+Gloria Borrero Hi Gloria, I'm so glad that you like the bracelet project. It really looks great in multiples. So, get to banging on that wire and have fun. Thanks for watching! : )
The wire is actually ground wire, you can get it at the big box stores or any electrical supply company. It comes in 8, 6, 4, and 2. The smaller the number the bigger the gauge.
I love your videos. I am a newbie to this world of metal work. It is hard to pick a direction because what I have seen, there are many avenues to travel. Thank you for your wonderful videos. You keep me going especially during these unimaginable times we are living through.
Hi Roslyn, I’m glad that you’re enjoying the videos. I hope that you have visited the OJA’s website at: www.online jewelry academy.com. There you’ll find all of our 350+ free videos organized by topic. My advice is to draw what you feel inspired to make. Then, research the techniques you’ll need to bring your ideas to life. Thanks for watching and stay safe. 😀
+kate wolff Yay! I'm glad you like this project Kate. They look really good when worn as multiples. So, make three or more. Thanks for being a loyal viewer. : )
+Nancy Couste' Hi Nancy, I'm so glad that this video inspired you to make some cuff bracelets. I'm sure they will be received with love. Thanks for being a loyal viewer! : )
+Coleen Taylor Glad you liked the video Coleen. That bracelet is so easy to make. I'll bet you knock out a bunch of them in no time at all. Thanks for being a loyal viewer! : )
Hi Bertha, I'm Glad you like this forging project. There are more forging videos in the OJA playlist at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com Thanks for your support! : )
I've been solely wearing copper bracelets since 1996. For those concerned with the copper turning their wrist green, that green will fade within a few weeks as the cooper is actually pulling impurities from your body. I don't spray anything on my pieces and only remove them to change my bracelets. Once you've worn the pieces for a while you will notice that the copper will have and maintain its natural luster SERIOUSLY. That beautiful shine will continue unless you are coming down with a cold or other short term illness. Yes this is my personal account of the holistic properties of copper.
Hi Chaundra, Many people believe that there are health benefits to wearing a copper bracelet. Thanks for sharing your story. I hope the video inspired you to make some copper bracelets. Thanks for your support! : )
Chaundra Simmons I loved reading your comments on copper jewelry, I was concerned about cleaning and what you say makes sense in respect to its healing properties. I noticed some of the Luster and shine coming back to on of my newly made copper bracelets. Thank you 💕
I've had the same experience with my copper. I have a set of toe rings I've worn for near 20 yrs a d they are beautiful still. I also have several bracelets, rings and some earrings. They stay beautiful as long as i wear them everyday
Lightening rod, that's so cool. I would assume 8 gauge or 10 gauge would work the same in copper? Thank you for sharing. Love a majority of your videos.
+Catherine Franz Hi Catherine, Glad that you liked this video. Yes, any big gauge of copper wire will work just fine. Just be sure not to make it too thin in any one spot. Thanks for being a loyal viewer! : )
Great bracelet and excellent instructional video. Can you please post what size and weight rawhide mallet you use for making bracelets like this? Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed the video. The size and weight of the rawhide mallet used to form the bracelet really doesn't matter. You could also use a rubber mallet or a plastic "dead blow" mallet. If your material is properly annealed, you'll have no problem striking it with whatever size and weight of mallet you have on hand. If you'd like to purchase tools similar to the ones that I use in the videos, we've begun to post links for tools and supplies in the descriptions of our videos. Good luck with your creative pursuits. Thanks for your support! : )
Hi John. I assumed you meant grounding wire, but Hubby is insisting grounding wire and lightning rod are two different things. Do you mean grounding wire? Not that it matters to me as I have 6 and 8 gw upstairs and will use what I have. As always, enjoyed the video. Also, if you are ever on the East Coast, I know of a nice lady that would enjoy going out.
I'm not an electrician. So, I might have used the wrong terminology to describe the wire that I was using. Let's just say that it came from the electrical aisle at Home Depot. It's just a big gauge wire. Your husband is probably right. Thanks for your support! : )
Thanks Jack! Glad you liked the video. Be sure to log onto the OJA website and check out our other forged wire projects. www.onlinejewelryacademy.com Thanks for your support! : )
I could not figure out how I could possible have missed the bat bracelet mandrel until I looked at the date on the video. It came out two days after I fell and hurt my back. Shame on me! My bat is only 7" around is that big enough for a decent mandrel? I have some nice 6 gauge copper wire from my Home Depot store. Guess what it's going to be used for? Thanks for this great tutorial!
