Judy Larson's Eleven Pipers Piping Earrings, Holiday Designs. Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder. Do you remember Tonettes, Flutes, and Recorders from elementary school?  These earrings are fun take on them.

Eleven Pipers Piping Earrings

by Judy Larson
  • Category: Holiday Designs
  • Technique(s): Butane Torch Techniques
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
Do you remember Tonettes, Flutes, and Recorders from elementary school? These earrings are fun take on them. 

Materials

24 Gauge Dead Soft Argentium Silver Sheet - 6 Inches
H19-24SM6
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
  • Price: $40.55
  • Gold Club Price: $30.41
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18 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire
H19-18H
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $5.08
  • Gold Club Price: $3.81
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Tools

Silver Solder Paste Medium SS70 - 1/4 T.O.
SOL-822.15
  • SOL-822.15
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $18.95
  • Gold Club Price: $14.21
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Basic Soldering Kit
G15-4
  • G15-4
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $58.95
  • Gold Club Price: $44.21
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Magnesia Soldering Block
SOL-455.00
  • SOL-455.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $7.95
  • Gold Club Price: $5.96
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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches
PLR-487.00
  • PLR-487.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $16.97
  • Gold Club Price: $12.73
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French Shears, Straight, 7 Inch
SHR-530.00
  • SHR-530.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $17.44
  • Gold Club Price: $13.08
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NATURE'S TOUCH CITRIC PICKLE, 2LB PLASTIC JAR
CLN-163.00
  • CLN-163.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $17.95
  • Gold Club Price: $13.46
Out of Stock
Pickle Pot, 16 Ounces
CLN-584.00
  • CLN-584.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $31.95
  • Gold Club Price: $23.96
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Instructions
Step 1
Template Designs 

The first template, 2½" x 6", contains the designs that are to be cut out and assembled. The second template, also 2½" x 6",  contains size and shape approximations for those designs requiring a backing, except for number 4, which is a charm disc that could be cut out and number 3, an alternate French Hens design. The numbers on the designs in both templates refer to the day in the song and in the tutorials. 
Glue the templates to 24 gauge scrap Argentium sheet. Cut the shapes out.  
Judy Larson's Eleven Pipers Piping Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, eleven pipers piping earrings
Step 2
Cut two ½" pieces of 18 gauge round Argentium wire. Place the wire on a soldering block. Ball each wire. Cool. 
Step 3
Remove any solder block debris from the balls. Place the balls on a bench block. Tap each ball until flattened to be a bit thicker than 16 gauge half round wire.  
Judy Larson's Eleven Pipers Piping Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, eleven pipers piping earrings
Step 4
Close twelve 18 gauge 2mm ID jump rings and two 22 gauge 2mm ID jump rings. 
Step 5
Pro Tip: I save short off-cuts of wire I think I might use in a later design. These little pieces go in a bag labeled with the gauge, and then are stored inside the bag with the full coil. These short little pieces of 16 gauge half round Argentium wire are used here.
Place medium paste solder along the bottom edge of one rectangle, as well as across the top just before the sides angle in. Press two pieces of half round wire that are bit longer than needed into the solder along the bottom edge, and one into the paste solder at the top. Audition all the rest of the 16 gauge half round pieces. Once you like what you see, add lines to both rectangles to help with half round wire placement.   
Judy Larson's Eleven Pipers Piping Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, eleven pipers piping earrings
Step 6
Center a dot of medium paste solder on each rectangle above the bottom two half round wires and below the top half round wire. Press a closed 18 gauge jump ring into the dot of paste solder.   
Judy Larson's Eleven Pipers Piping Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, eleven pipers piping earrings
Step 7
Place lines of medium paste solder on each rectangle where the next pieces of 16 gauge half round wire will be placed. Press the half round wires into the paste solder. Place a dot of medium paste solder where each flattened ball will go. Press each ball into place.  
Judy Larson's Eleven Pipers Piping Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, eleven pipers piping earrings
Step 8
Place dots of medium paste solder down the center on each rectangle where the rest of the 18 gauge closed rings will be placed. Press the 18 gauge closed rings into the paste solder. Place a dot of medium paste solder at the top of the semi-rectangular section on the top of each rectangle and press a 20 gauge jump ring into each dot. 
Judy Larson's Eleven Pipers Piping Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, eleven pipers piping earrings
Step 9
Heat the pieces with a butane torch until the solder flows. 
Step 10
Trim excess half round wire from the edge of the rectangle. Use a 1.5mm hole punch to make a hole in each 20 gauge jump ring at the top of each rectangle. Use files and sanding pads to clean, refine, and soften the edges of the rectangles.  Leave no sharp edges. 
Judy Larson's Eleven Pipers Piping Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, eleven pipers piping earrings
Step 11
Pickle, rinse, and dry the pieces. Tumble the pieces for several hours. Patina the pieces if desired. The pieces here have patina added. 
Add ear wires.