Picture Yourself Making Jewelry and Beading

(Wang) #1

3.Place the discs onto a hard, flat surface. You
can use masking tape on the edges of the
discs to keep them in place while you are
stamping them. Select a nail set punch.
These are inexpensive and can be purchased
at any home improvement store. They usually
come in sets of three sizes; mix up the sizes
or choose just one size to stamp the discs.


4.Place the nail set punch on the top of the
discs and, with the hammer, gently strike the
top of the nail set punch to create a stamped
circle shape on the discs. Do this randomly
over the surface of the discs approximately
seven to nine times. If desired, you can mark
the discs where you want to stamp them
before you begin. When you strike the top of
the nail set punch, strike it only once firmly.
If you strike the top of the nail set punch
multiple times, the punch may skip across
the silver and scratch the surface of the discs.


5.This process may leave your discs misshapen
or with sharp edges, so after you have
stamped the nail set punch circles into all
three discs, check the edges to see if you
need to refile them to regain the circular
shape and eliminate any sharp edges. After
filing, use a fine grit sanding pad to go over
the area you have filed to smooth the edges
and remove any file marks. The silver discs
will have a slight curve to them. You can
leave the silver discs curved or flatten them.
Simply place the silver discs onto a hard flat
surface and use a rawhide mallet to flatten
them. If you do not have a rawhide mallet
you can place the silver discs onto a hard, flat
surface and cover the pieces with a thick piece
of scrap leather. With a hammer, gently tap
the leather-covered silver discs to flatten them.

6.Lay out your stamped discs to determine
where you would like the holes to be drilled.
Use the ruler to measure and mark^1 ⁄ 16 ” from
the edge of the discs; this is where the holes
will be drilled.

7.Put on safety glasses. Place the discs onto a
hard, flat surface. Place the point of the awl
on the marks that you made^1 ⁄ 16 ” from the
edge of the discs and, using a hammer, firmly
strike the top of the awl once to make a pilot
hole for drilling holes into the sterling silver
discs.

8.Using a^1 ⁄ 16 ” drill bit, drill holes into each of
the discs using a handheld rotary tool, flex
shaft, or drill press. Wear safety glasses!

9.Use the file or fine sanding pad to eliminate
any burs or rough edges left from drilling
holes into the discs.
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