+Bonnie Becker Hi Bonnie, Sorry to hear that you hurt your back. I hope you're feeling better. Yes, a 7" bat will work just as well. I'm glad that you like the bracelet project. Hopefully, you'll get some done before Valentine's Day. Thanks for being a loyal viewer! : )
+Francine Deneault Hi Francine, I'm glad you liked the video. Isn't it better to watch someone who makes it look easy than to watch someone struggle? LOL Thanks for watching! : )
+Erinn LaMattery Hi Erinn, So glad you like this project. You can find more forged jewelry project videos in the OJA playlist. You can see the entire playlist on our UA-cam channel or on our website at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com Thanks for watching! : )
Hey ! I love making bracelets. For my copper bracelet project...if I polish it and seal with clear nail polish then how strong will it survive for 2 months ? Or the polish will wear off and the bracelet will get tarnished very quickly ?
Hi John, There are lots of ways to seal copper. But, they all eventually wear away and the copper oxidizes. You can sell / give away the bracelets with care instructions. Or, you can tell clients to learn to love the colors of oxidized copper. Thanks for your support! : )
Hi John! Great video! I am trying to make some closed bangles using this heavy gauge copper wire (10 ga), and I am wanting to fuse the ends together as opposed to solder them. Would my butane torch get hot enough to fuse the ends together, or should I switch to a different kind of torch? Thanks!
Hi Joe, Your small butane torch isn't going to get hot enough to fuse a large gauge copper wire loop together. You'll need a hotter torch. If you're planning on fusing the wire because you want to forge on top of the seam, you should know that you can forge on a soldered seam. You just need to increase the surface area of the connection. Try cutting the ends of the loops at an angle so that they overlap. The larger seam will hold up to some pounding. Good luck with your projects. Thanks for your support! : )
Hi Jane, I'm glad that you enjoyed the video. To ensure that you have the right length of wire to make a cuff for your male client, you'll need to measure his wrist. Like a wristwatch, the cuff should be able to rest at the top of the hand. In other words, it should sit in the space above where the hand flairs when the fingers are spread. This usually translates to a 6.5" or 7" length for a male client. Good luck with your projects. Thanks for your support! : )
Hi Quiltgirl, 10 gauge wire will work fine. You can definitely use a thicker gauge if you like. Make a few bracelets in different gauges and stack them. They're really pretty. Have fun forging. Thanks for your support! : )
+Buddy Bouchez Hi Buddy, You can use whatever big gauge of copper wire that you have on hand. The lightening rod is very thick (it can come as thick as zero gauge). But, if all you have is 8 or 10 gauge you can still make some beautiful bracelets. Have fun hammering. And, thanks for being a loyal viewer! : )
I'm glad you are loving the videos Lynne. Be sure to visit the OJA website at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com If you liked the forged bracelet project, you'll probably like the other forged jewelry projects grouped together on the website. Thanks for your support! : )
+Elizabeth Carpentier Hi Elizabeth, The OJA tries to provide its viewers with fast, easy projects from time to time that only require a minimum number of tools. Hopefully, you'll get the supplies you need and can start hammering out some cuff bracelets soon. Thanks for watching! ; )
I can't find any solid copper wire over 10 gauge. The 8 gauge wire at Home Depot is stranded. If you can give me specifics regarding what the store calls what you found, maybe even the code, that would really help. Thanks for sharing your tutorial.
www.wireandcableyourway.com/Bare-Copper/?gclid=CjwKCAjw1tDaBRAMEiwA0rYbSJss7GdtG6r8ohKcadmYM79DMwketmzwLpAoIXaZxgYGOlvEaDPlyRoCak4QAvD_BwE That ought to work.
Hey Nathan, The OJA did pay homage to Bat Man at the end of our How To Make A Bracelet Mandrel From A Baseball Bat video. You can watch it by following this link: ua-cam.com/video/F8QHbbn9Lm0/v-deo.html Thanks for your support!
