How to Make a Cuff Bracelet
A cuff bracelet is a type of jewelry accessory worn around the wrist. The cuff is traditionally made out of a sheet of metal, such as aluminum, copper, brass, gold or silver, which is hammered into a curved shape to fit snugly around the wrist. Store-bought cuff bracelets can be costly, but you can create your own stylish cuff bracelet at home for a fraction of the price. All the materials required to make a cuff bracelet can be purchased from craft stores or online retailers.
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Things You'll Need
- Clamp
- Metal dowel (same thickness as your wrist)
- Metal blank (2 inches x 7 inches)
- Jewelry hammer
- Metal file
Instructions
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1
Insert one end of the metal blank into the clamp. Turn the handle of the clamp to close the clamp walls and securely hold the metal blank in place.
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2
Hold the metal dowel underneath the metal blank. Carefully hammer the metal blank with the flat head of the jewelry hammer, molding it around the metal dowel. Continue to pound the metal with the hammer until you have created a basic curved piece of metal. You should leave a minimum of a 1 inch gap between the ends of the metal to allow it to fit onto your wrist.
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3
Unscrew the clamp and remove the metal blank. The curved metal blank should now sit around the metal dowel. Continue to pound the cuff with the flat side of the jewelry hammer to smooth out any big dents and create a neat and professional finish on the cuff. Use the other end of the hammer to create dents in the metal if you want a textured cuff.
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4
Remove the cuff from the dowel. Rub the metal file around the outside of the metal cuff to remove any rough or jagged edges.
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Tips & Warnings
You can insert the metal blank into the clamp and use needle-nose pliers to gently bend it into a curved shape if the bracelet is made of a very soft metal.
Adjust the starting size of the metal blank for thinner or thicker wrists.
You can further customize your cuff bracelet by engraving letters, numbers and patterns onto the surface using metal jewelry stamps.
Keep your fingers away from the middle of the clamp.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Comments
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Thanks - that was helpful.
