finished some hand forged sterling bracelets today

[gunsil]

Finished a batch of sterling bracelets. First three pics are finished pieces, last two show them blanked and hammered out, stamped and annealed for final bending and hammering. All forged from square, round, triangular, and half round sterling wire stock near 1/4" wide or thick. Made in a variety of sizes to fit different wrists. Nice heavy, simple yet elegant bracelets. All were shipped off to a store upon completion.

 

[hvacker]

My wife makes jewelry and was impressed. Thanks for showing.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Nice looking...👍

 

[Chadeaux]

Nice job there gunsil! Thanks for sharing.

 

[BuffaloBob]

I am getting into rings made from coins. And I need a workbench. The jewelers kind. And have a Minelad detectoe with GOLD coil to trade +/-. Know anyone? Beautiful work.. :P
BB

 

[A2coins]

Those are really nice hope you make a good m]name for yourself and brand

 

[A2coins]

I wish I had skill to do stuff like that its frustrating

 

[dougachim]

any for sale

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

any for sale

The thread is 6 years old and there must always be a charter member involved in every sale either as a buyer or a seller.

 

[dougachim]

The thread is 6 years old and there must always be a charter member involved in every sale either as a buyer or a seller.

I am a charter member

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I am a charter member

Sorry, I wasn't implying you weren't a CM, I was pointing out thread was 6 years old and the CM comment is reminder for all members as many non-charter members try to buy or sell without a CM involved.

 

[gunsil]

Yup, it's an old post and I'm and old guy who still pounds the metal once in a while. Doug, drop me PM if you like.

TH you know I only show my work sometimes, never advertise it for sale here. Happily every piece in the photos here were sold through the store that represents my work. Bracelets like these do not sell well except in person since each one will only fit a given wrist and need to fit properly so I don't sell online or through the mail on such items anyways.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Yup, it's an old post and I'm and old guy who still pounds the metal once in a while. Doug, drop me PM if you like.

TH you know I only show my work sometimes, never advertise it for sale here. Happily every piece in the photos here were sold through the store that represents my work. Bracelets like these do not sell well except in person since each one will only fit a given wrist and need to fit properly so I don't sell online or through the mail on such items anyways.

Sir I know, we are fine.

 

[boogeyman]

View attachment 1184511View attachment 1184502View attachment 1184503View attachment 1184505View attachment 1184506

Finished a batch of sterling bracelets. First three pics are finished pieces, last two show them blanked and hammered out, stamped and annealed for final bending and hammering. All forged from square, round, triangular, and half round sterling wire stock near 1/4" wide or thick. Made in a variety of sizes to fit different wrists. Nice heavy, simple yet elegant bracelets. All were shipped off to a store upon completion.

You using/used a mandrel or the cool bending tool to shape em? The bending tool is awesome for flat stock. Definitely a gotta (gotta have it).

 

[gunsil]

Hi Boogey, I use a couple mandrels to get the proper shape and hammer them to shape with a rawhide mallet with a piece of thick stiff shoe sole leather glued to it. The rawhide itself will mar the annealed blanks so I glued on shoe leather on one end and can bang pretty hard without marring the metal. I have seen a hydraulic bracelet bending/forming machine at Rio Grande but it is several thousand dollars. I would love to have one, bending/forming these with a hammer is hard work, especially on the 1/4" thick full round and square wire. My older wrists really don't like the shock of the hammer and I was pretty sore after making that batch, I have been looking at small hydraulic presses trying to figure out how to make one like the Rio machine at a fraction of the cost since I don't produce enough to justify a several thousand dollars in equipment. I made a good size batch last spring and will make another batch in a couple months but the silver for the last batch cost twice what the metal cost for those in this thread. I think the machine Rio sells is a Bonny Doon? Is that what you refer to? Do you have one or have used one?

 

[ARC]

Well done... super nice... thanks for sharing here.

And yes i know this thread is from 15

 

[boogeyman]

Hi Boogey, I use a couple mandrels to get the proper shape and hammer them to shape with a rawhide mallet with a piece of thick stiff shoe sole leather glued to it. The rawhide itself will mar the annealed blanks so I glued on shoe leather on one end and can bang pretty hard without marring the metal. I have seen a hydraulic bracelet bending/forming machine at Rio Grande but it is several thousand dollars. I would love to have one, bending/forming these with a hammer is hard work, especially on the 1/4" thick full round and square wire. My older wrists really don't like the shock of the hammer and I was pretty sore after making that batch, I have been looking at small hydraulic presses trying to figure out how to make one like the Rio machine at a fraction of the cost since I don't produce enough to justify a several thousand dollars in equipment. I made a good size batch last spring and will make another batch in a couple months but the silver for the last batch cost twice what the metal cost for those in this thread. I think the machine Rio sells is a Bonny Doon? Is that what you refer to? Do you have one or have used one?

Like you, it's beyond the depth of my pocket. Hoping the Chinese will do a knock off. They've got $159 leather stitching machines that do as good as my friends $1200+ machine. Got more leather projects to finish
Again, darned nice work.