Making a Bumblebee Pendant: A Silversmithing Tutorial

This tutorial shows how to make a fun Bumblebee pendant with Amber and Black Onyx. This is an intermediate level project. For materials, I used 14 (1.6 mm) and 18 (1.02 mm) gauge sterling round wire, and 16 (1.3 mm) and 10 (2.59 mm) gauge sterling square wire, 18 (1.02 mm) and 26 (.41 mm) gauge sterling sheet, number 4 low dome sterling (5.89 mm) half round, and 3/16 inch (4.76 mm) fine silver bezel in 26 (.41 mm) gauge. As always, I use hard silver sheet solder and My-T-Flux.
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It is important to use safe practices when dealing with fire, sharp tools, and chemicals. Here is a video on safety: • General Silversmithing...
I enjoy sharing my knowledge with others, as I've taught people for most of my life. This hobby turned into a fun side gig for me for years while I taught public school. I love suggestions and hearing about others' experiences. What is your favorite project? What kind of tutorials would you find useful? Scroll down for information on my new Patreon!
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Chad Parker
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#setting #bugs #creativejewelry #intermediate #pendantdesigns #pendants #bumblebee #bezelsetting #amber #blackonyx #onyx #pendant #necklace #necklaces #insects #entomology
Make an insect pendant
Amber and Onyx Bee Pendant tutorial
Bumblebee and honeycomb pendant
Making Silver Jewelry
Making Jewelry
make jewelry at home
make a silver ring
make silver jewelry
jewelry tutorial

[@lishal1625]

Love your work! I just found your channel a week ago. I have been working my way through your extensive list of videos. I am in awe of all your expertise!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Lishal! What a nice thing to say:)

[@ameliasphotography3406]

looking for the HEART icon! Dam Chad you outdid yourself on this one! I love it! Thank you so much! ❤ I am making a bee themed necklace right at the moment. So now I have to make this to go with it.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Send a pic to my instagram when you get done. I’d love to see it:)

[@ameliasphotography3406]

@@chadssilversmithing I would love to but I don't have Instagram any more. Just facebook. Can I send it to you on Facebook?

[@susanvisser616]

Such a cool idea with the amber and stripes for the body! The color also resembles honey 😊

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Susan! I was pleased with how this one turned out:)

[@wag4940]

Just getting started on learning the basics of silver Smithing and I've been trying to find a video showing the design process. Super helpful!!!! Thanks!!!!!!

[@chadssilversmithing]

You're welcome Wag! Glad it was helpful:)

[@betojdesigns]

I absolutely love this Chad. All the detail makes it so realistic. I believe I mentioned to you I made a dragonfly once that was featured on the HGTV show “That’s Clever”. It’s Super fun making bugs.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Van:). I like doing bugs too!

[@Gazz_R]

Wow! that's absolutely gorgeous! The Bee is the Symbol of Manchester, my home city. The slotted bezel for the stripes, and Edie's idea for an hexagon bail, are pure genius. Out of all the pieces you've made, this one is my new fave. Awesome work Chad and thanks for sharing.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you Gazz! I’m glad you like it:)

[@Gazz_R]

@@chadssilversmithing Love it!

[@rockkris]

Stunning! Great idea with the stripes under the transparent stone.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you Rockkris! I was pleased with how this one turned out:)

[@kristibbradshaw]

This is the cutest bee. I love it. Thank you.

[@chadssilversmithing]

No, thank you Kristi!

[@kristibbradshaw]

@@chadssilversmithing I’m sorry., thank, you kind sir.

[@guntherclemenz7416]

A very good work and design! It`s very good stones and the silverconstruction is not so easy to make; especially the oichsoldering. Günther Clemenz

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Günther! What does oichsoldering mean?

[@jeannettesalazar6442]

The pendant looks so cute. ❤😊

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks! I was pleased with how this one turned out:)

[@jeannettesalazar6442]

Love your idea and the 🐝 . Thanks 😊

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you Jeannette!

[@bavariangirl123]

You have the BEST ideas!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you Bavariangirl!

[@lindahamlik6023]

OMG how cute is this! Can’t wait to try it

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Linda!

[@flyingcheff]

Thanks!

