There’s something deeply satisfying about taking some copper wire and turning it into jewelry. We’re showing you how to turn 10 gauge copper wire into DIY Stamped Wire Bangles and you’ll be amazed at how easy this is to do! As you hammer, stamp, smooth, and bend the soft copper wire you are changing the molecular structure. This process is called work hardening. The key is getting a feel for the wire so you don’t overwork it and turn it from hard to brittle. Practice, practice, practice, copper wire is inexpensive, easy to manipulate, and a great place to start. Watch the video first, it will help you understand the process. Then follow our step by step photos to make your own DIY Stamped Wire Bangles. This is so much fun, you’ll want to stamp up a wrist full!
You will need: The following links are affiliate based, which means we get a small percentage of the sale, which is how we can afford to create these tutorials for you!
Artistic Wire 10-Gauge Bare Copper Wire
ImpressArt Stamp Enamel or Folk Art Enamel Acrylic Paint, Licorice
1.5mm Letter & Number Punch Set
ImpressArt 2 by 2-Inch Steel Block
Beadalon Leather Pad For Block and Anvil
Ergo-Angle Metal Stamping Hammer
ImpressArt Chasing Hammer
ImpressArt 1″ Nylon Hammer
Beadalon Nylon Jaw Pliers
ImpressArt Bracelet Bending Bar
ImpressArt Bracelet Bending Pliers
Sanding Block or Metal Filing Tools
ImpressArt Stamp Straight Tape
Ruler
Non-Permanent Marker
Paper Towel
Watch the video for the full tutorial, then get the step by step photos and instructions below!
Step One: Measure and cut wire using shears. The wire will get a little longer as you stamp. Remember the bangle is open in the back. I used 5″ wire segments, but I have small wrists, you can increase or decrease the wire length to fit your wrist.
Step Two: Before you hammer, use your nylon jaw pliers to straighten out your wire, then use flat end of chasing hammer to flatten the wire ends. Then add texture with the round end.
Step Three: Repeat this process over the entire wire length. Pay more attention to the center since this is where you will be stamping. You need to flatten it enough to fit the 1.5mm stamps. Don’t over hammer, hammering work hardens the copper, but too much hammering can make the copper brittle.
Step Four: Straighten wire again with nylon jaw pliers.
Step Five: Turn hammered wire on it’s side and hammer, repeat on other side. This helps keep the stamped wire straight.
Step Six: Tape bracelet to blank. Mark the center point of your wire with a non-permanent marker. Don’t stamp dead center, this is a stress point on the bracelet.
Step Seven: Stamp the center letter to the left of the marked center point.
Step Eight: Stamp left and right, until you’ve completed your word.
Step Nine: After hammering the wire one last time to straighten, insert one end of wire into the bracelet bending bar. Gently bend the wire over the curved area of the bar.
Step Ten: Insert opposite end of wire into the bar, repeat process. Don’t over bend, this is just to form the arc of your bracelet, take your time!
Step Eleven: Use the bracelet bending pliers to fine tune the shape of your bangle. You can also use your nylon jaw pliers here to refine the shape!
Step Twelve: Use a jeweler’s file or sanding block to send ends of wire to make them dull.
Step Thirteen: Apply Stamp Enamel with applicator tip. Allow to sit for 10 seconds. Wipe medium into stamped letters with paper towel, then wipe off the surface medium. This will polish the metal and leave the medium in the stamped areas to help them stand out!
Step Fourteen: Make a wrist full!
You can further refine, polish, and finish these DIY Stamped Wire Bangles if you desire. I have a flex shaft tool with a variety of polishing tips and a tumbler, and there’s always a little elbow grease and steel wool! You can also coat them with clear nail polish to keep them from tarnishing as copper will do over time.
These DIY Stamped Wire Bangles are a great way to get a feel for working with wire without breaking the bank. I love these so much, I am planning to make them in sterling. Take your time, have some fun, don’t worry about perfection. It’s handmade, the little imperfections are part of what makes them beautiful.
Stay tuned, we’ll have more videos and step by step tutorials on the way for the holidays with lots of DIY personalized gifts!
Cheers,
Margot and Avalon