How to Make Sterling Silver Charm Earrings with an Industrial Tube Wringer
Charms are in! Make your own charms using an industrial tube wringer found in art supply stores and then use this simple everyday tool to make these amazing earrings.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Industrial Tube Wringer
- 2 circles 1 inch round made of 24 or 26 gauge sheet
- 2 head pins
- 2 briolette beads
- 2 earring findings
- industrial tube wringer
- round nose pliers
- flat nose pliers
- side cutters
- needle file
- ruler
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1
Buy or cut two circles.
Cut two 1 inch circles from 24 or 26 gauge sterling silver sheet metal with metal snips, a bench shear or jewelers saw.
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2
Drill.
Drill two holes in each of the charms: one for the ear wire and one for the beaded drop.
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3
Feed through the tube wringer.
Hold the industrial tube wringer firmly with one hand (or insert the industrial tube wringer in a small vise) and feed one cut sterling circle of sheet metal through the tube wringer to create texture.
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4
File.
File the edges of the cut piece with a needle file until smooth.
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5
Repeat with the second circle. Note that the pattern will look different depending on the direction you feed the sheet through the tube wringer, so take care to feed both sheets through the tube wringer in the same direction.
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6
To add the beaded dangle, take a briolette bead drilled through the center and feed a head pin through it. Create a loop at the top of the head pin above the bead and feed it through the lower hole in the sheet.
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7
Finish the wrap.
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8
Attach the earring finding to the top hole.
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9
Repeat to finish matching earring.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If you do not know how to cut sheet metal, see our ehow article entitled "How to Use a Jewelry Saw to Cut Sheet Metal Made of Sterling Silver, Brass, Copper, Steel or Gold Sheet Metal"
