Judy Larson's Wire Heart Pendant with Gemstone Drop, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder. In one of my Maybe I Can Use It Later boxes, I found two pieces of Argentium scrolled wire that never made it into the project they were made for.

Wire Heart Pendant with Gemstone Drop

by Judy Larson
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Butane Torch Techniques
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
In one of my Maybe I Can Use It Later boxes, I found two pieces of Argentium scrolled wire that never made it into the project they were made for. While I started digging around in the box for something else, the two scrolled pieces ended up side by side in a heart shape. Light bulb moment!

Materials

16 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire
H19-16H
  • Lesson Quantity: 3.50 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $8.58
  • Gold Club Price: $6.43
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16 gauge 3.5mm ID Argentium jump ring
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
20 gauge 3mm-4mm ID Argentium jump ring
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
18 gauge 5mm ID Argentium jump rings
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each
7/8” (22mm) of 18 gauge round Argentium wire, balled
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
gemstone charm
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
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Tools

Xuron Flush Cutter - Pack of 1
G2-504
  • G2-504
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $29.95
  • Gold Club Price: $22.46
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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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Silver Solder Paste Soft SS65- 1/4 T.O.
SOL-822.10
  • SOL-822.10
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $16.95
  • Gold Club Price: $12.71
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GROBET FILE - BARRETTE CUT 2, 6"
FIL-31.030
  • FIL-31.030
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $31.20
  • Gold Club Price: $23.40
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Single 3rd Hand with Tweezer and Base
HOL-165.00
  • HOL-165.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $18.97
  • Gold Club Price: $14.23
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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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Flat Nose Wire Pliers
G2-506
  • G2-506
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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Round Nose Wire Pliers
G2-507
  • G2-507
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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Chain Nose Wire Pliers
G2-508
  • G2-508
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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5 1/2 Inch Nylon Flat Jaw Pliers with Replacement Jaws
G2-1
  • G2-1
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $9.97
  • Gold Club Price: $7.48
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Half Round Sanding Sticks Set of 6
BUF-751.98
  • BUF-751.98
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $11.57
  • Gold Club Price: $8.68
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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
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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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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
Stainless Steel Shot - 1 lb Bag
G24-4
  • G24-4
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $43.95
  • Gold Club Price: $32.96
Add to Bag
Thumlers Tumbler Model T Rock Tumbler Kit
G34-100
  • G34-100
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $172.76
  • Gold Club Price: $129.57
Out of Stock
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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.

Cut two 1¾" (45mm) pieces of 16 gauge round Argentium wire. File one end of each wire to an angle point to make scrolling the wire easier. Use sanding pads to round the pointed wire ends a bit. Make a 3.5mm ID jump ring at this time is a purchased one is not available. Cutting the wires this length accounts for the differences in how the wire is scrolled and curved by each person. Some people will use most of the wire in the project, some less.
Step 2
On a soldering surface, ball a 7/8" (22mm) piece of 18 gauge round Argentium wire with the butane torch. When the ball is cool, hold the ball with the tips of chain nose pliers and run the back of the ball across a piece of 320 gauge sandpaper on a bench block to remove the debris from the soldering surface as well as flatten it a bit.
Step 3
The scrolled wires are sitting on a 1" grid square (25mm). Use the photo to help with shaping the wires. Coil the end of each wire. Check the scrolls against each other to make sure they are exactly the same. Curve the wire ends.
Judy Larson's Wire Heart Pendant with Gemstone Drop - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, wire heart pendant with gemstone drop
Step 4
Place the scrolled wires next to each other in a mirror image arrangement. The bottom ends will probably not be flush with each other. Gently straighten each a bit, check the fit, straighten again, check the fit, etc., until the ends are more or less parallel to each other.
Judy Larson's Wire Heart Pendant with Gemstone Drop - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, wire heart pendant with gemstone drop
Judy Larson's Wire Heart Pendant with Gemstone Drop - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, wire heart pendant with gemstone drop
Step 5
Working on a soldering surface, place a small amount of medium paste solder on one scrolled wire where the scrolls will touch. Place a generous amount of medium paste solder on the same piece where the straightened wires will touch. Push the two pieces tightly together so the scrolls and the straight bottom wires touch each other.
Judy Larson's Wire Heart Pendant with Gemstone Drop - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, wire heart pendant with gemstone drop
Judy Larson's Wire Heart Pendant with Gemstone Drop - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, wire heart pendant with gemstone drop
Step 6
Close the 16 gauge 3.5mm ID jump ring. Place a small amount of medium paste solder on the seam. Place a small amount of medium paste solder where the jump ring will touch the scrolls when pushed against them, first photo. Push the jump ring into place, making sure the jump ring seam touches one of the scrolls, second photo. Place a small dab of medium paste solder on the back of the ball created in Step 2. Place the ball over the area where all three wires meet. Heat until the solder flows, third photo.
Judy Larson's Wire Heart Pendant with Gemstone Drop - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, wire heart pendant with gemstone drop
Judy Larson's Wire Heart Pendant with Gemstone Drop - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, wire heart pendant with gemstone drop
Judy Larson's Wire Heart Pendant with Gemstone Drop - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, wire heart pendant with gemstone drop
Judy Larson's Wire Heart Pendant with Gemstone Drop - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, wire heart pendant with gemstone drop
Step 7
Pickle, rinse, and dry the piece before continuing.
Step 8
Trim the heart point back, leaving a short area where the wires are still soldered together. The length of the soldered section left is personal preference, but must accommodate a jump ring that will be us
Judy Larson's Wire Heart Pendant with Gemstone Drop - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, wire heart pendant with gemstone drop
Judy Larson's Wire Heart Pendant with Gemstone Drop - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, wire heart pendant with gemstone drop
Step 9
Place the two 18 gauge 5mm ID jump rings through the 3.5mm ring on the heart. Suspend the heart upside down over a soldering surface using the tweezers of a third hand. Make sure both jump ring seams are facing down. Place a small amount of easy paste solder on the seams. Make sure that the 5mm jump rings are exactly opposite each other. Heat until the solder flows.
Judy Larson's Wire Heart Pendant with Gemstone Drop - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, wire heart pendant with gemstone drop
Step 10
Pickle, rinse, and dry the piece before continuing.
Step 11
Use a flat jaw pliers to make the two connected 5mm jump rings into a slight oval. When bending, the jump ring seams seam should be between the jaws of the pliers.
Judy Larson's Wire Heart Pendant with Gemstone Drop - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, wire heart pendant with gemstone drop
Step 12
Using the file and sanding pads to clean and refine all the solder joins.
Step 13
Attach the gemstone connector jump ring to the heart frame. Tumble the unit for an hour to polish the piece. Rinse and dry.
While the heart is tumbling, trim the bottom loop from the bezel connector. File and sand the cut end to a smooth finish.
Judy Larson's Wire Heart Pendant with Gemstone Drop - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, wire heart pendant with gemstone drop
Step 14
Remove the heart from the tumbler and rinse and dry it. Attach the drop with jump ring on the bottom of the heart.
Judy Larson's Wire Heart Pendant with Gemstone Drop - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, wire heart pendant with gemstone drop