Monogrammed Copper & Brass Cuff

by Nita Bourne.
(Enterprise, Alabama, USA)

Photoetched monogram on copper

There’s a fear factor in trying new things, but there’s also the exhilaration of getting it right. With this cuff I experimented with riveting, fold forming, and a process called photoetching. I can’t get over how well this turned out on my first attempt.

Fold formed cuff for added interest

The cuff is 1 inch x 6.75 inches and made from 22ga brass which I folded and hammered to give the cuff interest. The monogram was photoetched onto a 1 x 2 inch 22ga piece of copper. Once the photetching was done, the copper was cut into an oval and stamped around the edges. The copper was riveted to the brass and then formed into a cuff. I used liver of sulfur for the patina. After a good polishing, I added a couple of coats of Protectaclear for extra shine and protection.

Marking where the copper piece will fit and where to fold the brass

The photoetching was done with a laser printer and ferric chloride. Super simple! I followed the instructions in this article by Karen Christians https://www.ganoksin.com/article/photoetching-using-photocopy-transfer/. I can’t wait to try it on something more detailed than a monogram!

Brass after fold forming and hammering

Please don’t let fear of the unknown hold you back. Fear kills more dreams than failure ever will. This cuff was my idea, my design. I’ve never fold formed or photoetched metal before this and look how beautiful it turned out. Did I make mistakes? Of course I did! But we learn from our mistakes, that’s what make us better at what we love to do.

Nita Bourne
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