COPPER BRAID JEWELRY

Copper jewelry is worn for potential benefits like reducing inflammation (arthritis pain), boosting immunity, improving circulation, and aiding skin health. It's also valued for energy balance, beauty, and as a durable, attractive metal. I use this method to make copper braids from scrap electrical wire and plumbing parts. Using one’s imagination, the braids can be turned into any manner of jewelry.

MATERIALS:

14/2 electrical wire scrap

1/4” OD flexible copper pipe scrap

Bottle of Cola

TOOLS:

Cable ripper

wire stripper/cutter/plier

Variable speed drill

Pipe cutter

vise

torch, lead -free resin core solder

Aluminum oxide (wet) sandpaper

Fine file

The wire has a plastic coating which must be removed. Use a cable ripper with one end of the wire held firmly in a vise. You will be left with one bare conductor and two insulated conductors. Remove the insulation with wire strippers to get 3 bare solid copper conductors.

Put the 3 conductors together and clamp one end in a vise. Put the other end in the chuck of a variable speed drill. On slow speed, let the drill do the work of twisting the wires into a tight braid. Keep tension on the drill to keep the wires from kinking. The trick is to stop when the braid is tight and before any lumps or kinks develop. Watch the video.

If you want a flattened braid, place the braided wire on a flat metal surface like a vise, or anvil. Tap gently with a hammer while moving the braid over the metal surface. You are going for a uniform flatness. Go gently at first as you can re-do it until it meets your approval.

This is the fun part. Form the flat braid into a bracelet by bending it around something circular a couple of times to create a spiral. Cut the ends to match, then heat the joint with the torch and apply solder. (Be sparing with the solder.)

The round braid can be formed into an open loop bangle. Cut equal pieces of copper pipe and slip them at equal distances over the braid, two covering the sharp ends. Heat each piece and apply solder to hold them in place. Be certain to file off any sharp edges or burrs. Some wet sandpaper can be used to polish and smooth any rough edges. Soak your creations in a bath of cola to brighten them up. The phosphoric acid in the cola removes the tarnish.

Left over pieces could be made into any shape like rings, earrings, etc. The copper is malleable enough that it can be re-bent and re- shaped until you achieve the desired effect.

NOTE: THROW OUT THE USED COLA SO NO ONE ACCIDENTALLY DRINKS IT. WEAR SAFETY GLASSES WHEN WORKING WITH WIRE.