From Pipes & Wire Necklace
by Zoraida.
(Patchogue, New York USA)
A few weeks ago, a friend of mine gave me some sections of copper pipe and circle spacers from a construction job he had salvaged. How great was that! It was as good as gold to me.
Ideas started spinning in my head and I was anxious to create something. I ran out to my local hardware store (True Value) and bought a small pipe cutter ($6) and some 16 gauge copper wire.
I cut three sections of pipe at about 2″ and sanded the ends smooth. I then inserted the wire and ended both sides with spirals, of course. 24 gauge wire was wrapped around either end of the center pipe just in front of the spirals. These pipe sections were then connected to my handmade chain and clasp. A spiral was wound around the center pipe section as a focal. The whole necklace was dipped in liver of sulfur for that gorgeous bronze-like color and sprayed with a glossy fixative.
I like the way it turned out, just a tiny bit industrial looking but I think the spirals smoothed that out.
My friend had suggested I buy a flaring tool. I’m not sure yet what that is but I’m shopping more at hardware stores now and will find out soon enough.
Zoraida
Zoraida on artfire
Art Z Jewelry
Comments:
Aww,,,the hardware store
by: Leigh
Absolutely wonderful and hard to believe that this was general hardware pipe when you began. Another great piece.
Great piece!
by: Lynda
Zoraida, you’ve always been creative with copper wire and now adding these copper pipe pieces gives even more opportunities to explore the hardware stores for inspiration. I agree that the swirls soften the look. Perfect.
Lynda
Inovative
by: Irene
Wow, it’s amazing what you can do w/a little imagination(and a lot of creativity) I love this!
Thank you Ladies !
by: zoraida
Thank you Leigh, Lynda and Irene!
Getting these copper pipes was a whole new creative adventure. I have lots more and would love to make a bracelet but I can’t bend the tubes easily. I’d like to keep them rounded not flat, perhaps with beads somehow. I Will have to figure something out.
Cutting the pipes into small sections would be great. They would make nice spacers.
pipes and wire
by: Kate
Hi Zoraida,
another lovely piece frm you. But am so envious that you can still buy copper wire at your hardware store. I’been to ours but no joy there. When I get the time I hought I would try the demolition yards.
You did wel with your windfall.
Kate
Thanks Kate
by: zoraida
Thank you Kate,
I still have lots of pipe scraps to play with when I have time. Wire from the hardware store is great for emergencies but the thinner 24 gauge wire is not always round. It has an edge so that weaving is less than smooth. The 18 and 16 gauge were fine though.
>Copper pipe is great
by: Jane
A marvelous necklace and the pipe looks wonderful. Your work is an inspiration.
Copper pipes and wire necklace
by: Rena
I love your use and placement of the pipe pieces in this necklace.
I don’t think most people would realize they’re looking at sections of hardware-store pipe here – they are such an integral part of the design.
I imagine you making matching earrings from lengths of a smaller diameter of pipe, with at least one copper spiral somewhere on them. 🙂
Thank you for sharing this cool exploration with us!
Thank you Jane & Rena
by: zoraida
Thank you ladies for your comments!
Rena, I think that’s a good idea about the matching earrings. I don’t have smaller diameter pipe but I can cut it short (hopefully) and add a spiral somewhere.
Thanks for the suggestion 🙂
