Rustic Flower Pendant

Want to make something a bit edgy? This Rustic Flower Pendant is just that. You can customise this piece, making the centre lighter or using Sterling Silver details instead.

Step 1

Draw out a flower design on the Silver disc using a marker pen or scribe by marking out triangle shapes that taper towards the centre. Place the Silver disc on the bench peg and saw pierce out the sections.

Step 2

Place the Silver on a soldering block and use a hand blowtorch to heat the disc evenly. This is to anneal and soften the metal so it is more malleable for hammering.

If you are concerned about firestain, you can use a borax dish and cone with water to make flux and layer the flux over the surface of the disc.

Step 3

When the disc is cool, add it to a warm acid pickle bath.

Step 4

When clean and dry, place the disc on a steel block or hard solid surface. Use a texture hammer or household hammer at an angle to hammer lines and texture. Harder hammer strikes will add deeper texture. 

You can use double sided tape of sellotape to secure the disc down to hammer.

Step 5

When you are happy with the texture, use your saw to piece any other sections to add detail. Use your needle files to add further finer detail. Support the flower shape on the bench peg and file the edges in a gentle and smooth action.

Step 6

Use emery paper or emery sticks to go around rough or sharp edges.

Step 6

Take the 9ct Gold earring posts and place them separately on the soldering block. Use a hand blowtorch to heat each piece up until each one melts and forms a ball.

Step 7

When cool, add the Gold balls to a warm acid pickle.

Step 8

Take the textured Silver disc and place it face down on a soldering block. Use a borax cone and dish plus a small amount to water to make some flux.

Take an oval jump ring and use snipe/chain nose pliers to grip one side and flat nose pliers to grip the other side of the jump ring. Use a twisting action to close the jump ring so both sides meet flush.

Step 9

Place the oval jump ring face down on the Silver disc so one side hangs over the edge. There needs to be enough of an over-hang that you are able to thread another jump ring through later on.

Add flux to the area where the jump ring touches the disc. Add a piece of medium Silver solder to the Silver disc making sure it is in contact with both the jump ring and the Silver disc. Gently heat the Silver disc evenly until the solder melts and flow.

Make sure you place the jump ring at the top of where you want your pendant to hang.

Step 10

When cool, add the Silver disc to a warm acid pickle.

Step 11

When clean and dry, place the Silver disc on a soldering block. Add flux to the middle of the disc and place a piece of easy Silver solder. Gently heat the Silver disc until the solder melts. When cool, add the Silver disc to warm acid pickle.

Step 12

When clean and dry, ensure the area of easy Silver solder is smooth and clean. Use emery paper to gently go over the surface if not. Place the Silver disc on a soldering block face up and add flux to the middle of the disc.

Place the Gold balls on the middle of the disc ensuring all the balls touch the solder. Heat the Silver disc using a blowtorch evenly until the easy Silver solder melts and flow. When cool, add the Silver disc to a warm acid pickle.

Step 13

When the Silver disc is clean and dry, take an oval jump ring. Use snipe/chain nose pliers to grip one side and flat nose pliers to grip the other side of the jump ring. Use a twisting action to open the jump ring. Hook the jump ring through the top oval jump ring that is soldered to the Silver disc.

Use snipe/chain nose pliers to grip one side and flat nose pliers to grip the other side of the jump ring. Use a twisting action to close the jump ring.

Step 14

Place the Silver disc on a soldering block and add easy solder paste to the join in the jump ring. Ensure the jump ring join is not in contact with any other elements of the pendant. Heat the jump ring gently using a hand blowtorch until the solder melts and flows.

You can also solder the jump ring closed by melting a small piece of solder with a hand blowtorch, picking it up with a solder pick and placing it on the jump ring join that has flux on. When the flux is stuck to the jump ring join, the jump ring can be heated using a blowtorch until the solder melts and flows over the join.

Step 15

When cool, add the Silver disc pendant to a warm acid pickle. When clean and dry, polish using a Silver polish cloth or add to a barrel tumbling machine with water, shot and barrelbrite for 30 minutes.

Step 16

Oxidise (blacken) the pendant by using Platinol or an oxidising solution. Follow the instructions on the bottle carefully. When dry, use the polishing cloth to rub off the top surface of oxidisation to bring out the detail. Thread the pendant onto a Silver chain.

You’re done! We hope you enjoy wearing or gifting your Rustic Flower Pendant. If you have any questions or want to know more, get in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We’d also love to see what you’ve been making so please share pictures of your creations with us too, tagging Cooksongold.

Save this for later