I made amethyst hoop earring for my 500 subscribers

Thanks to all my 500 Subscribers. This is a fantastic checkpoint for my channel that I want to celebrate with all of you. For the occasion, I made a pair of hoop earrings that I want to giveaway to one of my faithful friends.

To participate, you need to subscribe to the channel and to leave a comment. Just type whatever you want and in which country you live. The lucky winner will be drawn between all the comments.

The winner will contact me on Facebook or Instagram for the shipping information. 2 more comments will be drawn just in case the first or the second winner won't show up.

I'm just sorry about the fact that I can ship to these countries only:
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States.
If you don't live in one of these countries, I won't be able to ship the giveaway.

Thank you all!!!

Supplies:

• Copper Wire: https://amzn.to/3LwdFtM | https://ebay.to/3Iifrxj
• Amethyst crystals: https://amzn.to/3Fl3Ejl | https://ebay.to/3NbxNn3
  
• Ball peen Hammer: https://amzn.to/3AXbED6 | https://ebay.to/3JXCk9M
• Texturing hammer: https://amzn.to/3urqxfs | https://ebay.to/3vk7WCo
• Rubber Hammer: https://amzn.to/3GmsgoH | https://ebay.to/353QAzf
• Anvil: https://amzn.to/3AW8DTj | https://ebay.to/35nXsqR
• Wooden mandrel https://amzn.to/3DtF8Lv | https://ebay.to/340N0Fy
• Butane torch https://amzn.to/3TDooXI | https://ebay.to/33TeRqZ
  
• Copper braising alloy https://amzn.to/3Du6Tng | https://ebay.to/3DxjRk3
• Tweezers: https://amzn.to/3tgwY2S | https://ebay.to/35aY2IZ
• Heat-proof surface: https://amzn.to/3sdpCMZ | https://ebay.to/3JR1bfm
  
• Pickling solution https://amzn.to/3FfgteY | https://ebay.to/3SzVRRx
• Wrap n tap pliers https://amzn.to/3DxT9YM | https://ebay.to/3N4yMFJ
• Nippers: https://amzn.to/38p5eST | https://ebay.to/3BQzX62
• CA Glue: https://amzn.to/3J1gnpI | https://ebay.to/3pfSgfL
• Apoxie Sculpt https://ebay.to/3URwopj | https://amzn.to/36N1TfF
• Modelling tools https://ebay.to/3srynEG | https://amzn.to/3pksmrp
• Isopropyl Alcohol https://ebay.to/3fGkj6l | https://amzn.to/3C88qgK
• Conductive Paint https://ebay.to/3CtqeVc | https://amzn.to/3okY7QA
• Brush: https://amzn.to/3omJxrz | https://ebay.to/33UInwy
• Liquid Latex: https://amzn.to/3Jcwu3I | http://ebay.to/3LL3dyU
• All the electroforming supplies https://kit.co/cuforming/electroforming-advanced-kit
  
• Liver of Sulfur https://ebay.to/3BOoR1i | https://amzn.to/3Gt7p34
• Respirator mask: https://amzn.to/3JTS1yI | https://ebay.to/3TMmRyY
• Earring hooks: https://amzn.to/3SAbcSd | https://ebay.to/3gysamD
• Flat nose pliers https://amzn.to/3TMCKoy | https://ebay.to/36yXkVZ

 When you beat copper it becomes stronger, when you warm this metal it becomes soft and malleable.

 

With a hammer, I'm flatting the copper wire. This is the first step to create its look.

When I bent it on my wooden mandrel, it feels strong, and then I warm it up with my torch.

Quenched in water and pickled in pickling solution to remove fire scales, it can be easily bent in to shape.

With wrap 'n tap pliers, I made a small loop on one end and trim at the right measure with nippers. I've repeated the process twice, since earrings are usually two.

I set both pieces at the same time on a heat-proof surface. Adding a small piece of braising alloy, I have joined them with my butane torch. The right heat is sufficient to melt the alloy, but not the copper.

I repeated the quenching and pickling process to clean the surface of the copper and decided to give some character by texturing the sides with my DIY texture hammer. I choose a linear patter.

