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How to Make Your Own Brass Bracelet

Many consider the medium-hard density of brass ideal for do-it-yourself jewelry projects. Brass is relatively easy to cut, smooth and polish with hand tools and household supplies. Brass tubing for bracelets is available in a variety of sizes at pipe supply centers. You need to measure the diameter of your wrist and select a short section of similar diameter brass tubing to make your own bracelet.

Things You'll Need

1/4-inch cotton rope
Felt-tip marker
Ruler
Utility knife
3/16-inch-thick brass tubing
Bench vise or wood block
Light hammer
Hacksaw
Flat file
Emery board
300-grit garnet paper
Brass or metal polish
Clean rag

Instructions

- 1
  Cup your thumb tightly under the palm of your hand as if sliding on a bracelet. Loop a short piece of 1/4-inch cotton rope around the base of your hand. With a felt-tip marker, mark the rope where it overlaps.
- 2
  Place the rope on a worktable and cut it at your marks with a utility knife. Configure the piece in a circle and measure the inside diameter with a ruler. Obtain a short section of 3/16-inch-thick brass tubing with a similar inside diameter.
- 3
  Decide on the width you want the bracelet. You can make it the same width all around, or taper it to a thinner width at the underside of your wrist. Mark the piece of tubing at one end with the felt-tip marker.
- 4
  Secure the piece of tubing in a bench vise with the mark extending to one side. If a vise is not available, drive a 12-inch-long wood block into the tubing with a light hammer to use as a stabilizer when cutting the tubing. Cut the tubing at your mark with a hacksaw.
- 5
  Hold the rough-cut bracelet in one hand. Smooth all hacksaw burrs on the inside and outside edges with a flat file. Round over the inside and outside edges as desired. Touch up the edges with an emery board for a uniform appearance.
- 6
  Brighten the new brass bracelet by sanding it with 300-grit garnet paper. Apply a modest amount of brass or other metal polish on a clean rag and polish the bracelet to a high luster.

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