Hearts... A how to guide

Ok, so I'm ready to post my first "How To" blog. It's not chainmail though, it's Hearts. This is your how to guide to making sterling silver hearts for jewelry.


Supplies required:

16 gauge sterling silver wire (If you want to practice first, use copper)
jeweler's saw and size 0 saw blades
One square needle file
Soldering equipment (Torch, flux and hard or medium solder).
Jeweler's pickle
One pair of round nose pliers
One pair of flat nose pliers (optional)
Wire cutters.

Step 1

Cut a piece of 16 gauge sterling silver wire. In this case the wire used was 5 cm long. Step 2

Using a squre needle file, file a notch in the center of the wire. Step 3

Bend the wire accross the notch so that the gap closes. Stop at about a 90 degree angle. Flat nose pliers helps but are not necessary. Step 4

Switch to round nose pliers. Hold the 'L' shaped wire at the notch and bend around one side of the round nose pliers. This is the first half of the heart. Step 5

The wire should now look like the first image. Bend the second half down to match and allow the ends of the wire to overlap. The overlap should be directly under the filed notch. (image 2) Step 6

Make several of these and place one over a notch in the bench pin. Step 7

Using a jeweler's saw cut through the overlap. And ALWAYS save the scraps. (I use an old film container for this). Step 8

Adjust the bottom of the heart so that the ends meet without gaps. Step 9

Flux and solder the hearts where they were notched and where the ends of the wire meet. After soldering Clean with pickle.

Make as many as you want! They can now be hammered, filed, sanded, polished and otherwise manipulated for jewelry. :)

Find heart jewelry in my shop at http://www.jasonsjewelry.etsy.com

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