How to Make Hammered Jewelry
Making hammered jewelry is a traditional technique that is used to create distinctive and attractive wire jewelry. The wire lends itself to simplicity, and no any additional embellishments are needed other than the hammered wire to make beautiful jewelry pieces.
Once you have the equipment and basic techniques mastered, you can go on to make many different and unique pieces of jewelry for yourself and for gift giving.
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Things You'll Need
- Chasing hammer
- Jewelry block
- Copper wire (16 gauge)
- Tape measure
- Wire cutters
- Needle nose pliers
- 2 ear wires
Instructions
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Make Hammered Earrings
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1
Cut two 6-inch lengths of wire.
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2
Make a loop on the end of each length of wire with the needle nose pliers. Do not close the loops yet.
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3
Create free-form loops with the wires. You could make zigzags or swirls or whatever shapes you desire. Use the needle nose pliers to manipulate the wires. Be sure to make the wires identical.
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4
Place one wire onto the jewelry block and carefully pound the wire with the chasing hammer to flatten the wire. Work slowly and pound deliberately. It is not necessary to flatten the loop made on the end of the wire. Hammer until the wire is completely flattened. Repeat with the other wire.
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5
Attach the ear wires to the loops you left open and close the loops with the needle nose pliers to finish the earrings.
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