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Twisted Jump-Ring Bracelet Twisted Jump-Ring Bracelet From "Jewelry Making" episode DJMK-308

Twisted Jump-Ring Bracelets

Twisted Jump-Ring Bracelet

Materials:

Toggle clasp
4' of 16-gauge sterling-silver round wire
30 bead or pearl "dangles" made with 2 head pins (head caps are optional)
Steel wool
Hard plastic mallet or hammer
Chasing hammer with a convex head
Electric cordless drill with a keyless chuck
Flush cutters suitable for cutting up to 14-gauge wire
Steel bench block (jeweler's anvil)
Jewelry pliers, including extra-long round-nose, chain-nose and flat-nose

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Assembling the Bracelet

1. Clean the wire with 0000 steel wool.

2. Cut off 18" of wire and bend it in half. Insert the cut ends into the keyless chuck of the electric drill and firmly tighten the chuck.

3. Grasp the bent end of the wire with the extra-long round-nose pliers in one hand while holding the drill in the other hand. Tug on the wire to make sure it stays in place in the chuck.

	Figure A
	Figure B

4. Turn on the drill and hold your arms apart, keeping the wire taut as it twists (figure A). Take care not to let your hands come together, which would allow the wire to double back on itself.

5. Allow the wire to turn until it breaks off at the chuck; turn off the drill.

6. Use the extra-long round-nose pliers to form a coil from the twisted wire.

7. Blunt-cut several jump rings and set aside (figure B).

8. Condition each jump ring by bringing the edges together, then tap lightly with a chasing hammer to flatten it. Shape with a plastic mallet if necessary.

9. To begin the bracelet assembly, open up one twisted-wire jump ring and place the loop end of the toggle clasp over the ring. Next, place two bead dangles on the jump ring, one on each side of the toggle clasp. Add two plain jump rings and close the twisted-wire jump ring.

10. Open another twisted-wire jump ring and run it through the two plain jump rings. Add two bead dangles on the jump ring, one on either side of the two plain jump rings. Add two plain jump rings and close the twisted-wire jump ring.

Figure C

11. Repeat step 10 until the bracelet is the correct length for your wrist.

12. To finish, place two bead dangles on the last twisted-wire jump ring as usual, but instead of adding two plain jump rings, add the bar end of the toggle clasp (figure C). The bracelet is now ready to wear.

GUESTS :

Sharilyn Miller
Author (Rubber Stamped Jewelry) and Owner
Sharilyn Miller Design
E-mail: sharilynmiller@cox.net
Web site: www.sharilynmiller.com