Judy Larson's Leaf Bail , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin. Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry. Soldering experience is necessary to make this bail.
Leaf Bail
by Judy Larson
  • Category: Findings
  • Technique(s): Cutting, Dapping, Making Findings, Oxidizing / Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
Soldering experience is necessary to make this bail.

Materials

18 Gauge Half Round Half Hard Copper Wire
H11-18HRH
  • Lesson Quantity: 6.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $0.63
  • Gold Club Price: $0.47
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24 Gauge 0.020 Dead Soft Copper Sheet Metal - 6x6 Inch
MET-705.24
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $8.43
  • Gold Club Price: $6.32
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Tools

Pro Shear
SHR-544.00
  • SHR-544.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $12.95
  • Gold Club Price: $9.71
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Liver of Sulphur Gel, 2 Ounce Bottle
SOL-610.02
  • SOL-610.02
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $12.95
  • Gold Club Price: $9.71
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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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Marker -extra fine
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Dimple Pliers - Hooked Jaw, 1mm (Black Handle)
PLR-726.15
  • PLR-726.15
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $16.97
  • Gold Club Price: $12.73
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2 Ounce Rubber Head Hammer
G3-19
  • G3-19
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.97
  • Gold Club Price: $2.23
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6 Step Barrel Plier - Pack of 1
G2-503
  • G2-503
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $18.95
  • Gold Club Price: $14.21
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7 Piece Mini TruStrike Hammer Set with Stand
HAM-520.70
  • HAM-520.70
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $140.54
  • Gold Club Price: $105.40
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Bench Block Helper with Steel and Nylon Blocks
DAP-500.30
  • DAP-500.30
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $29.95
  • Gold Club Price: $22.46
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Deluxe Soldering Kit
G15-5
  • G15-5
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $116.97
  • Gold Club Price: $87.73
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Jewlery Polishing Kit
G24-3-KIT
  • G24-3-KIT
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $129.82
  • Gold Club Price: $97.37
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Instructions
Step 1
The template for this Bail
Judy Larson's Leaf Bail  - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Template for Sheet metal
Judy Larson's Leaf Bail  - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Template for sheet metal
Step 2
Make your pattern using the photo as a guide.
Judy Larson's Leaf Bail  - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Making a pattern for copper sheet
Step 3
Trace the pattern onto sheet metal. Cut the leaf shape out using your preferred method. This is a thinner metal so metal shears were used here. Since the piece will be textured, scratches, etc., caused by shears will not be an issue. Draw a line down the center of the metal piece using an ultra fine point permanent marker.
Judy Larson's Leaf Bail  - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Using Pro Shear to cut copper sheet.
Step 4
Texture the metal piece-any hammer texture will be fine. The narrower side of a Mini TruStrike Sharp Designer Hammer was used in this tutorial. Notice that the piece expands in size when you texture it. When you are finished texturing the piece it will probably have curled up a bit. Carefully flatten it on the bench block using the rubber or nylon head hammer.
Judy Larson's Leaf Bail  - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Texture using Mini TruStrike Sharp designer hammer
Step 5
If the sides are sharp after texturing, use a file to soften the edges.
Step 6
Flip the piece over and use an ultra fine point permanent marker to draw a line across the back side of the metal piece about 1/8" up from the pointed tip.
Judy Larson's Leaf Bail  - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Using Shapie marker mark measurement.
Step 7
The first decorative dimple should be formed right on the line. Place the indented cup side of the dimpling pliers on the FRONT side of the metal piece. The edge of the metal piece should be on the edge of the indented cup. When you close the jaws of the pliers, the hook portion should be just inside the edge of the metal piece right on the line on the BACK side of the piece.
Judy Larson's Leaf Bail  - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Decorating with dimple pliers.
Step 8
To make each succeeding dimple along each side of the bail, place the edge of the indented side of the dimpling pliers jaw against the previous dimple. As in Step 6, the edge of the metal piece should be on the edge of the indented cup. When you close the jaws of the pliers, the hook portion should be just inside the edge of the metal piece.
Judy Larson's Leaf Bail  - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Decoration and texturing with dimple pliers
Judy Larson's Leaf Bail  - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Textured copper sheet leaf
Step 9
Cut a piece of 18 gauge round wire about 1 inch longer than the metal piece. Make sure it is straight. Hint: Roll the wire between two bench blocks to straighten it.
Judy Larson's Leaf Bail  - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, 18 gauge copper wire
Step 10
Place the wire on the line. The wire should hang over the square end of the leaf about 1/4 inch.. Solder the wire in place using your preferred method.
Step 11
Trim the wire flush with the square end of the leaf.
Step 12
Pickle the piece to remove fire scale.
Step 13
Using Step 4 on the 6-step pliers, curl the back square end of the leaf towards the front as shown. Note that the wire is on the OUTSIDE. You may need to use Step 5 if the leaf expanded a great deal when you textured it, or cut the square end of the bail shorter if you want the shorter bail you see here.
Judy Larson's Leaf Bail  - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Using 6 step plier to form
Judy Larson's Leaf Bail  - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Forming on 6 step pliers
Judy Larson's Leaf Bail  - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Copper sheet leaves formed on 6 step pliers
Step 14
To make the lower pendant loop, use Step 2 of the 6 step pliers, or whichever step on the pliers is necessary to obtain the size loop you need to fit your pendant. Once the loop is made, trim off the excess wire. Move the pendant loop into place at the back of the bail.
Judy Larson's Leaf Bail  - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Forming 18 gauge copper wire stem on 6 step plier
Judy Larson's Leaf Bail  - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Copper sheet and copper wire leaf bail
Judy Larson's Leaf Bail  - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Copper sheet and copper wire leaf bail
Step 15
Tumble the bail with steel shot to harden and polish it.
Step 16
Optional: Patina the bail, if desired, using a liver of sulfur solution. Polish with very fine steel wool to bring out the hammered details.
Step 17
Optional: Tumble for 30 minutes or so with steel shot if you want the bail to have a brighter shine after the you steel wool the patina. Tumbling will not affect the patina.
Judy Larson's Leaf Bail  - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Tumbling with steel shot after liver of sulfur patina set.
Step 18
The green bail below was enlarged and dabbed with alcohol paints to turn it into a pendant by Kathi Nelson
Congratulations! You've made your first Leaf Bail!
Judy Larson's Leaf Bail  - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Alcohol paints used on Copper Sheet bail
Judy Larson's Leaf Bail  - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Copper sheet bail on viking knit copper chain