Copper jewelry can turn your skin green unless it is coated with a sealant. Coating the interior of a copper bracelet with clear nail enamel will help to prevent the transfer of copper oxide to the wearer’s skin. 😀
The wire used in the video is a 6 ga round copper grounding wire. You'll find a link to purchase it in the description of the video. Thanks for your support! : )
Absolutely gorgeous and sooo easy!! Love your videos. Thanks for generously sharing your knowledge with us.
+Gloria Borrero
Hi Gloria, I'm so glad that you like the bracelet project. It really looks great in multiples. So, get to banging on that wire and have fun.
Thanks for watching! : )
The wire is actually ground wire, you can get it at the big box stores or any electrical supply company. It comes in 8, 6, 4, and 2. The smaller the number the bigger the gauge.
I love your videos. I am a newbie to this world of metal work. It is hard to pick a direction because what I have seen, there are many avenues to travel. Thank you for your wonderful videos. You keep me going especially during these unimaginable times we are living through.
Hi Roslyn, I’m glad that you’re enjoying the videos. I hope that you have visited the OJA’s website at: www.online jewelry academy.com. There you’ll find all of our 350+ free videos organized by topic. My advice is to draw what you feel inspired to make. Then, research the techniques you’ll need to bring your ideas to life. Thanks for watching and stay safe. 😀
Thanks John, this is definitely going on my make this list! ... Hope you found a date😊
+kate wolff
Yay! I'm glad you like this project Kate. They look really good when worn as multiples. So, make three or more.
Thanks for being a loyal viewer. : )
Always enjoy your videos, John. I know what I'm making today♥. Thank you!!
+Nancy Couste'
Hi Nancy, I'm so glad that this video inspired you to make some cuff bracelets. I'm sure they will be received with love.
Thanks for being a loyal viewer! : )
I love your videos!! Thank you so much for sharing!
I’m so glad that you’re enjoying the videos. Thanks for watching! 😀
another great video John if you don't have a home for that bracelet you can always send it to me lol take care of my friend
+Coleen Taylor
Glad you liked the video Coleen. That bracelet is so easy to make. I'll bet you knock out a bunch of them in no time at all.
Thanks for being a loyal viewer! : )
Great idea!.....Thanks for sharing that!
Hi Bertha, I'm Glad you like this forging project. There are more forging videos in the OJA playlist at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com
Thanks for your support! : )
Hi jhon!...of course, I am going to make some and sell them!....great job!
Would you say it was a 10 ga wire or bigger like an 8ga?
It’s 8 gauge grounding wire. 😀
Esta hermoso tu trabajo ,Dios te Bendiga y un fuerte abrazo desde Perú.
Te respondo usando Google translate. Gracias por tu amable mensaje. Espero que estés disfrutando de nuestros videos. ¡Gracias por tu apoyo! : )
I've been solely wearing copper bracelets since 1996. For those concerned with the copper turning their wrist green, that green will fade within a few weeks as the cooper is actually pulling impurities from your body. I don't spray anything on my pieces and only remove them to change my bracelets. Once you've worn the pieces for a while you will notice that the copper will have and maintain its natural luster SERIOUSLY. That beautiful shine will continue unless you are coming down with a cold or other short term illness. Yes this is my personal account of the holistic properties of copper.
Hi Chaundra, Many people believe that there are health benefits to wearing a copper bracelet. Thanks for sharing your story. I hope the video inspired you to make some copper bracelets.
Thanks for your support! : )
Chaundra Simmons I loved reading your comments on copper jewelry, I was concerned about cleaning and what you say makes sense in respect to its healing properties. I noticed some of the Luster and shine coming back to on of my newly made copper bracelets. Thank you 💕
Chaundra Simmons Thanks, I notice that when I'm stressed or sick my copper turns black. But other times it's pretty and shiny.
I've had the same experience with my copper. I have a set of toe rings I've worn for near 20 yrs a d they are beautiful still. I also have several bracelets, rings and some earrings. They stay beautiful as long as i wear them everyday
Lightening rod, that's so cool. I would assume 8 gauge or 10 gauge would work the same in copper? Thank you for sharing. Love a majority of your videos.
