Saturday Share...One of My Favorite, Go-To Components

The amazing, versatile, inexpensive, lowly, hardware store plumbing section...copper washer!

 

They come in lots of different sizes and gauges, and if you get them in their little plastic box from the hardware store, they are divided into their own compartments with a paper size guide included.  I have found these at some of  the big box stores, but not consistently...I usually go with Harbor Freight, but have also found them in other jewelry supply shops and Etsy.  Monsterslayer has square ones! Of course, if you have a high-end disc cutter, you can make your own, but I haven't gotten there yet :)

As I said earlier, there are so many jewelry uses for these...charms, connectors, and my very favorite, clasps.  In fact, I use copper washers for my toggle clasps almost exclusively.  Here are a couple of  my favorites...

This is one I made last year for my bead soup!

 

This is a simpler version I paired with a bracelet bar made by our very own Jenny Davies-Reazor!

 

These are really so simple to make...you only need:

• 1 copper washer
• length of heavy gauge wire.  I like 12-14 best...depending on how ornate you want the toggle portion, about 2-3 inches. Make sure the size of your washer and wire are compatible...you don't want a really heavy washer with lighter gauge wire and vice-versa.
• torch for annealing/balling ends of wire
• texturing tools..hammer, stamps, etc
• steel block
• Round nose pliers
• flush cutters

Optional...

• hole punch/drill
• patina
• tumbler

1. Anneal copper washer and heavy gauge wire with torch and clean/pickle
2. Texturize washer to heart's desire...my 1st example used a brass patterned plate that I hammered onto it...I have even ran them through my new Big Shot.  Set washer aside.
3. Using round nose pliers, make a loop in the center of your piece of wire.*
4. Center it on your washer and measure the ends.  You want it to be able to sit on top of the washer nicely and not fall through.  (If you are going to ball ends in torch, you will want to keep ends a bit longer.)
5. Cut wire with flush cutters and file ends.
6. Either ball ends with torch, or texturize as desired.
7. Patina with your desired method and tumble for while for a well-finished shine.
8. Add to your own lovely bracelet or necklace design!

*  If you want to add more drama to the toggle, while you have the loop on your pliers, twist it around itself a few more times...this will take more wire, so plan ahead!

Depending on your design, you can punch a hole in the washer for a connector, or leave it and use jump rings, or figure eight type connectors.  I have used smaller wire wrapped loops as well.

I hope this inspires you to go and make something out of copper washers!  You can take this simple component and embellish it as much or as little as you want...enamel, solder, etching.  It doesn't have to be a clasp...

 

or round!

 

 

 

Have fun!

Melissa Meman
Melismatic Art Jewelry
Art. Life. Love.