Saturday 30 June 2012

Copper Bird Clasps

Doing detail work with a jeweller's saw is fun; soldering the backs on to make them into a clasp or connector is even more fun (fire!) and playing with different ideas to get a nice patina is even more fun. (bubbly mixtures AND fire!)
These birds are all different sizes.  Most are too big to be clasps for bracelets but would be great as focal connectors.  They'd be perfect for clasps for necklaces.
The patinas were the result of a) soaking them in a mixture of vinegar and peroxide, b) sanding them with a dremel and fine sandpaper which probably removed anything the vinegar and peroxide did to them (it was supposed to be an etchant, not a very good one) and then running the torch over them.  The red/orange was longer heat, the silver/gold/rainbow was from the heat being removed just as they started to turn.

From jewelry june 2012


From jewelry june 2012
From jewelry june 2012
From jewelry june 2012
From jewelry june 2012