[Jewelry making - Article 00226] - Re: [Orchid] Trouble shaping cuffs

[Island Gold Works]

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>     I am making cuff bracelets anywhere from one inch wide to two inches
>     wide and I get a little frustrated with shaping them.

    .....There are a number of ways to make a bangle, but I rarely use
    the bracelet mandral! The easiest way to make a slightly domed
    bangle...any width...is to get a soft wood, like a pine 2x4, put in
    vise,end up, and hammer a depression woth a round ended hammer. Then
    take your ANNEALED blank and hammer  with same or similar hammer into
    depression, this will start to curve in 2 dimensions. With careful
    hammering, front will stay somewhat smooth. You will have to anneal
    at least once, depending on size of blank, how much hammering, and
    degree of arc.Try that, THEN you may need to use the mandrel to even
    up, though, you can do it on the wood better. Thomas Blair



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