How do I make a sterling silver pendant?
I want to make a cross for a high school friend out of sterling sliver I love to make beaded necklaces but I have always wondered how to make silver pendants for the beaded necklaces I make. So, if anyone is into making these and knows how can you please tell me. It would be appreciated. I looked online and found out the tools you need to get started just don't know how to make them. You need:
Flat nose pliers, round nosed pliers, half round pliers, serrated pliers, jewellers saw, files, ball pien hammer, soldering tourch, charcoal block; which absorbs the excess flame away from the work bench, Borax dish and cone, binding wire, titanium soldering stick,insulated tweezers, a vise. And i think you need something called silver clay i am not sure. If so, tell me and tell me about how much it's going to cost just enough to make a medium sized cross.
Filed under Sterling Pendants by on Dec 16th, 2009. Comment. 
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Comments on How do I make a sterling silver pendant?
It really all depends on what you want them to look like. If you just want the shape, you can make a very simple pendant with a saw and some sheet metal–just cut it out. If you want something a little more substantial, you will need some more equipment. Either way, you will need a small set of needle files and some sandpaper for finishing. You should already have the round, flat and chain nose plier from your beading–DO NOT use pliers that aren’t smooth–they will mar your metal and it will look like crap. You can make jewelry out of precious metal clay instead of sheet, and it is an easier way to get volume, as opposed to casting. Or, you could use your mad soldering skills to make a lightweight hollow form instead. If you want to go the PMC route, there are a number of books out there on it. If you’d like to go a more traditional route, find a local college that offers jewelry and metalsmithing (aka metals) in their art department and you can learn everything you need to know. I recommend Rio Grande (www.riogrande.com) for your tools and supplies.
I’d give you more details, but there’s not enough space for everything.
There are a lot of ways to get started, but I think that PMC Clay would be easiest to go with. You will need a minimum of tools to work the clay, and the clay can be fired a with a torch or you could find someone with a kiln to fire it for you (it doesn’t take long, but requires a high temperature). Jewelry is a really fun hobby to get into, but it does require the tools you mentioned and is not cheap to do. (I have a MFA in jewelry and it’s really addicting and does demand some learning to get good at it) Making metal objects is really time-consuming compared to other crafts, but is well worth the time if you enjoy working with your hands. To get a basic silversmithing kit will cost you a few hundred dollars to get started, assuming you want to learn to solder. Torches are expensive, but if you get an acetylene “B” tank and fittings, you can do an awful lot with it. It’s worth your money and time to take a basic silversmithing class, as the tips you’ll learn will be worth a thousand burned-up projects! I’ve taught many classes and it’s definitely a fun skill to have, but takes dedication and time to get good at. The PMC clay is a good alternative and doesn’t need too many tools to get started with. Go to a book store and get a PMC book and find the chapter that covers the materials and buy from that. I have had a LOT of fun making things over the years and the compliments I’ve received have made making it all the more fun.