Hammered Brass Cuff

Brass Cuff

3 cuffs

Instructions

First determine how long your metal needs to be and the width you want. Saw the metal with a jeweler's saw. Keep the saw blade moving in a up and down motion and don't let the blade bind/twist or get an angel. After you have your section of metal cut texture with a hammer. This one was textured with a dry wall hammer. The round end of a chasing hammer works well also.
Then I moved the ...
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Category: Jewelry

Type of item: Accessory

For: Unisex

Style: Hipster, Victorian / Steampunk, Rock / Punk

Materials

Brass, watch part, necklace pendant, wire

What was your inspiration?

I just wanted to try making a metal cuff. I made the half cuff first then moved on to the full cuff. I really enjoy working with metal and learning to hammer, saw and torch metal is a great new way to expand your jewelry making. I teach jewelry classes so I push myself to come up with new techniques for my own design to sell and for my classes.

What are you most proud of?

These cuffs stay "top up" on your arm and are very comfy. The inside is smooth and they are light weight. They have gotten great reactions at class and shows.

What advice would you give someone starting this project?

If you are a bit apprehensive of working with metal this is a great first project. If you want you can use metal shears rather than the saw. If you use shears you will need to use the large side of your chasing hammer to flatten the corners of the metal prior to texturizing it. Cutting with shears causes the metal to bend slightly. Have fun and pound away then add a necklace pendant, donut, or wired beads. You can really change the look of this by changing the embellishments. I go steam punk but it can also go very girly with a thinner band and pretty beads and fine wire wrapping.