a hacksaw. I like to vary the earring length, it just makes them more interesting.

After you cut the flatware, drill a hole near the top with a small drill bit. It's a good idea to oil the bit as you're drilling, to save your bit, especially if you're drilling stainless steel. Use sandpaper to sand down the rough edges of the metal to prevent future cuts and scratches.

Then just put in your jump ring and your earring hook! Now I wear my silverwear all the time.

Your CRAFT intern,
Lindsey

January 13, 2010

How-To: Decoratively Twist Wire

Instructables user barefootbohemian shows us how to make perfect twisted wire for your art/jewelry using a screwdriver and cordless drill! I've seen a similar technique used in rope-making, too.

November 3, 2009

Flashback: Battle Chic DIY Chainmail

Learning the basics of how to make your own chainmail is one of those skills that can have far-reaching applications in your crafts. This week's flashback comes from way back in 2006, from the pages of our very first issue of CRAFT magazine. Annalee Newitz provides you with the know-how you need to get started with chainmail. And for you collectors out there, you can still pick up an issue of this classic over in the Maker Shed.

Battle Chic
Craft a wardrobe of medieval armor with DIY chainmail.
By Annalee Newitz

Henrik Olsgaard, aka Henrik of Havn, has been proclaimed King of the West six times. Obviously the guy is deft with a sword — you don't get to be King in the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) without winning several bouts in the annual Crown Tournament. But his triumph is also testimony to his skill at making chainmail. Henrik has been fashioning chainmail of every description for the past four decades — from beautiful, sterling silver belts to a 50-pound battle hauberk (a knee-length shirt).

And now, I'm going to teach you what he taught me: how to make your own chainmail. With just a few basic patterns, you'll have all the knowledge you need to fashion a helmet, shirt, belt, coin purse, and even a full hauberk.

Read full story »

October 16, 2009

CRAFT Video: Metalworking 2

This week I'll show you some more metalworking techniques including files, rotary abrasives, and how to make a ball-head rivet with a butane torch. You can get all kinds of jewelry supplies online (Rio Grande) is a good resource, or ask around for local shops. If you're interested in learning more about metalsmithing, ask at your local university or community college to see if they have classes; it's a very hands-on process and it helps to have in-person help! The tools I used in the video:

slotted mandrel for emery paper
wet/dry sandpaper
detail abrasive brush (Dremel gave me some to try)
abrasive wheels
micro/needle files
butane torch
cross-locking tweezers

Don't forget to watch my previous metalworking video for more techniques!

Subscribe to the CRAFT Podcast in iTunes, or download the m4v video.

October 11, 2009

Silver Spoon Crafts

Yesterday while I was at the Whiskerino, I took some time to shop around the Petaluma Farmer's Market. There were some great craft vendors alongside the fresh produce and foods. I scored two wonderful pieces, a keychain and a ring that embody crafty recycling and the beauty of vintage collectables.

Both pieces are wrought from the handle of silver spoon. The keychain pattern is called "Orange Blossom" and was made in 1910. The artist, Norman, even had the original spoon with him. Norman was a true throwback, no URL, not even a business card. While he truly knew each detail on the silver spoons he worked with, all he could tell me about his business was that each piece was made right in town and that he occasionally made appearances at the farmers market. I loved Norman's old-school spoons, and his old-school attitude. Farmer's markets, FTW.

August 28, 2009

CRAFT Video: Intro to Metalworking

This week on the CRAFT Video learn some basics of fine metalworking. With a few simple tools, you can create neat shapes from copper (or silver or brass) sheet and add some fun texture. I made this copper and silver "triple bypass" get-well card for MAKE Senior Editor Gareth Branwyn, who's recovering from surgery.

Subscribe to the CRAFT Podcast in iTunes, or download the m4v video.

Materials and tools:

jeweler's saw frame with extra blades
copper sheet
jeweler's files
wet-dry sandpaper, 400 grit (hardware store)
design on standard printer paper
rubber cement
copper etchant (ferric chloride or sodium persulfate)
various sized permanent markers
acetone or denatured alcohol (hardware store)
conti crayon and/or colored pencils
silver wire
Dremel or other handheld rotary tool
drill bit
ball-peen hammer
scrap wood
steel surface for hammering
pliers and wire cutters

Most of these jewelry supplies can be ordered from Rio Grande. Check online to find a local jewelry supply shop, since they're usually really knowledgeable and helpful. If you live around Phoenix, AZ, try Lonnie's.

For more cool metalwork, check out our metalwork archive.

Read full story »

August 21, 2009

Chainmail Chess Set

Sean @ MAKE points us to this entire chess set made entirely from chainmail. David Austin writes:

One of the first important decisions I made was what wire size to use. I decided that in order to fully articulate the style of traditional chess pieces I was going to have to use thin wire and small rings. So I decided to use .035" wire. This is about the smallest wire size I felt comfortable using for extended periods of time at the time in which I started this project. For metals, I already knew that I would use stainless steel and bronze. These are the two metals I used for the squares on the chess board. Also, both metals have roughly the same amount of springback, which I knew would be vital in ensuring sculptural consistency.

July 20, 2009

How-To: Deconstruct Tins

Christine of adaptivereUse shows how to deconstruct tins that can then be used for a variety of craft purposes. I'm always drawn to the heaps of decorative tins I see in thrift stores, but have been a bit daunted by the idea of grappling the tools and techniques to dismantle them for use. Christine's tutorial demystifies the process!

May 20, 2009

How-To: Dapping Punch From Steel Bolts

Instructables user cr8ive1 writes:

This is how I make steel doming punches to shape soft metals (gold, silver, copper, brass) for jewellery making. Doming (or dapping punches as they are often referred to by jewellery makers) punches are expensive for what they are- basically highly polished pieces of curved steel. I have a few commercially made punches and a brass dapping block but I needed larger ones for a project. I couldn't justify the expense knowing they would only see occasional use, so I made my own. For this project I've used an old carriage bolt (domed bolt). As I don't have a lathe to remove large amounts of material a piece of preshaped steel was important to reduce the need for labourious hand work (this project is about saving money not losing time).

Hey jewelry makers, how do you improvise your own tools? Post in the comments.

May 6, 2009

Baby Food Jar Chandelier

Babyfoodjar Chandelier600
Here's a clever tutorial on how to make a baby food jar chandelier from Natural Home magazine.

From the site:

This chandelier has all the charm of medieval ironwork—but it comes from the recycling bin. Used baby-food jars, a few yards of twisted wire, a couple repurposed barrel hoops and a length of rusty chain are all it takes to spark images of exotic locales. Powered by votive candles, the chandelier crackles with energy without drawing a single watt.

[ via AT Re-Nest ]

April 29, 2009

Game Controller Cufflinks

These game controller cufflinks in sterling silver will set you back a pretty penny, but they sure are fetching! Via Sprite Stitch.

April 27, 2009

How-To: Knife Wire Inlay

Gareth @ MAKE writes:

In this tutorial, bladesmith Ben Potter shows how he inlays a Celto-Norse design in non-ferrous metals into a steel blade. You can see one of the tutorials of him making one of his incredible blades and hilt here.

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