Jewelry Tutorial: copper soldering pendant Butterfly wing



You need:

1. Agate cabochon 13x18 cm
2. Copper bead 3 mm
3. Copper wire 16 gauge - 55 cm
4. Copper wire 18 gauge - 30 cm
5. Copper wire 28 gauge - 150 cm
6. Chain nose pliers
7. Round nose pliers
8. Wire cutters
9. Hammer
10. Miniature Horn Anvil
11. File
12. Butane torch
13. Board for soldering
14. Copper-phosphorus solder Felder 94
15. Maas Polishing Creme and Polishing pads
16. Citric acid
17. Liver of sulfur
18. Rustins laquer for metal

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How to protect copper from dimming

  I like to work with copper. It's absolutely wonderful metal. And especially I like its gentle pink color, like the color of human skin. But the copper dims quickly on the air without special protection.
And I have one advice how to avoid this.

After careful polishing with polish paste or pillows, I use a special Maas metal polish cream.

 Apply a bit of cream on a dry cloth and rub the copper. Wash the jewelry with warm water and soap.

But this is not enough. I put 2 layers of special metal lacquer Rustins on the copper. The second layer should be applied 4-8 hours after the first. Now your copper jewelry is securely protected.

Twisted wire

This is very easy way of making nice twisted wire. We should use soft wire, engraver, vice and hook.

 Fold the wire in half and press 2 end in the vice. Pull the hook into the loop and engage the engraver at low speed.

 If you use too thick wire, it's best to rotate it manually, not a tool. This twisted wire is too hard. So you can use butane torch to heat it and make it soft. 

Free tutorial - Large copper earrings without soldering - DIY project

Video version here: 

Tools and Supplies:

• Chain nose pliers
• Round nose pliers
• Wire cutters
• Hammer
• Miniature Horn Anvil
• File
• Maas Polishing Creme
• Polishing pads
• Liver of sulfur

• 16-gauge copper wire – 30 cm
• 18-gauge copper wire - 60 cm
• 20-gauge copper wire - 16 cm
• 26-gauge copper wire - 3 m
• copper beads 3 mm – 2 items
• copper beads 5 mm – 2 items
• faceted briolettes 8x12 mm - 2 items

        I like to work with copper. This is a great metal. It can change its properties. Sometimes I can make it soft, sometimes it's hard. And I'm absolutely in love with this light pink color. It combines well with green and blue-colored stones.

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