Make a Belt from Brass Chain

Before: Chain

I will be honest. I do not remember where this chain came from. Whenever we repair, replace or renovate in our home, we always keep anything of historical, architectural or other interest-- even if we are not sure what to do with it at the time. In an old house, in an old city, there are ALWAYS lots repairs and upgrades that could be done to improve the place.

After: Belt by GeltDesigns

This project caused my daughter and I to reconsider lots of old junk in our continuing search for daily materials. The other day, when we saw the above pictured chain, we both looked at each other and said "belt" at the same time. It is always nice to agree with your partner/daughter. Turning the chain into a belt was very easy, but the results are IMHO what repurposing is all about.

Tools
Three-step pliers or mandrel
Chain nose pliers
Wire side cutters or flush cutters
Wire rounder or cup burr and flex shaft
Steel bench block
Rawhide or plastic mallet or ball pein hammer 


Materials
Chain
Brass ring
Brass finding
14-gauge brass wire

Step 1
Clean and polish the chain so it has no tarnish. This chain is brass so we thought it quite a find.

Step 2
Create two large "S" links from 14-gauge brass wire. Use three-step pliers or a mandrel to form the "S" link. Cut the wire from the spool with wire side cutters or flush cutters.Use a wire rounder or cup burr and flex shaft to file the end of the link so it is smooth enough to wear as jewelry. Place the link on a steel bench block and hammer the link with a rawhide or plastic mallet to harden the metal with out marring the surface. If you don not mind a hammered look to yur metal, you can use a ball pein hammer to harden the metal.  Repeat to create a second identical link.

Step 3
Use chain nose pliers to open the "S" link and attach one side of the link to one end of the chain. Close the link so the finding is secure on the chain. Open the other side of the link and attach the brass "O" ring. Adjust the link as needed with your chain nose pliers.

Step 4

Use chain nose pliers to open the other "S" link and attach one side of the link to the other end of the chain. Close the link so the finding is secure on the chain. Open the other side of the link and attach the brass clasp. Again, adjust the link as needed with your chain nose pliers.


Related Tutorials
Make a Stone & Elastic Belt  
How to Make a Simple "S" Clasp (with or without Beads) 
Make Your Own "S" Clasp 
Make Your Own Beaded "S" Clasp
How to Make Your Own Wire Wrapping Tool Kit
How to Care for Your Wire Wrapping Tools
How to Straighten Wire
How to Smooth Sharp Edges on Wire
How to Measure Wire
How to Use a Wire Gauge
Tutorials by GeltDesigns 


Further Reading
"Making Stylish Belts: Do-it-Yourself Projects to Craft and Sew at Home"; Ellen Goldstein-Lynch, Sarah Mullins, Nicole Malone (2007).
"The Complete Metalsmith: Professional Edition"; Tim McCreight; 2004"Jewelry Concepts and Technology"; Oppi Untracht; 1982

"The Complete Book of Jewelry Making"; Carles Codina; 2006


Day 19. Week 3. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent: 0
Found materials: brass chain, brass ring, brass catch
New Jewelry a Day.

Make Earrings from Copper Wire

Before: Copper Wire

For this project, we took two copper orphan beads leftover from a past beading project and made the beads the focal point of our new copper earrings made from 18-gauge  and  20-gauge round copper wire  originally purchased at the hardware store for a household project.

Copper wire is an elegant and affordable alternative to sterling silver or gold wire. Some folks attribute certain health benefits to wearing copper. The fact that copper wire can be purchased at your local hardware store or electrical supply house is an added bonus.

These earrings are made entirely from copper. The earrings use the same ear wire findings as we used in our Earrings from Steel Wire. Theshape of the ear wire finding is the same. The gauge wire is the same. The look is very different. I love wire; wire techniques changed little since early man and yet the jewelry making possibilities are endless.

After: Copper Earrings by GeltDesigns

Materials
2 copper beads
20-gauge copper wire
18-gauge round copper wire

Wire Wrapping Tools
Nylon jaw plier
Wire rounder
Round nose pliers
Mandrel or three step pliers
Flush cutter or a side cutter 
Steel bench block
 Ball pein hammer

Step 1
Make the ear wire finding. Slide a copper bead onto the 20-gauge round copper wire.  Make a loop at the end of the 20-gauge round copper wire using your round nose pliers. Wrap the wire around three times to secure the loop.

Bend the wire just above the copper bead and then wrap the wire around a mandrel the size you want to make the hoop for your earring. We used an orange block "borrowed" from the toy box, but many household items can be used as a mandrel and ring mandrels designed for jewelry making can also be used.

Bend the end of the wire using a chain nose plier 
or a parallel flat nose plier to complete the ear wire. File the ends of the ear wire smooth using a wire rounder or flexible shaft  and cup burs.

Place the formed ear wires on a steel bench block and hammer the ear wires with a rawhide or plastic mallet to harden the ear wires without marring or adding texture to the metal.

Step 2

Make the dangles. Cut six pieces of 18-gauge round copper wire  so you have two lengths each of 1/2-inch,  3/4-inch and 1-inch long wire.

Make a loop at the top of each piece of cut copper wire. Place the copper wire on a steel bench block and hammer the copper wire with a  ball pein hammer to flatten and flare the ends.

Step 3
Assemble the earrings. Attach three of the dangles (one of each length) onto the loop of the ear wire.

Step 4
Repeat to create the second earring.

Related Tutorials
How to Make Your Own Wire Wrapping Tool Kit
How to Care for Your Wire Wrapping Tools 
How to Straighten Wire
How to Smooth Sharp Edges on Wire
How to Measure Wire
How to Use a Wire Gauge
How to Make Your Own Silver Bangle Bracelet
How to Store Beads 
GeltDesigns Tutorials by Topics  

Further Reading
Making Wire Jewelry: 60 Easy Projects in Silver, Copper & Brass
Inspired Wire: Learn to Twist, Jig, Bend, Hammer, and Wrap for the Prettiest Jewelry Ever
Wire Style: 50 Unique Jewelry Designs
Bead on a Wire: Making Handcrafted Wire and Beaded Jewelry
Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping

Day 18. Week 3. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent: 0
Found materials: repurposed copper wire
New Jewelry a Day.