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Fly Bee! Bracelet Tutorial

Fly Bee! Bracelet Tutorial

Created by: Polly Nobbs-LaRue


Designer Tips

  • Punch 1/16" holes in the bracelet where you want to place the rivets.
  • Run the first rivet through the leather, place a washer on it, and use a fine-point Sharpie to mark a line on the rivet shaft about 1mm past the washer.
  • Use heavy-duty flush cutters (or a jewelers saw) to cut at this line. Be sure to cut nice and flat (parallel with the rivet head). File flat if necessary.
  • Place the bracelet rivet-head-down on the rubber side of a steel/rubber bench block.
  • Begin mushrooming the wire rivet. See the Fancy Wire Rivets Blog post for step by step instructions.

  • NOTE: If the washer jumps off, you need to mushroom the wire tiny bits at a time before you can put the washer back on and have it stay in place. Once the washer stays on, keep mushrooming the wire rivet until it is a nice smooth dome.
  • Other (less expensive) washer options include vinyl / vulcanite heishi beads. Just punch a 1.6mm hole in the center (or a 1.5mm hole and enlarge is slightly with a bead reamer), and you have an inexpensive strand of 100's of washers!
Free Technique Sheets & How-Tos

Suggested Supplies

Tools

  • #69-436 Hammer, Riveting or #69-135 Tool, Hammer, Ball Pein
  • #69-252-01-2 Tool, Flat File, 6", #2 Cut (Optional)
  • #65-507 Tool, Heavy-Duty Cutter, 5.5"
  • #69-238-L Tool, Long Neck Hole Punch, Round, 1.5mm hole
  • #69-123 EURO TOOL Combo Bench Block
Additional Supplies
  • Extra fine-point Sharpie
Jan 1st 2021 Polly Nobbs-LaRue

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