+Catherine Franz
Hi Catherine, Glad that you liked this video. Yes, any big gauge of copper wire will work just fine. Just be sure not to make it too thin in any one spot.
Thanks for being a loyal viewer! : )
Thank you!
hahaha.." I need a date.." You are awesome John..
Thanks! Hope you enjoyed the video. 😀
Thanks for the video! very useful.
I'm glad that you enjoyed this project video Liz.
Thanks for your support! : )
Great bracelet and excellent instructional video. Can you please post what size and weight rawhide mallet you use for making bracelets like this? Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed the video. The size and weight of the rawhide mallet used to form the bracelet really doesn't matter. You could also use a rubber mallet or a plastic "dead blow" mallet. If your material is properly annealed, you'll have no problem striking it with whatever size and weight of mallet you have on hand. If you'd like to purchase tools similar to the ones that I use in the videos, we've begun to post links for tools and supplies in the descriptions of our videos. Good luck with your creative pursuits.
Thanks for your support! : )
Hi John. I assumed you meant grounding wire, but Hubby is insisting grounding wire and lightning rod are two different things. Do you mean grounding wire? Not that it matters to me as I have 6 and 8 gw upstairs and will use what I have. As always, enjoyed the video. Also, if you are ever on the East Coast, I know of a nice lady that would enjoy going out.
I'm not an electrician. So, I might have used the wrong terminology to describe the wire that I was using. Let's just say that it came from the electrical aisle at Home Depot. It's just a big gauge wire. Your husband is probably right.
Thanks for your support! : )
Awesome video
Thanks Jack! Glad you liked the video. Be sure to log onto the OJA website and check out our other forged wire projects. www.onlinejewelryacademy.com
Thanks for your support! : )
I could not figure out how I could possible have missed the bat bracelet mandrel until I looked at the date on the video. It came out two days after I fell and hurt my back. Shame on me! My bat is only 7" around is that big enough for a decent mandrel? I have some nice 6 gauge copper wire from my Home Depot store. Guess what it's going to be used for? Thanks for this great tutorial!
+Bonnie Becker
Hi Bonnie, Sorry to hear that you hurt your back. I hope you're feeling better. Yes, a 7" bat will work just as well. I'm glad that you like the bracelet project. Hopefully, you'll get some done before Valentine's Day.
Thanks for being a loyal viewer! : )
wow! you make it sooo easy! :o) Tank you!
+Francine Deneault
Hi Francine, I'm glad you liked the video. Isn't it better to watch someone who makes it look easy than to watch someone struggle? LOL
Thanks for watching! : )
of course ! LOL!!
have a nice day Mr John :o)
wow! no lo había visto, simple pero hermoso brazalete 👌😍 salu2
Gracias Neva
Love this!
+Erinn LaMattery
Hi Erinn, So glad you like this project. You can find more forged jewelry project videos in the OJA playlist. You can see the entire playlist on our UA-cam channel or on our website at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com
Thanks for watching! : )
Thank you ! Bellissimo ! 👍👍👍
I'm glad that you enjoyed the project.
Thanks for your support! : )
Hey ! I love making bracelets. For my copper bracelet project...if I polish it and seal with clear nail polish then how strong will it survive for 2 months ? Or the polish will wear off and the bracelet will get tarnished very quickly ?
Hi John, There are lots of ways to seal copper. But, they all eventually wear away and the copper oxidizes. You can sell / give away the bracelets with care instructions. Or, you can tell clients to learn to love the colors of oxidized copper.
Thanks for your support! : )
Hi John!
Great video!
I am trying to make some closed bangles using this heavy gauge copper wire (10 ga), and I am wanting to fuse the ends together as opposed to solder them. Would my butane torch get hot enough to fuse the ends together, or should I switch to a different kind of torch?
Thanks!
Hi Joe, Your small butane torch isn't going to get hot enough to fuse a large gauge copper wire loop together. You'll need a hotter torch. If you're planning on fusing the wire because you want to forge on top of the seam, you should know that you can forge on a soldered seam. You just need to increase the surface area of the connection. Try cutting the ends of the loops at an angle so that they overlap. The larger seam will hold up to some pounding. Good luck with your projects.
Thanks for your support! : )
Thank you so much! I will definitely give that a try! :-)
John, thanks for this. What is the correct length for a man’s cuff?
