How to Make Hammered Jump Rings
Jump rings are small, split-metal circles made of round wire that are used to fasten clasps and add pendants and other focal points to jewelry. Hammering a jump ring flattens it and gives it texture. Hammered jump rings are simple to create.
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Things You'll Need
- 16-gauge wire
- Wire cutters
- Dowel
- Metal File
- 2 pairs of needle-nose pliers
- Scrap wood or cutting board
- Tea towel
Instructions
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Make a Jump Ring
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1
Choose a pure metal alloy wire such as sterling silver, copper or gold in a sturdy gauge of 16 or less. Hammering will ruin the finish of a plated wire.
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2
Choose a dowel in a size appropriate for your project. Purchase dowels at craft or home improvement stores.
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3
Hold one end or your wire against your dowel. With your other hand, wrap the wire tightly around your dowel to make a coil. Continue coiling until you have made your desired number of rings.
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4
Remove your coil from your dowel.
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5
Use your wire cutters to cut off the tails on each end of the coil.
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6
Expand your coil slightly to give you better access to the individual rings.
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7
Cut individual jump rings away from the coil, one at a time. As you cut, run your metal file over the ends of the wire rings to keep them smooth.
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8
Using two pairs of pliers, grab both ends of your jump ring and bring them parallel with each other. Do not squeeze from the outside of the ring. Outside squeezing will cause the ring to collapse and lose its shape.
Hammer Your Jump Rings
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9
Place your jump rings on a solid surface that you are willing to sacrifice for this project. For instance, you can use a piece of 2-by-4, plywood or an old plastic cutting board. You will be applying a great deal of force with your hammer. Force can damage your chosen surface. Do your hammering on a workbench or another surface that can take a beating.
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10
Place a tea towel, or a similar scrap of fabric, over your rings. This step is optional. Some prefer the look of a ring that has been hammered directly with a hammer. However, covering your rings will keep them from flying across the room.
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Hammer your rings. Use a household hammer, or use a jeweler's chastening hammer. Any hammer will do the job.
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12
Check your rings periodically during hammering. Stop when they are as flat and textured as you like.
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13
Use two pairs of pliers to again bring the ends of your rings parallel with each other if their shape changes after the hammering process.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear protective eye wear when cutting or hammering metal wire.
