Low-cost jewelry techniques

[Vespertilion]

Hi everyone.

I make jewelry (give away more than I sell) and like writing, it's a process. Classes and circumstances can be prohibitive when it comes to advancing your skills, so I was hoping to share tips and tricks for low-cost projects, or just show off what we've learned

I started out with a drill and my own pressed pennies, and that's still the bulk of what I sell (I have a crapload of coins to get rid of) and I also taught myself how to etch copper. One of the unusual things I do is paint the metal, and I love the way it looks.

Here's an etched and painted copper necklace as an example, with crystal "fireflies."

 

[Vespertilion]

Because of the etchant I use, you can often see some pixelization from the transfer as an artefact of the process, which I kind of dig. I could soften it by placing it back in the etch after the resist is removed, but I rarely do.

If anyone digs one of these up in a thousand years, they'll know I used a laser printer of this era to make the transfer, which is really kind of cool.

 

[BySharonNelson]

Thats gorgeous! I am a big fan of polymer clay but its kind of just a hobby.

 

[Vespertilion]

Thank you

Polymer clay is so cool in the right hands. It really can be gorgeous. Have you ever seen that precious metal clay?

You build your piece out of it, then the clay goes into a kiln, and all the binders are cooked out. The piece shrinks in the process, but you end up with a fine silver item. I've never tried it (expensive) but am fascinated by it.

 

[frimble3]

I've tried the PMC clay, and, while it is expensive (real silver), the things you can do with a couple of tools are amazing. If you wanted to 'practice' techniques to see if the clay would work for you, it handles very much like a waterbased paper clay, like Das, or 'Paperclay'- the dried-pulp in a bag, just-add-water stuff.
Very quick to dry, you have to move quickly, esp with thin pieces. My teacher had us use hand-balm on our hands so that the stuff didn't stick, otherwise you're losing expensive clay onto your skin.
Takes a stamp well, tools nicely, works with a mold. And, it comes in a slip-in-a-syringe form that is amazing. You can make a form out of something that will burn off, and draw lines with the syringe o'slip. When it's fired, it's a web of silver lines. Much easier than using wire and solder for the same effect.
I wanted to try some things in silver, but I didn't want to learn a new skill (soldering) just for a couple of things.

 

[Vespertilion]

There were PMC classes available in my last city, but they were always full, just like all the basic metalworking classes. First day of registration they filled up immediately.

Soldering is one of the things I haven't gotten around to learning yet, either. I mostly drill holes and connect things that way. I'd like to learn someday, but you know how that goes.

 

[Susie]

wow, what a beautiful piece, Clovia. You're very talented! Great thread, too. I'm interested in making jewelry, but haven't really gotten started yet.

 

[Vespertilion]

If you want to try something simple, Susie, here's a great tutorial from Fire Mountain on making a wire wrapped loop. Pics at the bottom are nice and clear.

That's what's connecting the pendant to the necklace in my first pic, and what I use most often in place of jump rings. They look nice, nothing thin can can escape because there's no potential gap, and can be made with any gage of wire.

 

[frimble3]

Soldering is one of the things I haven't gotten around to learning yet, either. I mostly drill holes and connect things that way. I'd like to learn someday, but you know how that goes.

Well, you taught yourself to etch copper, which is more than most of us have done. (And the result looks great.)

 

[Vespertilion]

Well, you taught yourself to etch copper, which is more than most of us have done. (And the result looks great.)

There's a definite point where I need someone to show me in person how to do something properly. Soldering, I think I'd feel better with a class.

If anyone can blow themselves up, it's me, so the etching process I went with has No Electricity. I found something similar for silver, so I'm going to try that next, when I can face maybe ruining a piece of silver. Scrap copper, I can get at the hardware store.

ETA: As far as start-up costs go for learning, the printer is the biggest expense, if you don't already have one.

Laser printer
Ink Jet photo paper
An iron (I would have one just for crafts)
Glass or plastic container
Two very cheap household chemicals I'm not sure the mods would want me posting, legally, so I'll be happy to rep or pm

 

[Susie]

Thx so much for the link, Clovia. I'll check it out.

 

[frimble3]

Thanks so much for the offer, but, yeah, the laser printer would be the big cost. I already have an inkjet, so I've got the paper, at least
And there's no point in tempting myself with the knowledge of chemicals when I'm unlikely to make the leap to copper etching anytime soon.

