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Rustic Copper Cuffs

by Zoraida.
(Patchogue, New York USA)

We have a small, Japanese, iron bell in our garden that had a wind catcher attached to capture the breeze and make it ring. As a result of stormy Irene passing through, the paper was torn off.

I decided to create a wind catcher out of thin copper sheet. It worked out beautifully and gave me an idea! Why not made a copper bracelet using sheet?

Since the sheet is quite thin, I folded it over itself three or four times until it felt substantial. I then textured it with my chasing hammer until it was stiff and I was satisfied.

I folded a 3/4″ section at each end, inserted a handmade clasp of brass wire between the fold.

It was then curved on a marble kitchen roller and pounded some more to shape it, then squished slightly to make it oval.

It was almost done! After dipping it in LOS, rubbing it with steel wool, buffing it with a polishing cloth I sealed with with a fixative.

Wow, that was fun! I made several bracelets.

The first one sold just hours after I listed it.

Now to cover the roofs on my birdhouses in copper.

zoraida
Zoraida on artfire
Zoraida on zibbet

Comments:

Wishing it would not have sold
by: Leigh

The cuff is great but I wish it would not have sold since I would have bought it up in a minute.

Leigh
by: zoraida

Thank you Leigh for your comments. Actually I’ve made several cuffs by now. They are on sale in my Artfire shop.

http://zoraida.artfire.com

OOOH!
by: Lynda

Oooh…I like this very much. Especially the wrapped edging.
Great job, Zoraida.

Wonderful
by: Irene

This is a terrific looking cuff. Great job!!

Love your clasp!
by: Anonymous

Hi, Zoraida. I absolutely love your cuff, especially the clasp. I am fairly new to metalsmithing, and am almost finished with what will be a bracelet, made of several organically shaped sections of hand hammered and oxidized copper. To the top of each of the copper sections, I riveted smaller hammered and oxidized, organically shaped sterling pieces, and if I must say so myself, it has come out quite attractive. My one problem is the clasp. Since I have formed everything else on the bracelet, I want to make my own copper clasp, but have been at a loss at what to do……..that is, until I saw yours. Would you mind telling me what gauge brass wire you used to create your hook and eye clasp? I’m a novice at making clasps, so I need as much info as I can get. Thanks!
Joan

Thank you ladies!
by: zoraida

Thank you ladies for your comments. I greatly appreciate your feedback. It keeps me creating!

I made the clasp with 14 gauge round copper or brass wire (the brass one was really hard to do). I wanted a clasp that would fit the rustic look of the cuff.

Luv copper
by: handstrung

Such lovely work. One question, on one of your cuffs, it looks like you created a wire wrapped bezel to set some beads onto the cuff? Would love to know how you created that? Thanks for sharing..

Thank you Handstrung
by: zoraida

On my beaded rustic cuff I had punched 2 holes for each bead into the cuff.

I threaded a bead with 24 gauge wire, inserted the wire into the cuff and wrapped the end of the wire several times around the bead.

The ends were secured by inserting them back into the hole before cutting off the wire and tucking it in.

I hope you can visualize this. Maybe I’ll write a tutorial for this and post it on my blog. http:artzjewelry.wordpress.com

Question on sheet
by: NanC

Love the cued by the way but was most interested in how you folded the sheets so they erwent visible…
I make a lot of pattern copper wire ( making brass templates throughout etching).
I have some one ” wide copper stock but I think it’s needs to be heavier. Would you mind sharing howb you put the pieces together?

Sincerely,
Nab

copper cuff
by: zoraida

Hi NanC.

The copper sheet was folded as you would fold a piece of paper, sort of rolling it. Then I would stop at the desired width (about 1 1/2″ in this case) and form a crease. I continue this process 2 or 3 times ending with the last section in the middle of the fold.

The edge of the fold will be inside the cuff. After hammering it a while, the edge is almost invisible on the outside.

If you have a bracelet mandrel, that is great. You can use it while you hammer the cuff. I don’t have one so I used a marble rolling pin from my kitchen.

The texture on the outside of the cuff hides any edges from the folding.

Copper Cuff
by: Nan

Thanks.. That’s what I thought.. Just wanted to be sure.
I’ ve got a ton of cuff materials.. Copper, silver, brass and stainless. I texture some myself with hammers but havespent a lot of time making pattern plates for my rolling mill.
Again love the cuff!
Nan

Great Information!

by: Highglowonline@http://www.highglowonline.com

Great blog , waiting for more information..