Hi Jane, I'm glad that you enjoyed the video. To ensure that you have the right length of wire to make a cuff for your male client, you'll need to measure his wrist. Like a wristwatch, the cuff should be able to rest at the top of the hand. In other words, it should sit in the space above where the hand flairs when the fingers are spread. This usually translates to a 6.5" or 7" length for a male client. Good luck with your projects.
Thanks for your support! : )
I'm going to try this. Will it work with 10 gage copper or is that too big?
Hi Quiltgirl, 10 gauge wire will work fine. You can definitely use a thicker gauge if you like. Make a few bracelets in different gauges and stack them. They're really pretty. Have fun forging.
Thanks for your support! : )
Love that bracelet, John ...what size gauge wire did you use ?
+Buddy Bouchez
Hi Buddy, You can use whatever big gauge of copper wire that you have on hand. The lightening rod is very thick (it can come as thick as zero gauge). But, if all you have is 8 or 10 gauge you can still make some beautiful bracelets. Have fun hammering.
And, thanks for being a loyal viewer! : )
OnlineJewelryAcademy Thanks John.
+OnlineJewelryAcademy mhm ok thnx 4 the date 👍
you are soo good I love your videos Lovingly Lynne
I'm glad you are loving the videos Lynne. Be sure to visit the OJA website at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com If you liked the forged bracelet project, you'll probably like the other forged jewelry projects grouped together on the website.
Thanks for your support! : )
Thank you very much :)
Hi Nancy, Glad you enjoyed the video.
Thanks for your support! : )
Where can I find a work table similar to yours?
Here's a link for a jewelers bench similar to mine: amzn.to/2QWfrdL. : )
Fast and easy! ='( Too bad I don't have all those tools... Thanks! Blessings! = )
+Elizabeth Carpentier
Hi Elizabeth, The OJA tries to provide its viewers with fast, easy projects from time to time that only require a minimum number of tools. Hopefully, you'll get the supplies you need and can start hammering out some cuff bracelets soon.
Thanks for watching! ; )
I can't find any solid copper wire over 10 gauge. The 8 gauge wire at Home Depot is stranded. If you can give me specifics regarding what the store calls what you found, maybe even the code, that would really help. Thanks for sharing your tutorial.
Just do a search online for "copper grounding wire" and you should find it. I got mine in the electrical department of Home Depot. Hope that helps.
OnlineJewelryAcademy I did that. Any copper grounding wire that I could find was stranded or woven. 😔
www.wireandcableyourway.com/Bare-Copper/?gclid=CjwKCAjw1tDaBRAMEiwA0rYbSJss7GdtG6r8ohKcadmYM79DMwketmzwLpAoIXaZxgYGOlvEaDPlyRoCak4QAvD_BwE
That ought to work.
OnlineJewelryAcademy Thank you!
I got #4 at Home Depot yesterday (after I had already ordered online and paid $27 in shipping - ugggh)
I cannot be the first to think that he should have said "Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Batmandrel!!"
Hey Nathan, The OJA did pay homage to Bat Man at the end of our How To Make A Bracelet Mandrel From A Baseball Bat video. You can watch it by following this link: ua-cam.com/video/F8QHbbn9Lm0/v-deo.html
Thanks for your support!
Does it turn your skin green ?
Copper jewelry can turn your skin green unless it is coated with a sealant. Coating the interior of a copper bracelet with clear nail enamel will help to prevent the transfer of copper oxide to the wearer’s skin. 😀
@@OnlineJewelryAcademy oh ok that’s awesome, I’m assuming I will have to continue the clear coat over time ?
@@Mrqrlz Yes, you are correct.
@@OnlineJewelryAcademy thank you
Haw can fixed copper colour?
I'm not sure from your question what the problem is.
I think she means that when the copper was annealled, it oxidized to black. A quick pickling bath of salt and warm vinegar will slough that off.
what gauge is that please
The wire used in the video is a 6 ga round copper grounding wire. You'll find a link to purchase it in the description of the video.
Thanks for your support! : )
Dude it's 2016, who still says www.?
+THEPIRATEKINGGLOW
LOL! Point taken. Thanks for the comment. : )