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TUTORIAL - STEP BY STEP - Simple Solder...Creating Easy, Inexpensive Ball Pins, Jump Rings, and Other Findings

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:34:07 -0500

$8.95
This 17 page full-color tutorial demystifies the process of soldering metals, sterling silver and fine silver in particular, in order to create high quality, handmade jewelry components such as ball pins, jump rings, and linked chains at a fraction of the cost of mass produced findings. Using STEP by STEP instructions and high resolution photos to guide you through the process, you will soon be comfortable enough to turn up the heat on your work and open up an exciting new range of jewelry making.

Anyone who has ever spent time wrapping stones with commercial ball pins has inevitably felt the frustration of receiving a batch of poorly made pins with ball tips that will pop off even under the slightest pressure. I personally have had pins that have lost the tip just by taking it out of the package and touching it with my finger. As with most mass produced items, quality is not the main concern…regardless of the fact that you have paid 10 times or more what it would cost to produce the same item yourself. By torch firing your own ball pins, the ONLY way you will remove a ball tip is to cut it with your tools which provides a relief from the frustration of constantly having to rewrap stones as well as giving your stones a much greater security after your design is completed. You will quickly master the skills you will need to fashion your own jump rings, beautiful chains, and much, much more! When finished, you will be ready to start soldering your own high quality findings and save yourself lots of time and money in the process.

We will cover the soldering process through the following 8 chapters:

1.Materials needed (Both essential and optional)
2.Metal Behavior
3.Soldering vs. Fusing
4.Ball Pins
5.Jump Rings
6.Linked Chains
7.Fusing with Beads
8.Fusing with Briolettes

Materials:

Micro Torch (tiny, cheap, and EASY to use!)
Butane refill
Fine silver wire
Flush cutters
Round nose pliers

(Optional)
Silver solder
Flux
Firebrick
Chasing hammer
Liver of Sulfer
Bench Block
Brass Brush

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To view the tutorial you will need a free copy of Adobe's Acrobat
Reader, which can be downloaded here:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
The tutorial is in PDF format and will be sent to the e-mail address
set in your Etsy account within 12 (usually quicker) hours from
receiving your payment.

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Thanks so much and happy soldering!

TUTORIAL - STEP BY STEP - No Solder - Beginner Level Coiled Earrings / Pendant

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:32:43 -0500

$8.95
Torch worries?? No problem! Learn how to create beautiful, decorative coils that will decorate any shape you can imagine with this STEP BY STEP tutorial features 8 full-color pages of easy to follow instructions, high resolution close-up photos of each step of the process, and loads of tips and tricks to make your wiring easier and cleaner. Learn how to create a wide variety of advanced level earrings and pendants that are deceptively easy to master. If you know the basics of wire wrapping, you will find this technique to be a true breeze. All you need is a little wire and lots of creativity!

This turorial will teach you the techniques you can use to create any shape you can imagine with no soldering required. The earrings featured in this tutorial are teardrop shaped but you can use the same basic principles to create almonds, stars, hearts, abstract shapes....the possibilites are limitless. You will no longer be limited by the shapes and sizes that are offered in commercially available products. Then, take your designs a step further by adding a beautiful coiling design throughout your frame. Each handmade piece will truly be a one of a kind piece of art!

This step by step guide will take you through the process with easy to understand descriptions as well as large, high-resolution photos depicting each step. Also included throughout the tutorial are tips and tricks of the trade that will make your projects stronger, easier, and more professional.

Materials:

Round nose pliers
Wire snips
(2) Small jump rings 3 or 4 mm
(2) French hooks
1 ft. 16 gauge wire (sterling silver or other wire of your choice)
1 ft. 24 gauge wire (sterling silver or other wire of your choice)
Spool of 30 gauge wire (fine silver or other wire of your choice)
(2) large focal briolettes
(20) seed pearls OR
3 or 4mm beads
(20) ball pins
Hammer
Wooden dowel at least 1 inch thick

*********************************************************

To view the tutorial you will need a free copy of Adobe's Acrobat
Reader, which can be downloaded here:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
The tutorial is in PDF format and will be sent to the e-mail address
set in your Etsy account within 12 (usually quicker) hours from
receiving your payment.

*********************************************************

Thanks so much and happy wrapping!

Songbird in Blue