How to Make Beads From Silver Solder
- 1). Place the hook of a wire coat hanger in a table vice so that the straight wire is pointing upward. Secure the coat hanger so it won't slip around as you work. Coil the end of your copper wire around the straight wire of the coat hanger and tightly wrap it around until you have the width that you want for your beads. Make the coils tight against each other. Cut the end with your wire cutters. Continue making these beads until you have as many as you need or until you have no more room on the coat hanger. Space these copper coil beads at least 1/2 inch apart.
- 2). Turn on your soldering iron to give it time to heat up. Dip your flux brush into the flux and brush it onto each copper coil bead. Take care not to get any flux on the coat hanger because the solder will stick to the surfaces that have flux on them. If you drip some flux on the coat hanger, wipe it off with a damp cloth.
- 3). Uncoil your silver solder so that there is a small length of it extending from the spool for easy access while you work. Lightly touch the tip of the soldering iron to the end of the silver solder and a small bead of molten silver will form. Carefully brush the molten silver onto the copper coil beads so that they are completely covered. Cover the side of the beads that are facing you. Take the coat hanger out of the table vice, turn it around and cover the other side of the copper beads. You may need to add one or two more layers. Allow the beads at least 30 minutes to harden.
- 4). Use your wire cutters or a pair of bolt cutters to cut the straight wire of the coat hanger and slide the silver beads off the wire. Use a piece of rough-grit sandpaper to get rid of any burrs or bumps on the silver beads and use a burnishing tool to shine them. Incorporate your silver solder beads into your handmade jewelry designs.
