Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings, Metalwork. Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder. Do you ever find yourself on a kick making the same type of thing over and over.

Three Leaves Earrings

by Judy Larson
  • Category: Metalwork
  • Technique(s): Butane Torch Techniques
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
Do you ever find yourself on a kick making the same type of thing over and over. That seems to be me as I am gravitating all the time to leaf and flower designs right now-but mostly leaves. I even made an impression of a leaf my husband dragged in on the bottom of his shoe and I found on the kitchen floor. How one track mind do you get and with what?



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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rubber tree leaf skeletons
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
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Tools

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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Basic Sawing Kit
G15-7
  • G15-7
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $34.95
  • Gold Club Price: $26.21
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Nylon Ring Bending Pliers
PLR-841.00
  • PLR-841.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $20.97
  • Gold Club Price: $15.73
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Whaley Wood Swage Block
DAP-158.00
  • DAP-158.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $21.95
  • Gold Club Price: $16.46
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Instructions
Step 1
Read through the tutorial before starting the project. Follow all safety precautions pertaining to the tools and supplies being used and the space you are working in.

Scale the template to size. Print on paper to glue to sheet metal or to use as a template to draw around on the metal.
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Step 2
Adhere the printed template with six leaves to 22 or 24 gauge sheet metal. Cut leaf shapes out. Clean and refine the edges of each leaf with files and sanding pads. Hint: Using 24 gauge sheet metal will help keep the earrings lighter in weight.
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Step 3
Choose Rubber Tree Leaf Skeletons that have no blemishes in the area of the leaf used for imprinting. The left leaf in the photo has a small area where some of the leaf membrane is still connected to the skeleton so that area is not usable.
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Step 4
Center the tip of the leaf skeleton midrib on the metal leaf and pass through a rolling mill to impart the texture. If a rolling mill is not available, stamp the leaf midrib and veins in the metal shape using a chisel.
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Step 5
If some of the impressions were not perfectly centered, don't worry. Use the most off center ones as the center leaves as they will be covered by the other two.
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Step 6
Curve the top tip of each leaf towards the back using a deep bending pliers.
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Step 7
Place a leaf right side up in a swage block impression that fits a half inch dowel. Make sure the curved tip of the leaf hangs over the edge of the swage block. Use a hammer on the dowel to press the leaf into a curved shape.
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Step 8
Use soft jaw pliers to bend the outer edges of the upper half of each leaf towards the back of the leaf.
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Step 9
Make two Closed Large Loop Earring Findings but do not make the hook curve yet. Place the Closed Large Loop Earring Findings on a Solderite board. If these have not been made or are not desired, close two 16, 18, or 20 gauge 8mm ID jump rings. Place them on the board. The jump ring seam should be positioned on the board so it will be concealed under the leaves. Put a dot of medium paste solder on the earring loop directly across from the wire wrapped section. Press the top curved portion of the leaf over the ring seam and into the paste solder. Heat until the solder flows. Allow to cool naturally.
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Step 10
Place the soldered leaf/ring sections on a bench block. Using a plastic/rubber mallet, lightly flatten the leaves. This will make it easier to position the outer two leaves in place.
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Step 11
Place a small amount of medium paste solder on the ring on either side of the center leaf. Position the leaves so the top tips are centered over the bottom leaf and the lower outer tips are 1-1/8" apart. Hint: Mark a toothpick with the width to make it easier to measure without thinking. Since the toothpick is short and the measurement mark is almost in the middle, color the end to be used for measuring.
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Step 12
Ball two ½" pieces of 18 gauge wire. Clean solder board residue off the backs so they will more easily solder to the leaves.
Step 13
Place a dot of medium paste solder at the top of each leaf unit where the tips meet. Heat around the units until the solder flows. Allow to cool naturally. Hint: Instead of a ball, solder a flower charm on each earring for a different look.
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Step 14
Pickle, rinse, and dry the earrings.
Step 15
Clean and refine needed areas using files and sanding pads.
Step 16
Slightly curve the lower tip of each leaf toward the back using a ring bending pliers.
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Step 17
Tumble for several hours to bring up a shine.
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Step 18
Patina the leaf components if desired. Use 0000 steel wool to remove patina from the raised areas to highlight the design. If the soft satin finish imparted by the steel wool is not desired, tumble again for 20 minutes or so to bring the shine back.
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Step 19
Curve the hook portion of the Closed Large Loop Earring Findings.
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Step 20
Lightly hammer the front of the earring finding curve and you are done!
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings
Judy Larson's Three Leaves Earrings - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, triple leaf earrings