How to Make Silver Sterling Beads
Silversmithing is a demanding hobby, and some projects are more difficult than others. Initially, making sterling silver beads seems like an impossible task. With a little patience and the right tools, however, the round shape isn't difficult to achieve.
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Things You'll Need
- 2 Pre-cut sterling silver discs (24-gauge)
- Calipers
- Leather mallet
- Dapping punches
- Die block
- Medium solder
- Flux
- Propane jeweler's torch
- Drill and deming drill bit
- Pickling solution
- Floral wire
- Jeweler's files
- Various grades of sandpaper for polishing
- Polishing cloth
Instructions
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1
File any rough edges or burrs off the silver discs with a jeweler's file. Drill a hole in the center of both discs with the drill and bit and clean the edges of all smudges and fingerprints.
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Choose a die from the block four sizes larger than your final desired size. A die block will have different size indentations in it so that you can form the silver by tapping the dapping punch with the mallet. A dapping punch is a length of metal with a rounded end. Place one of the discs on the die block and put the dapping punch in the middle of the disc. Begin tapping the punch with the mallet, forming a dome with the silver disc. Once the disc is formed to the half-bead shape of the first die, move it from the large indentation to a smaller one and repeat the hammering process. Do the same with the other disc.
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3
Soften the silver domes by annealing them. To anneal silver, clean them by submerging them in the pickling solution then rinse and dry them. Brush flux, the agent that adheres the solder, over them and heat them with a torch on a fireproof surface. When they glow pink, put them in cool water. After you have cleaned them again in the pickling solution, move onto soldering.
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Noting your last position on the die block, put one dome--1/2 of the bead--back on the block in the next smallest position. Continue to form the dome with the dapping punches, changing to finer ones as needed. Move the dome into the next smallest indentation and repeat the process.
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Using the calipers, determine whether the sides of the domes thicker than the center. If they aren't, continue working the silver with the dapping punch and mallet until you get the correct shape. Sand or file the sides until there is an even surface for the two domes to fit together to form a bead.
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Clean the edges of the bead and apply flux to the edges. Heat the pieces with the torch and apply just enough solder to hold them together. When you see a flash, the solder has bonded the pieces. Run the floral wire through the holes of the bead and fix it to a fireproof surface. Liberally apply flux to the seams of the bead and heat with the torch. Touch the solder to the seam and work around the entire bead until it is sealed. Let the bead cool and rinse it in water and baking soda to neutralize the flux.
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Throw away the old wire and thread new wire through the holes of the bead and begin polishing with the roughest grade of sandpaper. Continue polishing until you don't notice any change in the luster; then move on to the finest sandpiper. Use the polishing cloth for a high shine.
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Tips & Warnings
Always use eye protection and keep a fire extinguisher nearby when soldering.
