Silver Wire Fusing

Liz Jones
 TO O L S AN D E Q U I PM E NT

Deceptively 5 mm, 10 mm, 17 mm, 27 mm mandrels

Wire cutters (I recommend Lindstrom

Simple Necklace or horse cutters)

Stainless-steel work surface
Firebrick

You’ll receive endless compliments when you Butane microtorch

Hot-pliers
wear this quick and easy necklace. It looks much Quenching bowl
Bench block
more impressive than the time it took to whip it
Chasing hammer
up. Destined to become a signature piece, it goes 2-hole metal punch
Tumbler and stainless-steel shot
with everything. Pick any bead you want to link the
components together. YO U ’ LL N E E D :
Fused rings:
Small: One 5mm, 12 gauge
Medium-small: One 10mm, 12 gauge
Medium-large: One 17mm, 12 gauge
Large: One 27mm, 12 gauge
12" (30.5 cm) of 22-gauge sterling silver wire
1 bead. Pictured: 12mm nugget fire
polished glass, chartreuse
36" (91.4 cm) of 2mm waxed cotton cord
One 3mm sterling silver cord clasp
(there should be 2 components: a hook and
an eye-cord end)

Need to Know
Making the cut (page 23)
Fusing a ring (page 26)
Hammering metal (page 27)
Tumbling (page 27)
Wire wrapping a loop (page 118)
1 2

Step 1: Close and fuse all 4 rings separately.

Step 2: Hammer flat and texture.

Step 3:  sing the small bit of 2-hole punch, line up in center of

U
flattened wire (Figure 1).

Step 4: T wist the bit down until it punches through the metal.
Gently twist the bit back (don’t ever pull the metal off;
this is likely to break the bit!) until the metal falls off.

Step 5: Tumble all rings for 30 minutes.

Step 6: J oin all together with 22-gauge sterling large wire wrap
(Figure 2).
 3

Step 7: Add a bead and create a wire-wrapped loop above the bead.

Step 8:  ut cord to length (here: two 18" lengths [45.7 cm]) and insert
C
each end of the cord into a cord clasp. Using the tips of chain-
nose pliers, crimp the middle of the clasp. Slip on your fused
pendant and repeat crimping for the second half of the clasp
(Figure 3).
PROJEC T GALLERY

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Livin’ Large Hammered

Pendant
 SilverWire FuSing
Learn to use your fuse CONTENTS:
and create stunning 1 Tools and Materials
The Essential Materials

silver jewelry! Setting Up Your Work Space

2 Fusing Fundamentals
Jewelry Studio: Silver Wire Fusing is a step-by- Wielding Your Torch
step guide to a no-muss no-fuss version of Filling Your Torch
Lighting Your Torch
silversmithing. Since less equipment is required— Practice:
fine silver is heated with a torch to fuse it Ball Head Pins
Making the Cut
without solder—it is a cost-effective way to learn Fusing a Ring
basic metalsmithing skills. Even the most basic Hammering Metal
beginner will find silver fusing fun, easy to master, Tumbling and Professional Finishing
Basic Chain
and extremely inspiring. Best of all, you can make Fusing Chain
stunning projects right on your kitchen table! Fusing and Assembling Fine Silver
Fusing with Cubic Zirconia Beads
Working with a Briolette
First, get to know the tools needed for fusing,
then explore all the basic skills. Along the way 3 Putting It All Together
Cha-Cha Earrings
learn professional tips and tricks to make your Arm Candy Oval Bracelet
experience fun, safe, and successful. Once you’ve Wormhole Earrings
Black Tie Cubic Zirconia Necklace
mastered the basics, follow the step-by-step
photos to create beautiful bracelets, necklaces, 4 Taking It to the Next Level
earrings, and more in no time! Heart Attack Hammered Bracelet
Livin’ Large Hammered Pendant
Coiled, Embellished, and Hammered Rings
Blingin’ Button Ring
Textured Band
Liz Jones is a workshop teacher and buyer for Fusion
Coiled Ring
Beads in Seattle and has been designing her own Sizing Formula for Rings
jewelry since 2001. Her designs have been featured Angled Dangle Earrings
in Stringing magazine. She specializes in a variety Totally Money Stamped Bracelet
of techniques including wire wrapping, chain mail, Deceptively Simple Necklace
Shooting Star Earrings
basic beading, Viking knit, and silver fusing.
Keys to My Heart Keychain
Thai One On Component Necklace
Paperbound, 8½ x 9, 120 pages
My Mom’s Favorite CZ Earrings
90 photographs, 271 illustrations
Bike Chain Bracelet
ISBN 978-1-59668-066-1
Two-Tone Gold Chain Bracelet
$22.95
In Orbit Earrings
April 2008
Going Organic Necklace

The Gallery
Basic Techniques
Interweave Press LLC is distributed to the book trade in the U.S. and Canada by Independent Publishers Group, in the UK and Europe Resources
by Search Press, in New Zealand by David Bateman, Ltd, and in Australia by Keith Ainsworth Pty, Ltd. Interweave Press LLC is also the
publisher of 14 craft magazines including Beadwork, Step by Step Beads, Step by Step Wire Jewelry, Jewelry Artist, and Stringing.