You will manipulate metal wire, twist, hammer, and file it into various works of art you can wear. If we use hammers and the sound of hammering bothers you, bring in a pair of ear plugs available at any hardware store.
What can we learn about LIFE from making Crafts?
Please read this quote from a website about Craftmanship - and You will be responsible for these concepts on our final Exam...
" Instead of passively consuming and letting things happen to him, the craftsman fashions the world to his liking and proactively shapes and influences it. Ancient philosophers in both the West and the East have used the craftsman as a symbol of he who contributes to his community and as an ensign of humility, self-reliance, and calm industry.
Fundamental to the code of craftsmanship is the desire to do something well for its own sake. Sure, the craftsman often gets paid for his work, but it’s not the paycheck that determines how well he does the job. A true craftsman will work until the job is done and done well, even if he’s working for free. " (https://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/07/03/measure-twice-cut-once-applying-the-ethos-of-the-craftsman-to-our-everyday-lives/)
Grading Warning: You will be assessed by time spent and the refinement of each piece you create: A so called "finished" piece created in 20 minutes when it should have taken 3 hours does not earn much of a grade when you sit in class and chat for the other 2 hours and 40 minutes because you claim you are "done". And some pieces are simpler than others so depending on the complexity of the object you choose to work on, you will be judged accordingly.
How to Start our Project: Copper Bracelet
(make a matching necklace!)
We will make this copper bracelet using many 4-1/4" pieces of copper wire.
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Step 2:
Watch the next video that uses this loop to create this bracelet:
Practice the basic piece.
The video will show you how to link the pieces together, and finally how to make the clasp.
These are alternate bracelets... These require only basic tools, no hammering, they simply take a little time...
The Health benefits of wearing copper have been in the news lately: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/wellbeing/healthadvice/4709951/Copper-the-healing-mineral-you-can-wear-on-your-wrist.htmlwww.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/wellbeing/healthadvice/4709951/Copper-the-healing-mineral-you-can-wear-on-your-wrist.html
Other Good Video Tutorials:
Tutorial at this site: byyourhands.blogspot.ie/2012/10/tuesday-tutorial-bangle-bracelet.html?m=1
About the kinds of tools needed for this job: youtu.be/gvryTKVJCDw
About hammering; www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5epLxHxNDw
About the kind of wire you need for a particular project: youtu.be/eYZ9kVC4S9s
About all the kinds of wire available for jewelry making: youtu.be/TNBxYCTUiXk
About filing ends of wire to make smooth; www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYuAO5jLe3s
about hardening wire: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yfxx9itQyk
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FOR LOTS MORE SEE THIS SITE: www.rings-things.com/Learn/Wire-Jewelry/
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Wire Wraping HiSToRY and TERMiNoLoGY:
HiSToRY and TERMiNoLoGY:
Wire wrapping is one of the oldest techniques for making handmade jewelry. This technique is done with some jewelry wire and findings similar to wire (like head-pins) to make components. Wire components are then connected to one another using mechanical techniques with no soldering or heating of the wire. Frequently, in this approach, a wire is bent into a loop or other decorative shape and then the wire is wrapped around itself to finish the wire component making that loop or decorative shape permanent. Because of this technique for wrapping wire around itself, this craft is called wire wrapping.
Examples of wire and beaded jewelry made using wire wrapping techniques date back to thousands of years BC. The British Museum has samples of jewelry from the Sumerian Dynasty, found in the cemetery of Ur that contain spiraled wire components. This jewelry is dated at approximately 2000 BC. Other samples of jewelry from Ancient Rome show wire wrapped loops (one of the important techniques in making wire wrapped jewelry). This Roman jewelry is dated to approximately 2000 years ago. In the manufacture of this early jewelry the techniques for soldering did not exist. Later, as the technique for soldering developed, the wire wrapping approach continued because it was an economical and quick way to make jewelry components out of wire.
Wire wrapping techniques are not frequently used for mass-produced jewelry because machines can cast (mold) jewelry components faster, more cheaply, and more precisely. At this time, the wire wrapping approach to making jewelry is primarily employed by individual craftspeople.
Four tools are essential and several other tools are useful in the construction of wire wrapped jewelry. The basic tools are a flush cutter, round nose pliers, flat nose pliers and chain nose or bent chain nose pliers. A flush cutter is a special type of cutter that leaves one end of the cut wire flush or flat, while the opposite end of the cut wire is sharp or pointed. Round nose pliers are pliers with conical jaws and are used for making loops in wire. Chain nose or bent chain nose pliers have flat smooth jaws and are used for gripping and holding wire and for bending wire. Flat nose pliers are just what the name implies…they are flat on both inside surfaces and are used to keep areas flat or to make 90-degree bends in your wire.
