Earrings made with copper washers and copper wire
Copper washers may seem overly industrial for jewelry, but with a little manipulation, they work great. Ever since we started carrying them a couple of weeks ago, I have been experimenting and the results have been fabulous! And I have only scratched the surfaced. These washers would be great linked as bracelets, soldered together for fabulous bib necklaces or dapped into pretty dome shapes!
Everything you need to create hammered copper links: Washers, steel block, and hammers. Oh and some copper wire can add a nice touch!
I chose to distress the washers using a steel block and multiple hammers. Then I used a little liver of sulfur to blacken the washers and some steel wool to buff them up. The result is the antiqued hammered links that can be used anywhere you would use any other link.
Cool lines created by a texturizing hammer!
Hammered look created using a ball pein or chasing hammer
Look at all the pretty washers! The assortment pack is great because there are several sizes.
In the center are the earrings seen above before being antiqued!
A little liver of sulfur will easily blacken your washers since they are solid copper. These are all the same washers as above!
Earrings made with copper washers and cubic zirconia briolettes! I love the new cubic zirconia briolettes that we are carrying!
Hammered copper washers with a little chain 🙂
Two sizes of hammered washers, slightly sanded to show off the deep hammering
Well I hope you have enjoyed my washer blog! Please feel free to ask me any questions about the washers, tools or beads that I used. :0
~~Tiffany
Suggested supplies for the designs in this blog:
- Copper Washers
- Liver of Sulfur XL Gel
- Copper Earring Posts
- Copper French Hook Ear Wires
- Raw Copper Wire (14 or 16g and 20 or 22g)
- Cubic Zirconia Briolettes
- 2.8mm Cable Chain
- Assorted Copper Jump Rings and/or Solid Copper Jump Rings
Solid copper jump rings are nice, because it’s great to say that nothing in your design is plated. But they are only available in a few sizes, so I love to have the assorted copper jump ring mix on hand too, because then I always have the right size.
23 Comments
All of your earring designs are wonderful!! I love them! Thanks for the inspiring post! 🙂
I have also been using copper washers and using my ball pein hammer to give the washers a nice design to them. My question is when you do your washers do you flatten them completely or do you just hit them with the hammer enough to get a good impression all over the washer?
Another question has to do with copper wire I was using the 16 gauge like it said. I used my hammer to flatten it out to make a cuff bracelet in a zig zag pattern. It looked beautiful. The only problem I had was that my bracelet broke off in different places as I was forming the shape of the cuff
Hi Christy,
Just hit them enough to get a nice pattern all over the washer. And for your 2nd question: hammering copper work-hardens it. If you work-harden it “just enough”, it’s a good thing: it helps the bracelet keep its shape. But if you work-harden it too much, you discovered the bad part: it will snap, just like when you bend the tab of a soda can back and forth until it breaks. I suggest that you flatten your zig zags on an oval bracelet mandrel instead of flat and then trying to curve it into a cuff afterwards. Most mandrels are big (about a foot long), heavy and expensive to ship, but this style is small, lightweight and inexpensive to ship: https://www.rings-things.com/Products/Bracelet-Tools/Artistic-Wire-Oval-Sizing-Drum.html
–Polly
Where did you find the washers. Home Depot did not have them near me.
Thanks.
Hi Danaa! Copper washers are available in our online store: https://www.rings-things.com/Products/Washers-and-Decorative-Washers/Raw-Copper-Washer-Assortment-80pc.html
But I just noticed we are currently out of stock (they’ve been selling like mad!). Here’s a hack to get a notification (https://www.rings-things.com/faq/#backorders) if you’d like to be emailed when they are back in stock.
Hi, Tiffany,
Wow! These are amazing!!!! I can’t wait to order and get started. I am trying to find all the supplies needed for the earrings with the chains. Can you please send me the list of items I need to purchase? Thanks so much!!!!
Hi Rebecca,
I believe the items are:
40-099-29-8 (2.8mm flattened cable chain)
37-178-7 (10mm jump ring)
65-405 (copper washer assortment)
37-136-7 (5mm copper jump ring)
34-362-7 (French hook ear wire)
You can find them at https://www.rings-things.com/Products/
And for texturing the washers, a ball pein hammer: 69-135
If the 37-136-7 antiqued 5mm jump ring is out of stock, you could go for 37-136-6 (bright copper), or the 6mm 37-145-7
I have been trying to figure out what tool to use to create the that raised circle texture. In the photo with the caption, “Look at all the pretty washers! The assortment pack is great because there are several sizes.” I am referring to the washers on the bottom left of the photo. How do you do that?
Thanks so very much. Denise
Hi Denise, I’m not sure any more, but there is a nice mix of textures with this texture hammer: https://www.rings-things.com/Products/Hammers-and-Mallets/12-Face-Texture-Hammer-by-the-Beadsmith.html . ~ Rita
Do you have a list of supplies for the 1st, 2nd & 4th pair of earrings? I would love to find out what I need.
