How to Make Stamped Silver Jewelry & Bracelets
Sterling silver is an ideal medium for the beginning jewelry maker. The material has a higher value and aesthetic appeal than base metal but is not as restrictively expensive as gold. The metal is soft enough to stamp and shape easily and is more durable than most gold alloys. With the proper tools, sterling silver can be used to create beautiful and unique jewelry.
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Things You'll Need
- 18-gauge sheet sterling silver
- Sheet metal sheers
- Fine metal file
- Steel stamp of your choice
- Ball-peen hammer
- Plastic or rawhide hammer
- Bracelet mandrel or similar (for bracelets)
- Metal hole-punch (for other jewelry)
- Liver of sulphur (optional)
- Steel wool (optional)
- Chain (optional)
- Earring and necklace findings (optional)
- Needle-nose pliers (optional)
Instructions
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Cut the sheet metal with the sheet-metal sheers to the desired size. For a cuff bracelet, cut a 7-inch-long piece between 3/4-inch and 1 1/2-inches wide. To make a necklace pendant or earring charms, cut the desired size and shape, allowing room for a finding hole. Be sure the stamp to be used will fit on the piece of metal cut.
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File the edges of the silver piece with a fine metal file until the edges are smooth to the touch.
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Set the stamp on the silver at the place to be stamped. Hold firmly with one hand while striking directly at the top of the stamp with the blunt end of the ball-peen hammer. Strike firmly and only once. Repeat for each stamp.
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For bracelets, shape the silver strip around a bracelet mandrel using a plastic or rawhide hammer.
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To make a necklace pendant or earring charms, punch a hole at the top of the silver piece(s) with a metal hole-punch. File the hole edges until smooth.
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Swab liver of sulphur onto the stamped design if you wish to darken it. Allow the solution to dry onto the metal and then carefully shine the raised surface with steel wool. The depressed, stamped portion will remain black.
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For a necklace, attach a jump ring, chain and clasp to the pendant with needle-nose pliers. For earrings, attach a jump ring and ear wire to each earring charm with needle-nose pliers.
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Tips & Warnings
A chain-link ID bracelet can be made with rectangular silver wire, chain and a clasp. Old printing press stamps can be used to stamp silver and can be found in a variety of unique and interesting designs.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit hammer #2 image by Adam Borkowski from Fotolia.com
