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Kraken Belt Buckle Tutorial

Kraken Belt Buckle Tutorial

Created by: Elisabeth Valente

Designer Tips

  • Consider taking a jewelry-making class through a local college or art school.
  • The Complete Metalsmith by Tim McCreight and Simple Soldering: A Beginner's Guide to Jewelry Making are excellent references as well.
  • Glue your image pattern to the metal with rubber cement, and cut along the pattern with a jeweler's saw. Use files to perfect the cut out.
  • Follow the instructions that come with your torch. Always work in a well-ventilated area. Have a fire extinguisher available for emergencies.
  • Solder your metal silhouette to the backing metal with medium solder. Solder the buckle to the backing metal with easy solder.
  • Never put steel in your pickle (Sparex); use only copper tongs. The belt buckle finding is nickel silver and can safely be pickled. (Note: Nickel silver belt buckle blank may not always be available.)

Free Technique Sheets & How-Tos

Suggested Supplies

  • 1 each #30-193 Buckle Blanks, Nickel Silver
  • 1 each #64-004 Flux, Liquid, 4 oz, Self Pickling
  • 1 each #86-354 Liver of Sulfur, 4 oz.
  • 1 each [use use 3"x 4"] #64-980-24 Sheet, 24 Gauge, 6x6"
  • 1 each [use use 2"x 3"] #64-990-24 Sheet, 24 Gauge, 6x6"
  • 1 each #69-089 Solder, Hard, Easy Grade, Sheet, 0.25oz
  • 1 each #69-090 Solder, Hard, Medium Grade, Sheet, 0.25oz

Tools

  • #62-011 Book, The Complete Metalsmith: An Illustrated Handbook
  • #69-257-0000 Polishing Paper, Assortment, Wetordry™
  • #87-081 Rings & Things Blazer® Torch Kit
  • #69-088 Sparex®, 2-1/2lbs
  • #69-140 Tool, 4" Diamond Needle File
  • #69-261 Tool, Bench Block & Clamp
  • #69-189 Cut Lube, 2oz
  • #69-252-01-4 Tool, Flat File, 6", #4 Cut
  • #69-357 Tool, Little Dipper™ Pickle Pot
  • #69-235 Tool, Metal Punch, Two Hole
  • #69-383 Tool, Safety Glasses
  • #69-191-1 Tool, Saw Blade, #1
  • #69-172 Tool, Saw Frame, 4" with Screw
  • #69-260 Tool, Tweezers, Copper, 9"

Additional Supplies

  • Fire extinguisher
  • Silhouette-style image on paper (to use as a pattern)
  • Rubber cement

Oct 27th 2021

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