How to Transfer a Design

Before you can saw a design out on sheet metal to make jewelry, you have to apply your design to the metal. There are numerous ways to transfer designs regardless of whether you plan to make your jewelry out of sterling silver, gold, nickel silver, brass, copper, gold fill, steel or a combination of these metals. The easiest way to be sure you saw out the correct design is to draw the design directly on the metal. In many cases, however, it is desirable to sketch the design on paper before applying the design directly on the sheet metal. Redrawing the design may result in defects or imperfections, especially if the design is intricate or otherwise complicated. This tutorial will explain methods to transfer a design onto sheet metal before sawing & piercing to fabricate art jewelry.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Permanent marker
• Rubber cement or sticker, or mailing label
• Laser printer (optional)
• Heating element, such as an iron (optional)
• Acetone (optional)

1. 
    

   The original design can be cut out and glued with rubber cement (or otherwise affixed) directly onto the metal but the glue can be messy and interfere with sawing.

2. 
    

   Another transfer method is to photocopy the design onto a sticker (such as mailing labels) and then affix the design onto the sheet metal in preparation for sawing. Stickers are often cleaner to work with than is rubber cement.

3. Designs can be copied onto a piece of white paper using a laser (but not ink jet) printer. Once made, the copy should be placed copy side down against the flat, clean sheet metal. Apply acetone to the back of the paper. The ink from the laser toner will affix itself to the metal leaving an imprint of the design. Touch up the transferred design using a black Sharpie pen.

4. A final transfer method takes advantage of the ink in a laser printer, but utilizes heat rather than acetone to accomplish the transfer. Copy the design on a laser printer. Place the design copy side down on the clean sheet metal. Apply heat from an iron against the back of the laser copy. The ink will stick to the metal. Touch up the transferred design using a black Sharpie pen.

5. 
    

   Just remember, regardless of the methods of transfer your decide to use to affix your design to your sheet metal before beginning to pierce and saw, it is very important to be sure the design is clearly affixed to your metal. A key to easy and effective sawing is to ensure that the design will not move or wear off as you saw out your design.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear gloves when working with acetone. Dispose of chemicals properly.
• Take proper fire precautions when working with heating elements.

Resources

• GeltDesigns
• How to Use a Jewelry Saw
• How to Make Sterling Silver Charm Earrings with an Industrial Tube Wringer