Hammered Copper Tube Earrings from Recycled Refrigerator Tube

by Carol Wofford.
(Halifax, VA)

I’m a self taught jewelry artist and as such am continually experimenting with new mediums.

I’ve discovered that I love working with old, broken or discarded materials that would likely be thrown away.

Yard sales and flea markets are my favorite places to shop.

This weekend I came across some old refrigerator copper tube at a moving sale and worked up these hammered earrings.

Copper tube cut in 1″ pieces and pounded flat, small brass washers, some copper wire from an old battery cable and a couple of amber crystals were my materials.

I smoothed the corners of the copper tube then added texture with a ball peen hammer to the copper tube and the brass washers.

Soldered the two pieces together and also soldered a little squiggle to the front of the copper.

Cleaned them thoroughly then pickled them, cleaned them again then buffed them.

Wired the crystal on with battery cable and made some silver ear wires.

I was going for a rustic earthy look and I like the way the crystal contrasts with the copper and brass.

Actually this was my first attempt at hammered metal and soldering.

Carol Wofford