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Mixed Metal Industrial Pendant Tutorial

by Rena Klingenberg.

This funky industrial pendant can be worn by guys or gals.

It costs practically nothing to make – you only need 4 washers and a small piece of wire (I used scrap wire).

Supplies:

• 4 washers (available at hardware / home improvement stores) – in a variety of sizes and metals.
• 1 piece of 16-gauge round wire, 3.75″ (9.5 cm) long (I used a piece of brass wire from my scrap pile).

  

• Wire cutter that’s made to handle 16-gauge wire.
• Cup bur or knife sharpening stone to smooth your wire ends.
• Round-nose pliers (don’t use your best pliers on 16-gauge wire, unless they’ve been manufactured to handle that gauge).
• Flat-nose pliers (again, use pliers that are made to handle 16-gauge wire).
• Ruler.
• Metal hammer.
• Steel jeweler’s block or other sturdy, smooth surface for hammering.

  

How to Make this Mixed Metal Industrial Pendant:

Cut your wire to 3.75″ (9.5 cm) long.

Use your cup bur or knife sharpening stone to smooth and round the ends of your wire:

We’re going to turn this piece of wire into an industrial-looking bail for the pendant.

Make a plain wire loop on one end of your wire (if you’re new to making loops, or had trouble making them in the past, see my 2-minute video How to Make a Plain Wire Loop).

Make the loop around the fattest part of your round nose pliers’ jaw:

Make a plain wire loop on the other end of your wire:

Now your wire should look like this:

Using your hammer and steel block, give your wire a good pounding on both sides to flatten it (your loops will come open as you hammer, but you can easily close them after you’re done hammering):

Now your wire should look like this:

Use your ruler to find the middle of your wire.

Then use your round nose pliers to fold your wire in half at that midpoint, over the fattest part of your round nose pliers’ jaw:

Now thread your biggest washer onto your wire bail:

Add your next-biggest washer on top of that:

Finally, add your smallest washer on top of the first two:

Now use your flat nose pliers to slightly bend each of your wire loops outward:

Now if you press the loops together with your flat nose pliers, the loops should be able to lie nicely together:

Use your flat nose pliers to twist open the loops on your bail, so you can add the washer “jump ring”:

Insert your final washer into the opened wire loops of your bail, and twist the loops closed again:

Add a chain or leather cord, and your mixed metal industrial pendant is ready to wear!

Ideas for Variations:

If you’re making this pendant as a gift, you might want to do some metal stamping on one or more of the washers (if you’re new to stamping, see my easy Metal Stamping Tutorial).

You could stamp:

• the name of their favorite team
• the names of their children
• a word or quote that’s meaningful to them
• a significant date
• their graduation year (for high school / college students)

Want to Learn the Basics of
Designing Your Own Wire Jewelry?

In my Design and Make Artistic Jewelry Components video class, you’ll learn how to get great ideas for wire jewelry designs – and then follow my easy system for turning those ideas into successful pieces of jewelry.

By the end of this online video class, you’ll be designing and making your own artistic earwires, clasps, connectors, and pendant bails.

You’ll also learn my tips for making wire jewelry more easily, with more professional looking results.