Making Bearclaw Bracelets

Making Bearclaw Bracelets

Making Bearclaw Bracelets – This is the Procedure for a 1″ Bearclaw Bracelet with 3 – 14k gold paws appliquéd,(soldered), on.

An Appliqué Ring has about twice as many steps due to the soldering, grinding,

cleaning and bending process…twice as much work for half the size.

Both appliqué metals are 1mm thick

This shows the difference between silver and gold.The 2 outside strips are silver , with 14k white gold in the center left and 14k

yellow gold on the center right.

1. The gold is cut or punched from a sheet

2. The design is laid out with a ruler and a circletemplate

3. The metal is cut out with a very thin

jewelers saw, hence, the blade is about as

wide as a sewing needle.

	4. The cut out pieces are filed andsanded clean with 400 grit sand paper
	5. As a result, the pieces are laid out andready to solder

	6. After a bath of flux they are solderedtogether
	7. It is buffed , ( and most of all , buffed again), to remove any scale. The pre-buffing also assures that the piece is not over buffed after being engraved

	8. Ready for engraving
	9. The strip is laid out on a ‘block’ and held on with jewelers cement. The block rotates in all directions

The engraving is done with these small chisels called gravers that fit in the palm of the hand and are pushed around the metal.

11. The finished engraved bracelet

12. The corners are cut and rounded off, filedand sanded. The piece is signed on the back

and attached back to the block if any

inscription is to be done on the inside.

13. Another buffing to remove any scratches on the inside before it is bent

	14. Using a dapping block the piece is pounded into shape. As a result, his pounding ‘work hardens’ it and gives it the spring and strength it needs. I cover the piece with an old leather belt so I don’t mark it again.
	15. Finally it is buffed on the face and edges, but most importantly, without removing or rounding off the sharp engraved lines and edges

	16. Boiled in hot water and dish soap and then into the Ultrasonic cleaner to remove any buffing compound.
More Bracelet samples here	17. Wipe it dry and off to another happy customer.