Metal Bezel Box

You can bead around a cab and wire wrap a cab, but if you prefer metalsmithing, then you’ll want to try creating a bezel out of metal plate. These instructions are assuming you user sterling silver, but can be adjusted for any type of metal. Also, it is assumed you already know soldering basics.

You’ll need:

*cabochon
24 gage silver plate
24 gage sterling strip
solder set up
hard, medium, and soft solder
anvil & raw hide hammer
3rd hand (nice though not required)
masking tape
metal cutting shears or saw
jewelers’ files
burnisher
fine sand paper

*If this is your first bezel, use a large cab. They are the easiest to work with.

1. Use masking tape to wrap around the perimeter of your cab to determine the length of bezel you need and then remove the tape.

2. Use metal cutting shears or a saw to cut a piece of your sterling strip (which should be less than half the height of your cab) to the same length of your tape.

3. File both ends of the strip so they are perpendicular.

4. Bend the strip about so both ends meet around your cab to get the desired shape.

5. Ensure that both ends meet flush up against each other with no gaps. One way to get the ends to meet is to contort the bezel as if you were closing a jump ring. File some more if necessary.

6. Pickle the bezel and solder it closed. You can do this a few different ways:
a) Secure the bezel in a 3rd hand. Place hard solder on top of the joint on the inside of the circled bezel.

b) Position the bezel on top of a fire brick, and use straight pins to hold up the bezel so the joint is against the brick. Place hard solder on top of the joint on the inside of the bezel.

7. Place the soldered bezel on a piece of find sand paper and rub to smooth and flatten the edges.

8. Now put the cab in your bezel to help shape the bezel. (If you are making a round bezel, you can also shape it using a ring mandrel.)

9. Quench and pickle the bezel.

Next Page->Finish creating the bezel box - includes a printer friendly link.

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All graphics created by Tammy Powley.

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