Tuesday
Jan222013
Connecting Forged Jewelry - Part 2
Haley Mindes Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 9:00AM 
Cold connected bangles with copper rivets by Hammerhead DesignsPlaying with fire is fun but not everyone can or should be lighting up a torch in their home / studio. This is where cold connections become useful for joining metal. These are exemplary images of how to design great pieces of jewelry with out soldering. The bangles above by Hammer Head Designs are forged and riveted closed with handmade copper rivets. Riveting is not only ideal for connecting together metal, but for other materials that can not be heated with a torch such as wood.
Wadestone and Glass Works banglesThe bangles above by Wadestone and Glass Works are connected by commercially manufactured miniature nuts and bolts. These tiny screws are not only functional but serve as a decorative focal point. You just need to drill the correct size hole in order to join the forged ends of the bangles together by screwing the nuts and bolts together tightly.
Wire-wrapping creates opportunities to not only connect elements but enhance a design when used skillfully. This forged horse shoe necklace, found on Pinterest, is connected to the chain by coils of wire that are not just decorative but functional as well.
Necklace by Sophie Hughes
Jump rings are great for joining together metal that has holes or bars to connect to. In order to create the holes you will need a metal hole punch or a drill. I love this necklace by Sophie Hughes. She has forged and rolled decorative metal bars that are connected to a chain. I can only assume there is a bar or hole inside the tubes to connect the chain with jump rings.
Ring found on Erie Basin The focal point on this forged and oxidized ring by Erie Basin serves as a closure as well. Featuring how a piece comes together by planning your design around a folded tab closure is a great way to join metal without soldering.
Forged sterling silver with leather by Donna Veverka
This cuff by Donna Veverka really opened my eyes to creative new ways of forging and connecting without soldering. The bars are made from heavy gauge round wires that are forged flat in the center. The round wire on the ends are then looped to wrap around leather, framing and holding the forged bars in place. Absolutely brilliant!
If you're interested in learning more about jewelry design, we encourage you to explore the Sheffield School, New York, NY. Sheffield began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.
Reader Comments (5)
Gold and silver are relatively easy to work with (melting wise) even with a MAPPS torch but I've found Platinum near impossible, do you have any suggestions or have you had any luck using some of the smaller electric furnaces on the market today?
Best Regards,
Sharon Javier
___________________________________
http://www.rosegoldengagementringsz.com
Loved "Forged sterling silver with leather by Donna Veverka" and again the "Necklace by Sophie Hughes" was too good
Would love to get all of them.
Any buying link please???