CamoMetal Triangle Sterling Earring Tutorial

Materials: jeweler's saw
diamond saw blades
sterling silver sheet (24 gauge)
sterling silver round wire (2o or 21 gauge)
various grits of sandpaper
doming block(*optional)
hammer
torch, quenching bowl, & pickling sol'n ,easy solder*(scroll down to bottom for alternate instructions if you do NOT have a torch)
tumbler(*optional)
pliers
deburring tool
liver of sulfur
fine point sharpie
pencil

1. Draw your design on your sterling silver sheet (x2 ) with a fine point sharpie. If you have any scrap booking friends, they may have some ultra cool templates/stamps that you could borrow!
2. Using your jeweler's saw carefully cut just outside the sharpie line (remember to always wear your safety glasses!).
3. Using rough-fine grit sandpaper, smooth the edges of your design. You may need to use needle files if you have "cut out" sections in your design. If you would like texture, you can use a ball peen hammer. If you would like to curve/dome your design, you can use a a doming block. These are optional steps!
   
4. At this point, double check your designs that they are similar in size. I always tell my customers there will be slight variances as my designs are fabricated by hand and NOT cast!
5. Cut 2 lengths of silver wire 3 inches long. Using your torch, hold the tip of the wire in the hot part of the flame until a "ball" or "bead" forms. Place this wire in your quenching bowl. Repeat with the other wire. Clean up your wire by placing in pickling solution for a few minutes. You may tumble these to work harden and make "shiny"; but it is not necessary.
6. Decide where you would like your "ball/bead" to be on the earring design (front or back). You may hammer the bead/ball to flatten if it makes it easier for your to solder.
7. Solder the wire to the earring using easy solder. Quench. Pickle. Use your fine grit paper to touch up where the earring and wire join.
   
8. I use a pencil to create my french wires. Decide how long from the earring you want the curve to be. Mark both earrings and gently curve over the pencil. At the end, using your pliers bend a 1/4 inch at a 45 degree angle and make sure you debur (your earring should NOT hurt or snag as it is placed in the ear!).
9. You can get that ultra cool camometal look by dipping your earrings in hot solution of Liver of Sulfur (follow the manufacturer's instruction). I dip my earrings at the same time for 1-2 secs until I achieve the desired color...I just love the gunmetal blue-grey. You can go all the way to black and if you don't like it....just clean the earrings and you'll be back to shiny silver !

Don't have a torch???

1. Buy 3 inch ball headpins instead of using the round sterling silver wire.
2. Drill holes in the top of your design and put your head pin though here before turning it into a french wire. The 24 gauge wire is easy to drill through ...just make sure you mark the spot where you want to drill and key the metal with something sharp prior to drilling (stops drill drift).

Of course, you can always stop by the jewelry boutique with a click of your mouse and just purchase the Camometal Earrings. :)

Please feel free to leave any comments or suggestions on the content/quality of this tutorial!