Thank You
Kathy
Love!
Do you hammer both sides of the washer?? These are beautiful and I am trying them now.
Hi Deb,
I usually hammer both sides, but you can hammer just one if you prefer.
One issue is that when you hammer the 2nd side, the marks on the first side can get a bit flattened, so you need to do a little on each side, and then a bit more on each side, and then sometimes a final bit of touch up on each side.
~Polly
These are fabulous! I have been wanting a texturizing hammer & the copper washers are cool!
Some gorgeous inspirational designs. Thank you for sharing this.
Can you send me the list of supplies for the copper washers and cubic zirconia briolettes earrings? We are doing a girl’s project and they are perfect!
Hi Cyndi,
Copper Ear Wires
Raw Copper Jump Rings or an antiqued copper jump ring assortment
Copper Washers
Wire (any of the sizes listed / linked above)
Cubic Zirconia or gemstone Briolettes or crystal briolettes.
–Polly
Hi, these are fabulous. When making the earrings, what type of copper wire do you use? The kind you flattened and what gauge. You do wonderful work. thank you for sharing your ideas and knowledge of jewelry making!
Hi Melissa,
For the heavier gauge copper wire, Tiffany prefers either 14-g or 16-g, and for the thinner wire, she prefers either 20-g or 22-g. All can be found at: http://www.rings-things.com/Products/Copper-Wire/
~Polly
Hi Tiffany,
I am looking for brass or silver washers to stamp and use for making bracelets. The washer would lay flat on the wrist and be in contact with the skin. I went to Home Depot as others have recommended to find these supplies but noticed the washer came with a hazard warning! so I did not purchase them. What metal should I look for that can be stamped and will be perfectly safe to use in jewelry making where it will be in direct contact with the skin on a daily basis ??
Diane B.
Hi Diane,
Sterling Silver is safest, of the metals that you’re likely to find in washer-shaped and -sized components. We have one sterling washer-shaped blank, but it’s quite a bit more expensive that what you’d find in the hardware store: http://www.rings-things.com/Products/Sterling-Silver-Metal-Stamping-Blanks/Sterling-Silver-Stamping-Blank-Ring-22mm.html
I would say that copper is next on the list of safety (although it’s not in your list of colors). Sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Very few people are allergic to either silver or copper, and copper is occasionally used as cookware and drinkware. However, copper can turn your skin green (where it fits tightly).
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Zinc is a food supplement you can buy, but in excess amounts it can be toxic. Brass has a lot of copper, and can turn your skin green (where it fits tightly).
Aluminum has been associated with a memory disorder, but it’s also commonly used for food storage, and it is lightweight and easy to stamp. I personally don’t like the feel of it touching my skin, but I like upcycling fun found aluminum objects in ways that keep the aluminum protected (it scratches easily) and also keep it from touching my skin (sandwiching it between layers, with windows).
Nickel silver is a common metal used in inexpensive jewelry. But since many people are allergic to nickel, it’s best to use it in layers that don’t rest directly on the skin.
Stainless steel usually has a high nickel content (usually 8-10%) so although stainless steel is popular for jewelry, not everyone can wear it (and you can’t sell it in the UK due to the nickel ban for jewelry).
Of metals that you’re likely to find at the hardware store, you are probably best off with copper washers and brass washers. Find a nice witty way to explain that yes, they may turn you green on a hot day (right where the washer rests), but that means it’s solid copper (or brass), not some plating that will wear off.
Here are our washers and washer-style jewelry blanks: http://www.rings-things.com/Products/Washers-and-Decorative-Washers/
–Polly
These are very cool! Do you put any kind of coating on the copper to prevent further oxidation? What if I kept the copper raw, do you recommend a certain type of coating?
Thanks
There are a few options, and the one big drawback to all of them, is that they have shipping restrictions. Since 9/11, all shipping methods that use airplanes for any portion of the route, refuse to carry flammable items, and sometimes there are also restrictions on liquids in general. So, if you can’t find these items locally, be prepared to pay extra to ship them via UPS Ground.
Here are our hand-picked favorites:
https://www.rings-things.com/Products/Sealants-and-Glazes/
Ren Wax, when used properly, is a good sealant. You just have to be careful not to accidentally clean your surface with it while trying to seal it. And, it may need multiple coats applied, especially when used on a “high friction” piece of jewelry (that gets rubbed by skin or clothing a lot). So it’s best for earrings or big showy bracelets that aren’t worn daily.
Envirotex and other similar spray sealers are also good choices. (But all sealants are longer lasting on things like earrings.)
Nikolas Clear Spray Lacquer is the most popular among jewelers. It’s pricier than Envirotex, but is excellent for metals. (It’s been used by concert / traveling musicians for decades, to protect brass and other metal musical instruments.)
All of these require some practice, so try them on a few pieces that aren’t your favorites, before you put them on your perfect piece.
–Polly, Rings & Things