 

[Vespertilion]

Necklace I made for myself to feature a palad khik I found on 3bay. The memory wire is wrapped in embroidery floss (cheaper than beads, and doesn't pull the baby hairs at the back of your neck) and the brass leaves came off a broken vintage necklace. The lucky peaches are stone, and I think probably dyed.

To keep the embroidery floss neat, I split red-liner tape into slim pieces and press it around the memory wire--the thread sticks to it, and the bond is permanent in 24 hours.

I usually relax the memory wire a little by bending it against the curve gently, so it's not a choker anymore, but won't fall off, either.

I feel like such a thread hog! I want to see/hear what you've made

 

[Satori1977]

Very cool Clovia! I love the work you have done, especially the first one. I used to make jewelry when I was young, but it was very amuteurish. I would love to learn how to do it now. Thanks for the link, I put it in my favorites.

 

[Vespertilion]

The craft store chain I used to work at has some new jeweler's equipment I had to put like five things back (tiny anvil!) but I bought a dapping cube and have been playing.

What can I put in a tiny bowl?! That medallion needs to be domed! All discs would look better either convex or concave!

Now I have to figure out what I need a tiny anvil for. Other than a tiny coyote.

 

[Deleted member 42]

Do check out Clovia's pressed pennies; they are very cool.

 

[Vespertilion]

Here's my first project with the fruits of the dapping cube.

I used the domed discs to cover the snaps, as well as the two decorative ones flanking the centerpieces. The leather is cut from a belt, and split down the center to get the width I needed.

 

[BunnyMaz]

I have nothing useful to add. I just wanted to drool over your work.

Prettttttttyyyyyyy...

 

[sunandshadow]

What do you put on the copper to keep it from oxidizing after you've got it nice and shiny?

This thread reminds me that at some point I had intended to get a rock tumbler and figure out how to drill holes in the polished rocks without breaking them...

 

[Vespertilion]

I usually don't, sunandshadow, because I don't mind the patina. But I've heard great things about archival microcrystalline waxes like Renaissance Wax.

I wouldn't suggest clear nail polish--I had someone do that and then send me the piece back for an adjustment. It looked like such crap I was embarrassed.

 

[Deleted member 42]

What do you put on the copper to keep it from oxidizing after you've got it nice and shiny?

This thread reminds me that at some point I had intended to get a rock tumbler and figure out how to drill holes in the polished rocks without breaking them...

You do it before the very final polish, and you include plastic (reusable) beads that help protect the rocks from chipping in the final polish. You can drill the holes with a dremel, but you need to match the bit to the rock.

 

[Deleted member 42]

What do you put on the copper to keep it from oxidizing after you've got it nice and shiny?

I wouldn't; you can use an ordinary pencil eraser, followed by a soft clean cloth, to buff the parts you want to be copper/shiny and un-oxidized.

 

[Vespertilion]

I wouldn't; you can use an ordinary pencil eraser, followed by a soft clean cloth, to buff the parts you want to be copper/shiny and un-oxidized.

It's kinda soothing, too--I have one of those battery-op helix erasers, which allows for some precision. I like to make Lincoln's head shiny first.

 

[Evelyn]

Hi Clovia,

I've enjoyed your work very much! I like what you did with the domed pieces, and especially how you mixed the copper and the leather. Keep showing us your work, please please please.

I'm a jeweler, too. I have a fine arts degree in oil painting, and then I discovered I really loved to work in metals, so I went back to school to study jewelry design.

FUN! I fell in love and never looked back. I have a studio in my home with the whole deal, the torch and all the rest. I sell my work at Fine Arts Fairs. I tried to put some images here, but it looks like they're all too big. Here's my website, if anyone's interested:

www.vivid-arts.com

Thanks for starting this great thread.

Evelyn

 

[Vespertilion]

Thanks, Evelyn!

I'd love to take some proper jewelry classes, I just haven't been able to yet. Most everything I make has some sort of experimental quality to it

And holy wow, your stuff is cool! I'd love to hear some about how your pieces are made. The little jointed doll necklaces are wonderful.

ETA: Your how-you-do-it photo sequence on the beads is fascinating, too.