[@chadssilversmithing]

That’s very generous Flying Chef! Thank you:)

[@flyingcheff]

Chad, most groovy insect! So cool! Love the layered lacy wings, such nice design! I'm watching you file against the mitre vise at the moment. I'm thinking the safe edge on the #2 cut flat hand file would slide over that really well. Have you tried my favorite file yet? I put a hardwood handle on mine. Super loving yhis project, wow! Also, what are your thoughts on the honeycomb board? Is it an improvement? If so, what do you like about it? I'm considering a larger one.... And how did you get the stripes to be black under the amber? Did you oxidise? Ps. Love those buggy toes! 😂 Ok, Pps: iO got so excited when you said, "There's probably enough solder.....so let's see how it goes..." and started heating. And then, came the "but just in case...". I was laughing out loud! 😂😅 Do you have soldering dreams/nightmares? I have. 🌺 🌺 🌺

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks. I think this may be my favorite bug piece to date:). I think I like the ceramic boards. They stay flat longer which is nice, and the holes are handy for pins. I do keep losing little balls of solder down the holes:). I totally haven’t tried the file yet, but I’ll give it a try tomorrow. The dark stripes are actually the spaces between the shiny square wires which are reflecting light back at you through the Amber. As far as nightmares about soldering, less about that, and more about trying to find a tiny stone on my messy floor:)

[@jwon5614]

Love this piece, it’s gorgeous!!! Your work always is so inspirational! Thank you😊💞🥰 Do you use propane for your torch?

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Jwon! I use an Acetylene/Air torch.

[@moverton0613]

Could you do a project showing how to make a basket/cage for a stone. I've been trying to make a cage to hold an Apache tear to no avail. I love all of your videos. How does one become a patreon?

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello Moverton! This one features kind of a twist cage. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jn6sppl-o6eoa6ssi=jBoyb0tE1UdZ52Pe. This one features a mesh container for a crystal or other item. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHWZeWx8hs6foacsi=z6LzBDpRSghN5qJF. In the video description is a link to my Patreon site, as well as some information on the different tiers. Hope this helps:)

[@user-ro7lp7rc9j]

HI Chad! This is one of my favorite projects from you, it's perfect! I just got my metal smithing table set up finally after moving. This will be a great get back into it project I love it! Question, what flux dropper are you using? What soldering pick are you using? And last, do you have a video on how to make the hexagon bail? Thanks!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello Andrea! A subscriber sent the dropper to me. I believe she got it from Amazon. Here's a similar one: a.co/d/0d3yrpVT. The pick is from PepeTools. My affiliate link in the video description will get you there. The hex bail is just a variation of the round one in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHmUo6WAh7t7e5Isi=UR-OCwsBQi7HEshK. Nice to hear from you:)

[@user-ro7lp7rc9j]

@@chadssilversmithing Thanks Chad :)!

[@MHarsha-rz7jl]

❤❤❤❤🎉

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you MHarsha!

[@dr.helgamiehlepag5888]

😍🤩

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Dr. Helga!

[@ameliasphotography3406]

Great video! One question , Can you share a link or suggestion on a set of affordable files to start out with. I have some needle files but have not purchased any larger ones yet. Thank you! I can not wait to make this bee!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks! I honestly just use a Nicholson mill bastard file. Nothing very fancy. These are usually available at local hardware stores. Hope this helps:)

[@flyingcheff]

Hi, kindly butting in with a suggestion: a #2 Swiss cut flat hand file with a safe edge (no teeth on one side edge)) is my favorite- I use it constantly. It's smaller than Chad's big bad bastard file and costs about $20. You can find it at Rio but there are many other options. Frederich Dick files or even a Titan-Vallorbe file will be your best friend. Get one #2 (Swiss cut, not German - German are coarser) cut ring file (half round) and you'll have all you really need. As they say, you get what you pay for, Buy once, cry once. Also, files don't like flux or water, clean up before using a good file. Totally my opinion, not bossing anyone around, ever!! 😂Good luck!

[@ameliasphotography3406]

@@chadssilversmithing Ok Thank you so much! I will check my local hardware store for a Big Bastard file!

[@ameliasphotography3406]

@@flyingcheff That is fine do not apologize. Thank you so much for sharing your opinion!

[@guntherclemenz7416]

This is a mistake; here I mean picksoldering Günther Clemenz

[@chadssilversmithing]

I thought that was what you meant:)