I made this short tutorial today on how I make fused copper jump rings. I hope you enjoy!
Step 1.
Using round object, wrap around several inches of 16-gauge copper wire.
The length of copper wire depends on the size and amount of the jump
rings needed.
Step 2.
Using flush-nose cutters, cut each ring from the coil just made.
Step 3.
If needed, file both ends of the jump ring. Do not pull the jump rings
open as this will misshape the rings. Using a side to side motion close
each jump ring until both ends are completely touching and there is no
gaps or spaces.
Step 4.
Have a bowl of cool water in reach while fusing. Light the torch and hold
the copper jump ring with an old pair of tweezers.
Wave the jump ring in the flame to heat the entire piece. Place the cut
section of the jump ring into the tip of the blue cone in the flame. This is
the hottest part of the flame!
The ends will start to glow red and you will notice them melting or fusing
together. This can happen quickly so you will need to be ready. The cut
section will suddenly disappear once its fused as shown in the second
photo. Quickly remove from the ring from the flame and put in the cool
water.
Step 5.
Put the jump rings in pickle to remove all the dark fire scale.
I use a homemade version! Mix a 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 of vinegar in
an old sauce pan or metal bowl. Heat the mixture to a slow simmer, and
add a teaspoon of table salt. Add your jump rings to the pickle and let
simmer on the lowest heat for 1-2 minutes. Remove the rings with
tweezers and rinse!
In this photo is 3 jump rings after they have been fused and cleaned using
the homemade pickle. Inside the black marks at the top of each ring is
the section of the jump ring that was fused together.
Step 6.
The jump rings will be very soft! Using a chasing-hammer and steel-block
or anvil, gently hammer each ring to flatten and harden. You may also
tumble in a tumbler for several hours if you don't want the rings
flattened.
