Things You'll Need:
- Sheet of sterling silver or other type of metal
- Metal cutting shears
- Anvil
- Rawhide hammer
- File
- Fabric piece
- Ball-peen hammer
- Bracelet mandrel
- Dremel
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Step 1
Cut a piece of metal that is 6 inches long and 1/2 inch wide with metal shears. If the piece gets bent during cutting, hold it against the anvil and use the rawhide hammer to straighten it back out.
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Step 2
Snip off the corners at both ends of the metal strip. You need only cut enough to get rid of the sharp pointy edges.
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Step 3
File the entire piece. Smooth the ends where you clipped off the corners into a rounded shape and file all the way down each side. To check for snags, run a piece of fabric gently over all of the edges. At any spot where the fabric catches, file it further until it is completely smooth. Any sharp pieces of metal left on the bracelet can scratch the wearer.
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Step 4
Create the hammered design. Hold the metal against the anvil and use the rounded end of a ball-peen hammer to tap dents into the metal. This will give the bracelet a textured look and feel.
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Step 5
Shape the metal into a bracelet. A bracelet mandrel is a device specifically made for shaping metal bracelets. Either an oval or a circular mandrel will work. Press the metal piece around the top of the mandrel. When it gets too difficult to push, you will need to use a rawhide hammer to tap it into place around the mandrel.
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Step 6
Try the bracelet on and make adjustments to the size, which can be done by hand. Simply squeeze the metal into place or pry it open as needed. The idea is to have enough space between the edges of the metal to put the bracelet on and take it off by squeezing your wrist through sideways. A properly fitted metal bracelet will not be a tight fit; it will have some natural movement up and down on your forearm.
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Step 7
Polish the bracelet using a dremel, which is a small, simple tool that gently polishes metal. Run the dremel over the entire bracelet for a metallic shine.
