Melted Sterling Silver Cuff Bracelet Tutorial

Jewelry making tutorial. Handmade cuff bracelet made by melting sterling silver on top of copper.
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[@kennethtaylor7892]

Safety first. Never wear gloves when polishing or grinding. Nice bracelet. Neat concept.

[@debbiejohnson4034]

I made this cuff and I love it! Thank you for your tutorial! Wish I could show you a photo. Very happy 😁

[@susanadams5312]

This is an excellent project for right now, with the current rising silver prices. And I get to use my scrap silver! Looks beautiful. Thank you for this video!

[@debbiejohnson4034]

So excited to try to make your bracelet next week. I love the idea of copper inside and the melted sterling outside. I’m pretty new at silversmithing but love it. Thank you for your video!

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

Good luck have fun and I am sure it will turn out very nice.

[@debbiejohnson4034]

I finally made a copy of your cuff bracelet and I love it. Did you coat the inside copper with anything to prevent it and me from turning green? I’d send you a photo but I don’t know how. I am a beginner and It’s my first project in well over a year so it’s a bit rough but I still love it, so thanks again for your video.

[@dawnsaavedra1504]

you are so talented. what gauge of copper did you start with?

[@rondaleblanc2374]

Thank you for another fantastic tutorial. The cuff is beautiful!

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

Thank you Ronda

[@susane945]

Fabulous! Thanks for sharing your work. 😊🌸

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

My pleasure 😊

[@patredden4557]

Beautiful, thanks for sharing.

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

Thank you

[@stlounsbury]

That is beautiful.

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

thank you Susan

[@johnmimist]

Fabulous!!! Thank you!

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

You are so welcome!

[@debbiejohnson4034]

I sent a question, but just saw your reply to someone else regarding coating the copper recommendations thanks

[@debbiejohnson4034]

@@olavosterling6731 Hello! I did make the cuff bracelet with melted silver on copper, it turned out great, yes 9 ct gold would be really nice. I will try to make another. Silver shavings worked best, any thick pieces of silver is too hard to melt on the copper. I did not use flux. Gold melted on top of a silver cuff would be gorgeous. I’m trying to figure out how to add a photo here! Sorry.

[@debbiejohnson4034]

@@olavosterling6731 did you mean add silver to the underside? No, I really like the copper showing. I wish I could figure out how to add a photo!

[@debbiejohnson4034]

@@olavosterling6731 I responded but it’s gone. I love your idea of gold on silver! I’m going to try it! I understand what you are saying though. I found very thin shavings melt faster & better. I did not use flux. When I tried to use flux the silver melted too smooth not giving me the texture I was after. My cuff, the silver over copper turned out really nice I love it. Can’t figure out how to post a photo. Sorry.

[@giorgiodeste8023]

O really like your style, 👍

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

Thank you!

[@ristorinne5817]

Very nice technique and cuff. I have started to make as hobby silver rings with 3D printer and silver casting and also i make leather cuffs. I have always wanted to make a wide silver cuff. With this technique i save a lot of silver when the majority of this cuff is copper. Thank you for this tip. I wonder, how can i prevent the copper to stain my skin? You would think that the copper starts to oxidize when in contact with air and sweating skin. Thank you for possible answer.

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

Copper does react with a lot of peoples skin leaving a greenish brown residue that should be able to be removed with soap and water. One can use things like renaissance wax, but that needs to be reapplied every so often as it wears away. Clear nail polish also works, and there are other methods and products that will form a barrier to prevent oxidization of the copper.

[@annelandgraf1184]

Thanks for sending me the link to this video. It is a lovely cuff! One question: have you ever tried dropping other pieces of scrap onto the melted, liquid silver for additional texture?

[@sharonbryant8045]

Great tutorial. Could a small cab be soldered to the top?

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

Yes but tricky because the surface is not flat

[@dianneharris2234]

What was the aggressive wheel that you used to smooth the bracelet? Where donI purchase? Thanks Dianne

[@kasie680]

I want that!!!

[@amiaubrey6167]

How thick is the copper please

[@TheSingular1]

I really loved it! Beautiful piece! Do you think it could be done using german silver instead of copper? Should I try using flux in that case? Thank you for teaching us this great technique.

