Small Embellished Classic Cross
- Category: Metalwork
- Technique(s): Dapping, Tumbling, Butane Torch Techniques
- Skill Level: Intermediate
When I set a New Year's resolution to use up all the leftover bits from past jewelry projects, I didn't expect the hardest part to be finding inspiration.
A few short pieces of 20-gauge Argentium square wire and tiny scraps of 24-gauge Argentium sheet had been sitting on my bench, waiting for a purpose. With no real plan in mind, I decided to see what I could create using only what was in front of me.
To my surprise, the project came together quickly-and I'm glad I took photos along the way, because I'll definitely be making more.
A few short pieces of 20-gauge Argentium square wire and tiny scraps of 24-gauge Argentium sheet had been sitting on my bench, waiting for a purpose. With no real plan in mind, I decided to see what I could create using only what was in front of me.
To my surprise, the project came together quickly-and I'm glad I took photos along the way, because I'll definitely be making more.
Materials
20 Gauge Square Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire
H19-20SQH
- Lesson Quantity: 12.00 inches
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
- Price: $5.78
- Gold Club Price: $4.34
20 Gauge Dead Soft Argentium Silver Sheet - 6 Inches
H19-20SM6
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
- Price: $88.82
- Gold Club Price: $66.62
Chain of your choice
Charm of your choice in choice of metal
Tools
Xuron 2175F Maxi-Shear Flush Cutter with Retainer
PLR-467.52
- PLR-467.52
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $19.85
- Gold Club Price: $14.89
Multi Angle Cutting Jig
VIS-512.00
- VIS-512.00
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $84.95
- Gold Club Price: $63.71
6 Step Barrel Plier - Pack of 1
G2-503
- G2-503
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $14.95
- Gold Club Price: $11.21
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
12x12 Inch Rubber Mat
MAT-500.00
- MAT-500.00
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $24.95
- Gold Club Price: $18.71
5/8 Inch Double Rubber/Nylon Head Hammer - Pack of 1
G3-26
- G3-26
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $4.97
- Gold Club Price: $3.73
Solderite Soldering Board 6 Inch by 6 Inch Soft
SOL-421.10
- SOL-421.10
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $14.76
- Gold Club Price: $11.07
Handy Flame Butane Torch
SOL-315.00
- SOL-315.00
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $29.95
- Gold Club Price: $22.46
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
Fiber Grip Tweezers - Large
TWZ-744.00
- TWZ-744.00
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $3.95
- Gold Club Price: $2.96
Xuron Sheer - Non Serrated
SHR-691.81
- SHR-691.81
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $31.95
- Gold Club Price: $23.96
Brass Caliper - Gemstone And Bead Measuring Tool
G7-9
- G7-9
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $8.97
- Gold Club Price: $6.73
GasOne Butane Canisters, 4 Pack
GAS-1-4PK
- GAS-1-4PK
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $17.99
- Gold Club Price: $13.49
WET/DRY PAPER 9 X 11 ASST- 20PC- 2EA GRIT 180-3000
ABR-500.90
- ABR-500.90
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $24.95
- Gold Club Price: $18.71
Liver of Sulphur Gel, 1 Ounce Bottle
SOL-610.01
- SOL-610.01
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $9.95
- Gold Club Price: $7.46
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
Copper Pickling Tweezers, Curved, Reinforced, 8-1/2 Inches
TWZ-959.00
- TWZ-959.00
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $9.95
- Gold Club Price: $7.46
Optional Tools
Extra fine Sharpie pen
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Deluxe Soldering Kit
G15-5
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $116.97
- Gold Club Price: $87.73
Leaf stamp from JewelryTools.com
PUN-107.11
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Miter Cutting Vise option JewerlyTools.com VIS-550.00
VIS-550.00
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Wire Rounder Set, 3 pieces
G14-20
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $13.95
- Gold Club Price: $10.46
Instructions
Step 1
Cut one 2" long piece and two 5/8" long pieces of 20 gauge square wire. It does not make any difference if the wire is dead soft, half hard, or full hard as it will be annealed which will soften it.
Step 2
There are three openings in a miter jig and vise that fit square wire. 20 gauge will fit in the smallest opening, shown by the arrow.
Secure one end of a wire in the vise with a small amount of wire protruding. File the protruding wire flat and flush with the surface of the vise.
Repeat the process with the other wires.
Remember, only one end of each wire needs to be flat at this point.
Secure one end of a wire in the vise with a small amount of wire protruding. File the protruding wire flat and flush with the surface of the vise.
Repeat the process with the other wires.
Remember, only one end of each wire needs to be flat at this point.
