Versatile Permanent Markers

by Judy Larson

As jewelry makers, we all have those moments where we do something just a bit different than we always have before and everything becomes so much easier. You know, those "Why didn't I do it this way or think of it before?" moments.

During an assembly line process of sweat soldering loops to the back of a lot of T-bars for toggles, I had such a moment.

Instructions

Sharpie markers are used to make a squiggle line on a piece of sheet metal before heating it with a torch and waiting for the line to disappear to know the metal is annealed. They are used to draw lines on metal to know where to saw or cut pieces. Wire is wrapped around them to make jump rings and shape ring shanks.

I marked the center of the back of the T-bar with a Sharpie and put a dab of paste solder on either side. I then heated the solder until it flowed. I noticed the solder did not flow over the center line. I wondered what would happen if I put lines where I did not want the solder to flow. The same thing happened! Whoopeee! Less cleanup!

The copper solder does not like to flow over Sharpie marker. It will, but it doesn't like to. This is probably because the Sharpie mark makes the metal "dirty" and as we all know, for a good solder join, metal surfaces being connected need to be clean.

Judy Larson's Versatile Permanent Markers - , General Education, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, , versatile permanent markers

Materials

22 Gauge 0.025 Dead Soft Copper Sheet Metal - 6x6 Inch

MET-705.22

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $11.30
Gold Club Price: $8.48

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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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Copper Solder Paste, 1/2 ozt, Soft

SOL-824.10

SOL-824.10
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $9.95
Gold Club Price: $7.46

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Category: General Education
Technique(s): Butane Torch Techniques, General Education

Reviews

Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!

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