I have noticed bullet casing jewelry trending for awhile now. And I love it! It has a rustic, masculine feel. I also love etching metal with ferric chloride acid, something I have been doing for the last couple of years. Etching bullet casings seemed like the next logical step. I thought they would be a great gift for Dad (or Mom, depending on how you make them)! So round up your bullet casings and let me show you how to make these awesome necklaces!
Supplies needed:
- Bullet Casings (drilled with a hand drill on the ends to create a hole)
- Permanent Marker
- Baking Soda
- Scotch Tape
- Plastic Container
- Penny Brite Cleaner
- Ferric Chloride Acid
- Sanding Pads
- Novacan Black
- 20g Vintaj Bronze Wire
- Antique Brass Cable Chain
- Antique Brass Jump Rings
- Antique Brass Lobster Clasp
- 8mm Gemstone Bead
Tools:
If you’ve never etched metal with ferric chloride acid before, I highly recommend you read the two blogs linked here for techniques and safety before you get started:
Or make a stamped, more feminine version for her!
To make a stamped version the process is very similar. Instead of applying the image by hand, we will use rubber stamps and permanent ink. Follow the simple steps below to make this version.
Well I hope you enjoyed learning how to etch bullets! It is really so much fun, and a way to turn something otherwise considered trash, into a pretty piece of jewelry! ~Tiffany
13 Comments
Can you use this method on nickel shell casings as well?
Hi April,
We haven’t tried it, so we’re not sure. It depends on what the alloy of nickel is — how much copper and other stuff is in the nickel alloy, since it’s the copper portion that’s actually being etched.
Our nickel silver sheet is Nickel silver 770-H02. ASTM B122, so it is 55% Copper, 27% Zinc, and 18% Nickel. Brass cartidges are usually about 70% copper, and 29.7% zinc and the rest can be trace elements. This is about the same as our brass sheet. The nickel silver etches slower than the brass cartridges or sheet, because it has less copper. I usually leave my nickel in the ferric chloride etchant about 30-60 minutes longer than the brass.
If you have the ASTM # or other cryptic phrases that your nickel cartridges are made of, you can google them along with the word “alloy” to find technical websites that will tell you how much copper is in that type of nickel.
I have tried the nickel casings and it has dissolved my casings. I am using an diluted mixure and within the same time frame as my other bullets it dissolves them, and turns my other bullets an copper color.
How do you keep the bullet from slipping when rolling it on the stamp? I’ve been trying for 2 days now, and it just slips and smears the ink… any tips?
Hi Bobby,
Excellent question. There is no easy answer… other than skipping the stamp completely, and free-hand drawing designs on the casing.
When I stamp casings, I place a fingertip at each end and slowly roll it along the stamp with one continuous motion. I let it dry completely, even if the stamping isn’t ‘perfect’. I remove excess from the smeary areas using tiny dabbers moistened with rubbing alcohol. I re-touch as needed using a fine point permanent marker.
Hope this helps!
Sondra
Does the scotch tape go on over the entire bullet? And does it stay on while in the acid.
Hi Kat,
To see how the scotch tape is used, take a look at the image that has this caption “After you get the design you like, use scotch tape to seal the top of the bullet casings.” and then also click on the image below it, to view a close-up.
The scotch tape is being used to seal off the bullet casing so you don’t get ferric chloride inside the bullet casing.
~Polly
I have done several casings using different soaking times and they all come out scratchy looking where there is no design. Is this normal? I’ve switched over to fresh ferric chloride and shortened the time only to get a very light etched image with scratchy inlay. I’ve left it in longer and gotten a better etched image still to only get a scratchy inlay. Any suggestions?
Hi Charlene, If you take a close look at our photos, I think you’ll see the same thing. So in my mind, this is normal, and while at first it bothered me, now I like the look and I take it into consideration when planning my design.
However, I believe you can eliminate it if you constantly (gently) agitate the container while it is etching. I haven’t tried to do this, but I’ve considered setting it on a washing machine that’s in use (and keeping an eye on it so it doesn’t wiggle off), or perhaps some more sophisticated method of keeping it lightly agitated while etching.
–Polly
You could also use a bubbler from a fish tank that would move the water around to avoid those
Any ideas on sealing the casings? This technique is amazing and tutorial was extremely easy to follow. I’m just finding I’m still getting the black from the novacan on my fingers when handling. Tried washing them and they started tarnishing. Maybe a quick spray with a clear spray paint?
Hi Bethany,
After applying the Novacan Black Patina to metal items, I polish off all the high spots; this leaves the patina mostly in the crevices. By finishing the patinaed surface in this method, I don’t have issues with the blackened surface coming off. I use both a 3M sanding sponge and a EuroTool ultra polishing pad to achieve this finish.
3M Sanding Sponges:
http://www.rings-things.com/Products/Jewelry-Files-and-Sanding-Tools/3M-Sanding-Sponges-800-1000-Grit.html
http://www.rings-things.com/Products/Jewelry-Files-and-Sanding-Tools/3M-Sanding-Sponges-1200-1500-Grit.html
EuroTool Ultra Polishing Pads:
http://www.rings-things.com/Products/Cleaners-and-Polishers/EURO-TOOL-Polishing-Pads-Ultra-2×2.html
If you are wanting to finish your pieces with a heavier patina, you can try sealing them. The spray-on lacquer type are probably the easiest to achieve a professional finish. As with any technique, doing some test pieces is worth the extra time.
Here are a variety of sealers:
http://www.rings-things.com/Products/GlazOn-Protective-Layer/
(Please note that some items, such as the spray-on finishes, require shipping by UPS Ground.)
I hope this helps!
Mollie Valente
Rings & Things
May I ask what caliber bullet casing you are using for the 13mm brios? Hubby & his friends are enthusiasts, so I have access to lots of casings, but before I order Swarovski, I would like to be sure they fit.