Free Pattern: Fish Tail Chain by Deborah Mortlock

by Judy Ellis, Wirejewelry.com

Wire Jewelry Pattern for June 12th, 2017

Fish Tail Chain

by Deborah Mortlock

Materials:

• 16 Gauge Round Dead Soft .925 Sterling Silver Wire  (Pattern Quantity – 2 Feet, Product ID: H8-16D)

Tools:

• Dual Size Round Nose Pliers (Pattern Quantity – 1 Piece, Product ID:  G2-719)
• Deluxe Soldering Kit (Pattern Quantity – 1 Piece, Product ID:  G15-5)
• Wire Rounder Set, 3 pieces (Pattern Quantity – 1 Piece, Product ID:  G14-20)

Directions:

Step 1: Take a manageable length of 16 gauge silver wire and ball up one end. If you have never balled the end of a piece of wire before simply hold the piece in a pair of tweezers and gently move the flame from your torch up and down the bottom of it until a ball forms. Holding the wire straight up and down in the flame will ensure an even ball.
After you have made the ball you can round it out using a cup bur which matches the gauge of wire you’re using. If you are using fine silver this step won’t be necessary as it forms a perfect ball when melted.

The hottest part of your flame is the area just in front of where the smaller, inner flame, touches the larger outer flame. You can manipulate the heat you’ll need by watching this part of your flame.

Step 2: The next step will be to make a loop as shown. You can do this by using your round nosed pliers or a mandrel. The loop shown here has an inside diameter of around 1cm.

Step 3: Solder the ball end at the spot it crosses over the other end of the loop and then make another, smaller, loop and cut off the extra length of wire.

Step 4: This loop is then turned and soldered just under the first soldered join.

Step 5: Take the remaining length of wire, ball up the end, and make another loop. This time you will thread the larger loop into the smaller loop of the first link before soldering it together.

Step 6: Now make the smaller loop and solder it as before. Continue until you have the length of chain you desire.

Step 7:  Now you can put a catch on it, put it in pickle to clean up the residue from soldering, and then buff or polish it to your desired finish. And you have a Fish Tail bracelet.

Happy Wrapping!

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One Comment

1. 

   Gail Chambers

   June 12, 2017 at 7:44 am

   That’s a great little tutorial!!!