Other useful tools used in making wire wrapped jewelry are nylon jaw pliers, a ruler, step jaw pliers, a pin vise to twist the wire, a chasing hammer, an anvil or bench block, a cup bur, loop closing or bent closing pliers and a jewelry making jig.
Wire is measured by diameter, which is indicated by gauge numbers. The lower the gauge, the thicker the wire. A 12 or 14-gauge wire is fairly heavy, but ideal for making bangles and chokers. 10-gauge wire is very thick and stiff, while 26-gauge wire is very fine, almost as thin as hair. This thin wire is well-suited for coiling embellishments. 16-gauge wire is good for making jump rings and links for necklaces and bracelets, and 18-gauge wire is good to use for adding embellishments and making finer links.
Precious Metal Wire also comes in three hardnesses, dead soft, half-hard and full hard.
Dead Soft wire is extremely malleable and can be bent easily into a variety of shapes. It does not hold its shape well at stress points such as clasps.
Half-Hard wire is malleable; however, it will maintain in intricate shape under moderate stress. It is useful for weight-bearing parts of wire-wrapped jewelry.
Full Hard wire holds its shape for wire-wrapping jewelry. Its tempered nature holds intricate designs well, and is excellent for clasps. It is harder to manipulate than either soft or half-hard wire.
Wire wrapping is one of the oldest techniques for making handmade jewelry. This technique is done with some jewelry wire and findings similar to wire (like head-pins) to make components. Wire components are then connected to one another using mechanical techniques with no soldering or heating of the wire. Frequently, in this approach, a wire is bent into a loop or other decorative shape and then the wire is wrapped around itself to finish the wire component making that loop or decorative shape permanent. Because of this technique for wrapping wire around itself, this craft is called wire wrapping.
Examples of wire and beaded jewelry made using wire wrapping techniques date back to thousands of years BC. The British Museum has samples of jewelry from the Sumerian Dynasty, found in the cemetery of Ur that contain spiraled wire components. This jewelry is dated at approximately 2000 BC. Other samples of jewelry from Ancient Rome show wire wrapped loops (one of the important techniques in making wire wrapped jewelry). This Roman jewelry is dated to approximately 2000 years ago. In the manufacture of this early jewelry the techniques for soldering did not exist. Later, as the technique for soldering developed, the wire wrapping approach continued because it was an economical and quick way to make jewelry components out of wire.
Wire wrapping techniques are not frequently used for mass-produced jewelry because machines can cast (mold) jewelry components faster, more cheaply, and more precisely. At this time, the wire wrapping approach to making jewelry is primarily employed by individual craftspeople.
Four tools are essential and several other tools are useful in the construction of wire wrapped jewelry. The basic tools are a flush cutter, round nose pliers, flat nose pliers and chain nose or bent chain nose pliers. A flush cutter is a special type of cutter that leaves one end of the cut wire flush or flat, while the opposite end of the cut wire is sharp or pointed. Round nose pliers are pliers with conical jaws and are used for making loops in wire. Chain nose or bent chain nose pliers have flat smooth jaws and are used for gripping and holding wire and for bending wire. Flat nose pliers are just what the name implies…they are flat on both inside surfaces and are used to keep areas flat or to make 90-degree bends in your wire.
Other useful tools used in making wire wrapped jewelry are nylon jaw pliers, a ruler, step jaw pliers, a pin vise to twist the wire, a chasing hammer, an anvil or bench block, a cup bur, loop closing or bent closing pliers and a jewelry making jig.
Wire is measured by diameter, which is indicated by gauge numbers. The lower the gauge, the thicker the wire. A 12 or 14-gauge wire is fairly heavy, but ideal for making bangles and chokers. 10-gauge wire is very thick and stiff, while 26-gauge wire is very fine, almost as thin as hair. This thin wire is well-suited for coiling embellishments. 16-gauge wire is good for making jump rings and links for necklaces and bracelets, and 18-gauge wire is good to use for adding embellishments and making finer links.
Precious Metal Wire also comes in three hardnesses, dead soft, half-hard and full hard.
Dead Soft wire is extremely malleable and can be bent easily into a variety of shapes. It does not hold its shape well at stress points such as clasps.
Half-Hard wire is malleable; however, it will maintain in intricate shape under moderate stress. It is useful for weight-bearing parts of wire-wrapped jewelry.
Full Hard wire holds its shape for wire-wrapping jewelry. Its tempered nature holds intricate designs well, and is excellent for clasps. It is harder to manipulate than either soft or half-hard wire.
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tutorial for twisted copper:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8umNczpc0c Chart if converting electrical wire thickness to gauges: http://www.wire-to-jewelry.com/wire-gauge-chart.html
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Another tutorial: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceDNk9IKeJc
UNISEX WIRE BRACELET - Wire Work for Men & Women
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for fun, a silver hammered ring:www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdtYlTeuCaI
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Wrapped marble bracelet;www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gOTAGAxS2c |