Judy Freyer Thompson's Double Wire Link Chain Bracelet, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder. We all like chains, and the more interesting the better.
Double Wire Link Chain Bracelet
by Judy Freyer Thompson
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Chain Making, Butane Torch Techniques
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
We all like chains, and the more interesting the better. Take your creativity to a different level by using hardware that is not necessarily considered for jewelry components. Time to have some fun and take a stroll through the plumbing aisle at your local big box home improvement store. Grab a piece of ¼" copper tubing and copper wire and you will be on your way to making this cool linked bracelet. You can cut the copper tubing using a jeweler saw and metal blade, but I find it so much easier (and less frustrating!) to use a tubing cutter. This is an inexpensive tool that you can also pick up in the plumbing aisle.

This chain looks great if you choose to apply Liver of Sulfur or a salt and ammonia patina; it even looks cool if you leave it natural.

You can easily make this chain shorter or longer depending on your preference

Materials

14 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire
H11-14D
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 feet
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
  • Price: $7.04
  • Gold Club Price: $5.28
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1/4" copper tubing
  • Lesson Quantity: 12.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
11mm copper lobster clasp
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
heavy counter weight bead
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
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Tools

Wubbers Jumbo Round Mandrel Pliers
G2-1305
  • G2-1305
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $35.97
  • Gold Club Price: $26.98
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Wubbers X-Large Round Mandrel Pliers
G2-1304
  • G2-1304
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $35.97
  • Gold Club Price: $26.98
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Blazer GB4001 Stingray Torch, Blue
TRCH-4002
  • TRCH-4002
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $49.95
  • Gold Club Price: $37.46
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WireJewelry 9 Inch Rotating Turntable with Fire Brick
G32-9910
  • G32-9910
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $39.95
  • Gold Club Price: $29.96
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EUROnomic 2K Cutter, Sidecutter with Pointed Jaw, 4-3/4 Inches
PLR-380.16
  • PLR-380.16
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $29.55
  • Gold Club Price: $22.16
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Tube Cutter with 45 Degree Angle Slot
HOL-109.00
  • HOL-109.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $29.97
  • Gold Club Price: $22.48
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6 Piece Assorted File Set with Wooden Handle
G14-7
  • G14-7
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $5.57
  • Gold Club Price: $4.18
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4.5 Inch Flat Nose Mini Pliers
G2-88
  • G2-88
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each
  • Price: $4.97
  • Gold Club Price: $3.73
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Copper Solder Paste, 1/2 ozt, Soft
SOL-824.10
  • SOL-824.10
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $9.95
  • Gold Club Price: $7.46
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Premium Steel Bench Block 2 1/2 X 2 1/2
G17-9
  • G17-9
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $15.97
  • Gold Club Price: $11.98
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Small Brass Brush
BRS-966.10
  • BRS-966.10
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $10.97
  • Gold Club Price: $8.23
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Chasing Hammer with Wooden Handle, 1 1/8 Inch Face
G3-27
  • G3-27
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $13.95
  • Gold Club Price: $10.46
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Renaissance wax
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
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Instructions
Step 1
Clean the copper wire using 400 grit sandpaper. Using the 25mm mandrel, wrap the 14-gauge wire around 6 times and trim the wire.
Using the 12mm mandrel, wrap the 14-gauge wire around 14 times and trim the wire.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Double Wire Link Chain Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Double chain wire link bracelet
Step 2
Cut the jump rings apart using flush cutters, you will need (13) 12mm and (5) 25mm rings.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Double Wire Link Chain Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Double chain wire link bracelet
Step 3
Using the flat-nose pliers on the jump rings, push one side away from you and pull the other side toward you.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Double Wire Link Chain Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Double chain wire link bracelet
Step 4
Make sure the cut ends meet flush with no gap.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Double Wire Link Chain Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Double chain wire link bracelet
Step 5
Measure ¼" on the copper tubing; using the tubing cutter, cut (17) ¼" pieces of tubing. You will find it easier to measure then cut versus measuring and marking all the pieces.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Double Wire Link Chain Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Double chain wire link bracelet
Step 6
To remove the burrs on the tubing pieces, slide them all on a small round file and tape them together with painters' tape. Slide the pack of tubing pieces back and forth on the file to remove the burrs.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Double Wire Link Chain Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Double chain wire link bracelet
Step 7
Assemble the smaller chain using (13) 12mm jump rings. Install a ¼" piece of tubing in between jump rings, on one end, install the lobster claw clasp.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Double Wire Link Chain Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Double chain wire link bracelet
Step 8
Before soldering check each jump ring for a tight joint.
Lay the chain on the soldering brick and solder the rings closed. You may find it easier to solder every other one to minimize heat exposure; then return to solder the rest. After all the jump rings are soldered, place the chain in pickle solution. Remove, wash with soap and water and dry.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Double Wire Link Chain Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Double chain wire link bracelet
Step 9
Assemble the larger chain using 5) 25 mm rings. Install a ¼" piece of tubing in between the middle three jump rings.
Slide the end rings through the second tubing piece on each end of the smaller chain, solder the links closed.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Double Wire Link Chain Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Double chain wire link bracelet
Step 10
After all the jump rings are soldered, place the chain in pickle solution. Remove, wash with soap and water and dry.
Using the steel bench block and chasing hammer, lightly hammer the larger rings to work harden them and to add a bit of texture.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Double Wire Link Chain Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Double chain wire link bracelet
Step 11
If desired, patina the chain in Liver of Sufur then remove some of the patina with a brass brush and 400 grit sandpaper; alternatively brass brush the rings to bring back the shine to the copper.
Step 12
Thread the large bead on the head pin and make an eye using round nose pliers, trim as necessary.
Using flat nose pliers, open the eye and secure the big bead on to the next to the last link on the chain opposite the lobster claw clasp.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Double Wire Link Chain Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Double chain wire link bracelet
Step 13
Seal the bracelet using a spray sealant or Renaissance Wax.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Double Wire Link Chain Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Double chain wire link bracelet