What are Cold Connections
Question:
What are cold connections, and how do I make them?
-Marilyn in Westcliffe, Colorado
What are cold connections, and how do I make them?
-Marilyn in Westcliffe, Colorado
Instructions
Answer:
Hello Marilyn,
In the jewelry-making industry, the term "cold connection" refers to any technique that does not involve heat or flame.
As a reader of our tips on WireJewelry, you're likely a wire artist and that means you're already making cold connections!
Whether you're creating a simple wrapped loop on a headpin or designing an elaborate collar with multiple wires and bindings, if no heat is used, it's a cold connection.
Cold connections can also be enhanced by hammering. Some in the industry now call this "forging," though that's a bit misleading. True forging involves heat, while hammering to stretch, temper, or texture wire does not.
Using wire to make personal ornamentation is actually the oldest known form of organized jewelry-making.
One theory suggests this is because ancient craftsmen could easily roll soft copper, silver, and gold into smooth-edged wire that was simple to shape no heat required.
Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong
Hello Marilyn,
In the jewelry-making industry, the term "cold connection" refers to any technique that does not involve heat or flame.
As a reader of our tips on WireJewelry, you're likely a wire artist and that means you're already making cold connections!
Whether you're creating a simple wrapped loop on a headpin or designing an elaborate collar with multiple wires and bindings, if no heat is used, it's a cold connection.
Cold connections can also be enhanced by hammering. Some in the industry now call this "forging," though that's a bit misleading. True forging involves heat, while hammering to stretch, temper, or texture wire does not.
Using wire to make personal ornamentation is actually the oldest known form of organized jewelry-making.
One theory suggests this is because ancient craftsmen could easily roll soft copper, silver, and gold into smooth-edged wire that was simple to shape no heat required.
Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong
Materials
Wire
Sheet
12mm Copper Rivet - Pack of 25
A5-512
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $1.99
- Gold Club Price: $1.49
Tools
Stone Setting with Cold Connections featuring Kim St. Jean - 3 DVD Set
DVD-STONECOLD
- DVD-STONECOLD
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $127.00
- Gold Club Price: $95.25
Deluxe 3-Hole Punch
PUN-420.03
- PUN-420.03
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $58.97
- Gold Club Price: $44.23
DELUXE 4 HOLE METAL PUNCH
PUN-420.04
- PUN-420.04
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $64.95
- Gold Club Price: $48.71
Chasing Hammer with Wooden Handle, 1 1/8 Inch Face
G3-27
- G3-27
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $13.95
- Gold Club Price: $10.46
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
Entire Beginner Series with Bonus DVDs
DVD-BEGset
- DVD-BEGset
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $244.65
- Gold Club Price: $183.49
Entire Intermediate Series with Bonus DVD
DVD-INTset
- DVD-INTset
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $199.75
- Gold Club Price: $149.81
Entire Advanced Series with Bonus DVD
DVD-ADVset
- DVD-ADVset
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $249.75
- Gold Club Price: $187.31
WireJewelry - Ultimate Wire-Pliers Jewelry Pliers with Case, Set of 5
G15-20
- G15-20
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $170.72
- Gold Club Price: $128.04
Supply Detail
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- Category: General Education
- Technique(s): Dapping, Forging, Hole Punching, Riveting, Sawing, Design, Drilling, Tools, General Education
Dale Armstrong
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