To complete the shaping process, I used a rubber hammer to make them straight and also to give them much more strength.

To attach the amethyst crystals, I simply glued them with CA glue on the hoop's bottom. 

After I left them a few minutes to dry, I mixed some Apoxie sculpt. A little flat piece on the bottom is perfect to secure the crystal with the copper and to hide the gap in between. Four small oblong pieces at the sides are attached to resemble prongs and to make more grip as well.

I smooth the surface of the resin with a silicone brush and isopropyl alcohol.

After a day of waiting to let the Apoxie cure completely, they were ready for the conductive paint.
It takes less than five minutes to dry, so I can give them a second coat right away.

I'm now applying liquid latex on the stones.

This is a procedure that I usually don't apply to quartz crystals or any other stone with hardness higher than 6 in the mohs scale. In this case, I'm using raw crystals, and I'm not sure if they have cracks. If so, the electroforming solution could penetrate inside and the copper sulfate contained, once crystallized, can push in to those cracks and break the stones.

Once the latex is completely dry, our earrings are finally ready for the most important part of the job, the electroformation itself. In the electroforming solution, they will get coated in copper through an electrochemical process called galvanization.

It takes several hours to be completed, so we can sit back and relax for a while, but always keep an eye on them and move them once in a while to avoid the hooks, that we made to hang them, don't get incorporated in the piece.

The power supply needs to be started at low amps at first. It can be adjusted once the part with graphite is coated in copper and let them to electroform with a good amount of copper on them.

In this case, I was happy with the thickness of the copper after 17 hours. I took them out of the bath to rinse with water and remove the copper sulfate residue on them.

I then prepared a container with distilled water and Liver of sulfur. I drop the earrings in it not for long to get a rainbow patina.
In the video, you can see me using my bare hands to move the hoops in the liver of sulfur solution... DON'T DO THAT. I was in a hurry and I forgot to wear gloves. If you do touch liver of sulfur with your skin, wash it good, it's a toxic substance and can cause troubles.

It also has an intense smell produced by the evaporation of the sulfides, just like rotten eggs. It's recommended to use a respirator mask or work in a ventilated area.
 Not only that, after we are done with our job, we need to neutralize it with baking soda or better with bleach. You can also leave it to evaporate before flushing in the drain. We don't want to contribute to pollution.

  After I peeled off the latex from the stones, I dipped them in Zapon lack to protect patina's color. Sadly, I don't have the footage and I couldn't show this part of the process in the video.

I mounted a pair of earrings hooks and make them ready to be shipped to the lucky subscriber that is going to comment on the YouTube video.

Don't forget to leave a comment to win the giveaway.

 

 Thank you all by CuForming!!!

How to make copper mini pumpkin for Halloween | Electroforming

We have no putka pods in Europe. The nearest things that look like mini pumpkins are spindletree pods. They are also cute and perfect to make another Halloween project with copper. 

Supplies

• Spindle Tree pods (or Putka pods)
  
• Copper Wire 0.6 mm: https://amzn.to/3LwdFtM | https://ebay.to/3Iifrxj
• Wrap n tap pliers https://amzn.to/3DxT9YM | https://ebay.to/3N4yMFJ
• Nippers: https://amzn.to/38p5eST | https://ebay.to/3BQzX62
• CA Glue https://ebay.to/3pfSgfL | https://amzn.to/3gkYJ49
• Conductive Paint https://ebay.to/3CtqeVc | https://amzn.to/3okY7QA
• All the electroforming supplies https://kit.co/cuforming/electroforming-advanced-kit
• Liver of Sulfur https://ebay.to/3BOoR1i | https://amzn.to/3Gt7p34
• Zapon Lack: https://ebay.to/35BMb6z

additional supplies

• ring hoop
• Tweezers: https://amzn.to/3tgwY2S | https://ebay.to/35aY2IZ
• Copper wire 0.3 mm: https://amzn.to/3LwdFtM | https://ebay.to/3Iifrxj
• Pendant chain: https://amzn.to/3M7VFac | https://ebay.to/3IsXkou
• Lobster clasp : https://amzn.to/3IukJ96 | https://ebay.to/3JZaiuJ
• Earring hooks: https://amzn.to/3SAbcSd | https://ebay.to/3gysamD
  

This is a simple project and relatively easy.

