Liquid Enamel Necklace
Liquid Enamel Necklace
Liquid Enamel Necklace
MARY HETTMANSPERGER
TECHNIQUES
WHAt YOU DO
Copper sheet, 24 gauge, 212-inch (6.4 cm) circle Black coated craft wire, 26 gauge, 10 feet (3 m) Copper wire, 24 gauge, 10 inches (25.4 cm) Copper wire, 22 gauge, 1015 feet (34.6 m) Copper wire, 18 gauge, 3 inches (7.6 cm) Oxidized sterling silver chain, 2024 inches (50.861 cm) Black automotive paint Liquid enamel, white
TOOLS
Use the disk cutter to cut a 12-inch (1.3 cm) hole in the center of the copper circle. Apply gel flux to the entire surface of the copper. Anneal and create a red patina with the torch (A). Texture and smooth the edges of the washer with a hammer. Anneal the copper washer again, using gel flux to enhance the patina. Place the hole of the washer over the largest depression in the dapping block. Use a large dapping punch to depress the inner edge of the washer, creating a lip (B).
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Bend the lip further with needlenose pliers. Make a lip in the same direction on the outer edge of the washer with needle-nose pliers (figure 1).
Figure 1
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Hammer the ends of the 3-inch (7.6 cm) 18-gauge copper wire flat. Cut 2 feet (61 cm) of 26-gauge black wire. Beginning 18 inch (3 mm) from the flattened end, tightly wrap the black wire around the 18-gauge copper wire (figure 4). Snip any excess wire and use pliers to make the wire ends sit flush. Cut the 24-gauge copper wire in half. Use it to make a wrapped loop on each side of the black-wrapped wire (figure 5).
Figure 3
Heat the wire coil until it glows red and the enamel becomes shiny and smooth (E). Air cool.
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Dip the wire coil into liquid enamel. Let it dry completely (C). Paint the inside of the washer with black auto paint and let dry (D).
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Thread a wire from each wrapped loop through an end of the oxidized chain. Make a second wrapped loop on each side to secure the chain (figure 6).
Figure 4
D
Heat, Color, Set & Fire
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Variations
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
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Wrap a new length of black wire through a copper wire on the back of the enameled piece. Place the enameled piece inside the washer, with the black wire sticking out from the side. Wrap the wire around the washer through the middle to the front, and connect using a half hitch knot (F).
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When you have almost finished stitching, place the wire paddle on top of the washer. Anchor the hanger in place by looping half hitch stitches around it (figure 7). End the stitching by tightly wrapping the black wire around the 18-gauge copper wire. Snip off any excess wire.
Continue knotting around the circle, making your stitches 1 1 about 4 2 inch (0.61.3 cm) apart.
F
The Projects
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Tool Kits
Basic Tool Kit
Abrasive powder cleanser Anvil or bench block Awl Ball-peen hammer Bench grinder with de-burring wheel Chain-nose pliers Dapping block and daps Disk cutter and punches Eyelet setter Flat file Green scrub pad Hole punches, and 1/16 inch (3 and 1.6 mm) Liver of sulfur Measuring tape or ruler Metal cutters Needle-nose pliers Ring clamp Ring mandrel Round-nose pliers Safety glasses Sharpened flat-head screwdrivers Steel wool, #2 coarse and #0 fine Texturing hammer Vise Wood block
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JEWELRY | DESIGN
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