Step 3
The longer square wire must be perfectly straight with no twists or curves. Anneal the wire on a Solderite board. When it is cool, transfer the wire to a bench block. Gently tap the wire straight on all 4 sides using a small nylon/rubber mallet.
Step 4
Since this was a "wing it" project and had no idea of size of cord or chain to be used with the end product, I made the largest loop I was comfortable with.
The hanging loop can be made into a more oval shape after adjusting the loop position in Step 21, or later when a cord or chain is chosen.
Using Step 3 on a 6 step barrel pliers-first photo-make a loop on the filed end of the longest wire. When making most loops, it is preferable to curve the very beginning end of the wire. DO NOT do that.
The wire end should be straight so the flat end can sit flush and tight against the wire it will touch when the loop is completed-second and third photos.
The hanging loop can be made into a more oval shape after adjusting the loop position in Step 21, or later when a cord or chain is chosen.
Using Step 3 on a 6 step barrel pliers-first photo-make a loop on the filed end of the longest wire. When making most loops, it is preferable to curve the very beginning end of the wire. DO NOT do that.
The wire end should be straight so the flat end can sit flush and tight against the wire it will touch when the loop is completed-second and third photos.
Step 5
Put the loop on a Solderite board. Place a small amount of medium paste solder for silver at the join inside the loop-first photo.
Use a small Blazer butane torch to heat the entire piece until the solder flows through the loop seam-second photo. Immediately remove the heat.
Allow the piece to cool before continuing.
Use a small Blazer butane torch to heat the entire piece until the solder flows through the loop seam-second photo. Immediately remove the heat.
Allow the piece to cool before continuing.
Pro Tip: Why use a Solderite board? The board is very flat which means the fine 20 gauge pieces will not shift to different levels while soldering.
Step 6
If using a metal where fires scale or fire stain occurs, pickle the piece, rinse, and dry it before continuing.
Step 7
Prop the central wire, loop facing up, on the Solderite board. Decide where to place the cross arms and mark the central wire with an ultra-fine point retractable Sharpie.
Place a small amount of medium paste solder for silver on the filed flat end of one arm. Push the arm flat and flush against the central wire at the mark.
Repeat the process with the other arm.
Use a small Blazer butane torch to heat the entire piece until the solder flows through the seams connecting the arms to the central wire-second photo. Immediately remove the heat.
Allow the piece to cool before continuing.
Place a small amount of medium paste solder for silver on the filed flat end of one arm. Push the arm flat and flush against the central wire at the mark.
Repeat the process with the other arm.
Use a small Blazer butane torch to heat the entire piece until the solder flows through the seams connecting the arms to the central wire-second photo. Immediately remove the heat.
Allow the piece to cool before continuing.
Pro Tip: The position of the arms is a personal preference and should be pleasing to the eye. When in doubt, do an internet search for "cross dimensions calculator". This will bring up different types of crosses with different arm placement ratios.
Pro Tip: If squaring the arms to the cross is a concern, use an ultra-fine point retractable Sharpie to draw two lines intersecting at 90 degree angles on the Solderite board-see Step 10. Connect the cross sections on those lines for soldering.
Step 8
Clean and refine the loop and arm solder joins using sanding pads. If using a metal where fire scale or fire stain occurs, pickle the piece, rinse, and dry it before continuing.
Step 9
The cross is fine without embellishment. Since the challenge was to use the scraps on my worksurface, I made a decorative element to add to the center of the cross.
The finished charm measures approximately 10mm x 10mm. Wire jewelry carries many sterling silver charms that size and a bit smaller.
Make four tiny leaves with a ¼" leaf stamp.
The finished charm measures approximately 10mm x 10mm. Wire jewelry carries many sterling silver charms that size and a bit smaller.
Make four tiny leaves with a ¼" leaf stamp.
Step 10
Use an ultra-fine point retractable Sharpie to draw two lines intersecting at 90 degree angles on the Solderite board-first photo.
Place a small amount of medium paste solder for silver on the rounded end of each leaf. Position each leaf on a line, solder end facing the center-second photo.
Position the silver ball on the point where the lines intersect-third photo. A little bit of medium paste solder on the bottom of the ball will hold it in place when pushing all the leaves to nestle under the rounded sides of the ball-fourth photo.
Press the ball down to make sure it touches the soldering surface. Adjust the leaf points so they are each on a line. Press the ball down again, watching to make sure the leaf points do not move.
Place a small amount of medium paste solder for silver on the rounded end of each leaf. Position each leaf on a line, solder end facing the center-second photo.
Position the silver ball on the point where the lines intersect-third photo. A little bit of medium paste solder on the bottom of the ball will hold it in place when pushing all the leaves to nestle under the rounded sides of the ball-fourth photo.
