How to Make Recycled Jewelry From Cans

Cans can be made into jewelry.

Although it is well-known that art can be made from almost any found material, including garbage, this concept is rarely applied to commercial art like jewelry. However, many home crafters have taken up the cause of recycling by using "garbage" items like aluminum cans in their jewelry, creating one-of-a-kind pieces that waste no new metals. This kind of recycled jewelry, although it can be used in a project for your young ones, does not have to be relegated to the realm of kids' crafts. You can create many different, professional-looking jewelry pieces from recycled cans.

Things You'll Need

• Aluminum can
• X-acto knife or craft knife
• Marker
• Sheet metal
• Jeweler's saw
• Jewelry files
• Fine grit sandpaper
• Masking tape
• Drill
• Small drill bits
• Grommets
• Grommet punch
• Rubber mallet
• Dapping block or anvil
• Wooden mallet
• D-ring, chain, closure or earring backing

Instructions

1. Choose an aluminum can with an interesting design. Cut off the top and bottom of the can, then cut up one side of the can. Open the remaining can piece and lay it flat on your work surface.

2. Draw out the shape of the jewelry piece you would like to make, using a marker. Be sure to capture the design you like inside your shape. Cut this shape from the can.

3. Trace the recycled can shape onto a piece of sheet metal of your choice. Make the drawing at least 1/4 inch bigger all around than your can shape. If you are making a piece of jewelry that will be mainly sheet metal with a few touches of aluminum can, cut the sheet metal to the full size required for the entire jewelry piece.

4. Cut the tracing from the sheet metal, using a jeweler's saw. File and sand the rough edges down until they are smooth.

5. Tape the aluminum shape to your sheet metal piece temporarily. On the back side, make markings for hole placement, depending on the type of jewelry you are making. For earrings or a pendant, place the hole marking near the top and bottom of the shape. For a bracelet, place the hole markings at the short ends.

6. Drill holes through both pieces of metal at your markings. Make sure that the holes are big enough to fit your grommet pieces through. Remove the tape.

7. Fit the bottom grommet piece into the front of your recycled jewelry piece. Place the piece onto the grommet die with the back side of the piece facing upward.

8. Place the washer piece onto the bottom piece. Push the grommet punch through the grommet and tap it firmly with the rubber mallet until the grommet folds up around the metal.

9. Place your recycled jewelry piece into a dapping block or onto an anvil, depending on the shape you want the metal to conform to. Gently tap the metal with the wooden mallet until it curves into the desired shape.

10. Attach the jewelry piece to your choice of hardware. If you made a pendant, you can thread a chain through the grommet. If you made earrings, you can attach an earring backing. If you made a bracelet, you can attach closures to each end of the bracelet.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also purchase pre-cut sheet metal shapes or use a metal object that is thin enough to work with. If your recycled can metal is thick enough, you may also be able to use the can alone.

• You can string several different cut shapes together by placing more grommets into the metal and attaching them with D-rings.

References

• "Fundamentals of Metalsmithing"; Tim McCreight; 1997

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Ganoksin Project: The Complete Gem and Jewelry Making Information Resource