A step-by-step guide for making a fun line-fold bracelet introducing you to the art of fold forming.

Loaded with lots of pictures and information with clear easy-to-understand directions!!

SENT TO YOU IN A DOWNLOADABLE AND PRINTABLE PDF AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE.


Before you get started...


For these projects, you will need a basic torch set-up and some basic soldering know-how. While the different steps for the fabrication of this bracelet are covered, this tutorial is not a soldering basics tutorial. These are great projects for helping you learn better torch control and how metal reacts with heat! You can use the same techniques to create matching pendants and earrings too. While the project is shown in copper, you can use silver, gold, or brass instead. Add embellishments such as tiny soldered balls or your favorite small small cabochon gemstones.

Most of the tools you'll need are basic bench items for jewelry fabrication that you should have in your studio.

Tools you will need:

• Wooden or steel round bracelet mandrel
• Round nose pliers
• Chain nose pliers
• Wide nose pliers
• Flush cutters
• Steel bench block or anvil with a large flat striking surface
• Ball pein hammer
• Bench knife or equivalent (butter knife, screw driver....)
• Bench vise
• Assorted files or sandpaper sticks
• 12 inch ruler
• Metal shears curved or straight
• Sharpie® Marker or other indelible ink marker
• 1.8mm metal hole punch (holes must fit 14 gauge wire 1.6mm)
• Soldering set-up if soldering (torch, solder, charcoal brick, tweezers or third hand, flux)
• Annealing set-up including a powerful torch such as a Mapp Gas or acetylene torch, annealing pan w/pumice, water for quenching and a pickle pot and copper tongs for removing firescale. Some butane torches will work also. You can use a cake pan as long as it's not coated - just plain metal as an annealing pan.
• Apron - optional, but these help keep your clothes clean
• Texture hammers are optional
• Bench pin - optional but helpful for filing
• Plastic or Rawhide mallet
• Hand towel
• If using brass, you’ll need white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide to remove copper oxides from the metal

The materials you will need:

Metal squares (qty 5-6) – 26 or 24 gauge, Sterling, brass, copper or bronze 1 to 1-1/2 inches
1-1/2 inches of 12 gauge round wire to match the metal squares
14 gauge jump ring (qty 1) 4.5mm inside diameter
16 gauge jump rings (qty 12-18) 4.0mm or 4.5mm inside diameter

NOTE: Copper is inexpensive and easy to work with for fold-formed projects as it's difficult to destroy and remains malleable longer than Sterling or other non-ferrous metals. I recommend learning the technique here in copper before creating the bracelet in Sterling.

What is Fold Forming?

Fold-forming was invented by Charles Lewton-Brain who discovered and shared a completely new way of forming, folding and unfolding sheet metal quickly into wonderful 3-D shapes and textures. In this tutorial, you’ll be using a line-fold to create patterns in copper sheet metal. Heat and other patinas will also be discussed and applied to some of your pieces. Line folds and “T” folds and their variations are the foundation for many fold-forming techniques. Once you perfect the technique, try the project in Sterling silver!

You’ll be working with torches so, for safety, please wear hair up if needed and an apron to protect your clothes as this can be a messy!


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PLEASE NOTE!!!!!!!!!!! This tutorial covers the techniques for creating this project. It is not a tutorial for those who have never soldered! This tutorial assumes you have basic soldering and fabrication skills.


AND ANOTHER NOTE:


You should be able to download the tutorial right from Etsy after purchasing. If there's a hitch please convo or email me and I'll send it from me.

THANKS!!


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