Press the ball down to make sure it touches the soldering surface. Adjust the leaf points so they are each on a line. Press the ball down again, watching to make sure the leaf points do not move.
Step 11
Use a small Blazer butane torch to heat the entire piece until the solder flows. Immediately remove the heat. Allow the piece to cool before continuing
Step 12
Pickle, rinse, and dry the embellishment before continuing
Step 13
During the soldering process, several of the leaves pulled up against the ball, raising the leaf tips. Place the embellishment on a bench block. Carefully press the leaf tips down until they touch the surface of the bench block
Step 14
Place a piece of 320 or 400 grit sandpaper on the bench block. Run the underside of the embellishment over the sandpaper until the center and the leaf tips have flat areas sanded away.
Step 15
Place the cross on the Solderite board. Check the alignment of the leaf tips with the cross. One leaf of the embellishment seemed a bit longer than the others. It seemed to fit better with that leaf facing down the center of the cross.
Step 16
Place a dot of easy paste solder for silver on each leaf tip. Place easy paste solder around the center of the embellishment-first photo. Press the piece into place on the cross. Use a small Blazer butane torch to heat the entire piece until the solder flows-second photo. Immediately remove the heat. Allow the piece to cool before continuing.
Step 17
Pickle, rinse, and dry the embellished cross before continuing.
Step 18
Clean and refine any solder overflow using sanding pads.
Step 19
This step is another time where personal preference plays a big role. While the cross was fine as is-maybe the arms could be a little shorter-my mind kept steering toward a daintier look.
Using pieces of scrap paper to cover the wire ends makes it easier to envision how different cross sizes would look-first photo.
Once a size is chosen, mark on the wire on the edge of the paper. To make sure the arms are the same length, lay the cross on a gridded surface such a ruler-second photo.
Another option is to use a caliper on the back of the cross to check arm length-third photo.
Approximately 5/16" was removed from each arm wire and 3/8" from the center wire-fourth photo.
Using pieces of scrap paper to cover the wire ends makes it easier to envision how different cross sizes would look-first photo.
Once a size is chosen, mark on the wire on the edge of the paper. To make sure the arms are the same length, lay the cross on a gridded surface such a ruler-second photo.
Another option is to use a caliper on the back of the cross to check arm length-third photo.
Approximately 5/16" was removed from each arm wire and 3/8" from the center wire-fourth photo.
Step 20
File, refine, and round the arm wire and center wire outer cut ends. A wire-rounding cup bur tool may be helpful.
Step 21
Adjust the position of the loop. Hold the cross just below the loop solder join with chain or flat nose pliers. Insert the step 3 barrel of the 6 step barrel pliers into the loop.
Bend the loop over toward the back of the cross until the loop is centered above the central spine of the cross.
Once a chain, cord, or neck wire is chosen the loop can be made into a slight oval shape to accommodate it.
Bend the loop over toward the back of the cross until the loop is centered above the central spine of the cross.
Once a chain, cord, or neck wire is chosen the loop can be made into a slight oval shape to accommodate it.
Step 22
Tumble the pendant for several hours to bring up a nice shine.
Step 23
It was decided to leave this pendant bright silver. However, patina the pendant if desired to highlight the details.
Since removing patina from the raised areas imparts a more satin finish, tumble the piece again for 20 to 30 minutes to bring back the shine without removing the patina.
Since removing patina from the raised areas imparts a more satin finish, tumble the piece again for 20 to 30 minutes to bring back the shine without removing the patina.
Step 24
The finished pendant is less than 1-1/4" long, including the loop, and about 5/8" wide. A 1mm chain with 1.9mm balls is seen here paired with the cross.
Step 25
This cross could be made using almost any gauge square wire with only minor adjustments in wire lengths.
And, there is no limit to the types of small charms available that could be used to embellishments the cross!
And, there is no limit to the types of small charms available that could be used to embellishments the cross!
Pro Tip: The cross does not always have to be made into a pendant. Use it as an embellishment.
Recently when making Milagro Heart Pendants, which can have religious connotations, I wanted to section off one of the heart shapes and add different tiny embellishments to each quadrant.
Stamp the center cross disc with a letter or symbol of faith. Or, make several different sizes of tiny crosses, half inch long or less, to add here and there on a Milagro ("miracle" in Spanish) Heart.
Recently when making Milagro Heart Pendants, which can have religious connotations, I wanted to section off one of the heart shapes and add different tiny embellishments to each quadrant.
Stamp the center cross disc with a letter or symbol of faith. Or, make several different sizes of tiny crosses, half inch long or less, to add here and there on a Milagro ("miracle" in Spanish) Heart.
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Judy Larson
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