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

I have never worked with German Silver but to determine if it would substitute check the melting point of german silver, and in this case the melting temp of sterling silver, sterling silver would need to have a lower melting temp which it does ( I just checked ), so I believe it would work. PS I don't think you need flux.

[@TheSingular1]

@@patcahillmetalworks322 Thank you very much, really. Melting point of german silver is really high, higher than silver, brass or copper. German silver is very common for us in Southamerica. I only wonder if oxidation of german silver (by heating) could make that silver does not stick apropiately to the base. I could see, in copper, it doesn´t happen. :) Otherwise, I will do it on copper. Hope I can reach such a beautiful piece as de one you showed us in this video (or close). Thank you very much . Your pieces are really beautiful.

[@turkey0165]

Have you considered using a roll press to make your silver cuff Bracelets! My jeweler uncle used one for decades!

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

I would love to have a good rolling mill so many uses for it. I couldn't really use it for this cuff, the silver is melted onto the copper and the heights and patterns of the melted silver are unique to each cuff. But yes if I had one I would use it for many application, one of which would be adding textures to the surface of metal.

[@houseofmasson3588]

Pat, this is great! Is there any way to keep the silver from flowing to the bottom?

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

Hello Masson, If I understand your question correctly, the silver will stay on the top surface, surface tension will keep it from flowing to the other side of the copper.

[@lindagoldberg2325]

Can you do the same on a silver base or are you likely to melt the silver base? Or will it not melt if the base is a larger gauge and you watch the torch heat?

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

No you need copper which has a much higher melting point than silver.

[@exionem]

Very nice, approx. how much can a bracelet like that cost? Thank you.

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

Thank you There are links to my website you can check it out.

[@Braz1956]

Nice bracelet! Do you like oval or round mandrels? I couldn’t tell from the video which you were using.

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

I have two oval mandrels, one is stepped. I would like to have a round mandrel but I don't really need it.

[@melissakay-steves1519]

Did you use solder? or flux the copper? It looked like you didn't use either. Thanks!

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

Hell Melissa, I do not use either solder or flux with this technique the flux would just burn away before the silver melts and solder is not needed the melted silver fuses to the copper surface.

[@samuellaramsey5963]

Can you do this with butane? Thanks!

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

I don't know it might work I have never used a butane torch, but I think it is going to be a bit tough to get a hot enough flame to melt the silver. Hey it is always worth a try.

[@samuellaramsey5963]

thank you so much!

[@catzkeet4860]

i wouldnt think so. Youre not gonna get the heat required.

[@mehmetkaraqus]

great i did not know how it makes, thank you mister, and what is the name of lighter you did for your gas welding and where can i buy it?

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

I use a Smith® Little Torch™ hooked up to Oxygen and Propane. The torch is available from many sources one example is Rio Grande.

[@mehmetkaraqus]

@@patcahillmetalworks322 thank you very much mister but i asked about your torch lighter you do not use any fire for that, you put your torch on the something there and it gets fire. sorry i could not tell you about that.

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

@@mehmetkaraqus Oh I am sorry I misunderstood what you were asking. To light my torch I use Torchmate Electronic Torch Lighter you can google and see the best place to acquire one.

[@mehmetkaraqus]

@@patcahillmetalworks322 thank you so much mister it was answer that i was looking for that. :)

[@ocmom7831]

Can you use Brass in lieu of copper?

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

With most Brass yes but check the melting point of the Bass you intend to use and make sure it's melting temp is at least 100 degrees Celsius above that of silver. Sterling silver melting point is ~893°C.

[@mitsospapas3306]

Ηοw many cm is it. Great work

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

It is 1.5 inches or 3.8 cm wide. The length is made to fit the size of the wrist with a gap for putting it on and removing it.

[@mitsospapas3306]

17-18 cm?

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

@@mitsospapas3306 sorry I don't understand your question.

[@mitsospapas3306]

@@patcahillmetalworks322 sorry i mean the length of the bracelet. Thanks for the reply. Keep up the good work

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

@@mitsospapas3306 ah ok well that depends on the needs of the one wearing it but say a typical wrist is 7 inches (~18cm) then the cuff length should be 6 inches (~15.25cm) with a gap of 1 inch (2.5cm).

[@iwoncin]

What gauge is the copper?

[@patcahillmetalworks322]

I used 20 gauge, with the added layer of silver it is a nice thickness.

[@iwoncin]

Thank you very much for the quick response