With my wrap n tap pliers also called bail making pliers I make some bails with the copper wire. I choose a size in the middle of the pliers to match the size of the stem.

When I was satisfied with the number, I started to clean all the actual stems on the pods and, with CA glue, I attached the bails I previously made.

After I left them for an hour to let the glue to fully cure, I prepared them for the conductive paint. I made a hook for each piece and dip one by one in to the conductive paint. Dipping all my pieces in the paint is the fastest way to cover them, and it's the way I usually like better.

One dip isn't enough so, after let it dry for less than a minute, I gave them directly a second coat and hang to dry more before the bath.

I dipped them in my tank then and, since they are organic with air inside, they couldn't be able to sink in the solution, so I had to secure all hooks with cloth pins. Pods are still floating, but at least they are completely submerged in the solution. They will eventually sink once they become completely coated in copper and heavier.

After an hour, I made some adjustment to the power supply, so they start to go at full capacity.

The electroforming process will take a while, so in the meantime I've decided to make a ring.

I had a premade ring hoop, so I just needed to glue a pod on it. To make it more realistic and make it look more like a pumpkin, I've created tendrils that are the curls that come out from the pumpkin stem.

With a smaller copper wire and a toothpick, I twisted two tendrils and glue them on to make it ready to be coated in conductive paint and then dipped in the solution.

I managed to fit 8 pieces at the time in the tank, and they were getting completely electroformed at different times. So when some of them were perfectly coated, I made space for more to be electroform.

After they were ready, I dip them in water to rinse the electroforming solution residue off of them.

In a small glass, I prepared a solution of liver of sulfur to make patina. I wanted to make them orange, but sometimes they went out brown. I also left some with no patina to have a different range of colors.

Liver of sulfur is the chemical substance used to color copper and silver. It has an intense smell produced by the evaporation of the sulfides, just like rotten eggs. It's recommended to use a respirator mask or work in a ventilated area.
Also, after we are done with our job, we need to neutralize it with baking soda or better with bleach. You can also leave it to evaporate before flushing in the drain. It's a toxic substance, we don't want to contribute to pollution.

 

 To protect those colors from oxidation, I covered them one by one with Zapon lack that needs two days to fully cure.

These mini pumpkins are versatile and can be adapted to any use. With a chain I made a pendant and by attaching earrings hooks they became earrings. They can also be included into a bracelet composition, or you name it.

 

If you really liked this easy project don't forget to check the video on YouTube.

 Thank you all by CuForming and Happy Halloween!!!

Spider Candleholder for Halloween shaped like a Pumpkin

 Halloween is coming. It's the holiday that scares kids and makes them happy. Also, adults got happy and scared by lots of things, various kind of monsters wandering around, creepy dead things, bats, owls and spiders... well some people are scared of spiders no matter what day is.

My idea is simple: a spider that is scary and a pumpkin that bring everybody the spirit of Halloween, in an object that is seen everywhere during these days.

Here my Spider Candleholder for Halloween shaped like a Pumpkin!

Supplies:

• Copper Wire: https://amzn.to/3LwdFtM | https://ebay.to/3Iifrxj
• Wrap n tap pliers https://amzn.to/3DxT9YM | https://ebay.to/3N4yMFJ
  
• Flat nose pliers https://amzn.to/3TMCKoy | https://ebay.to/36yXkVZ
  
• Nippers: https://amzn.to/38p5eST | https://ebay.to/3BQzX62
• Wooden mandrel https://amzn.to/3DtF8Lv | https://ebay.to/340N0Fy
  
• Butane torch https://amzn.to/3TDooXI | https://ebay.to/33TeRqZ
  
• Copper braising alloy https://amzn.to/3Du6Tng | https://ebay.to/3DxjRk3
  
• Tweezers: https://amzn.to/3tgwY2S | https://ebay.to/35aY2IZ
• Pickling solution https://amzn.to/3FfgteY | https://ebay.to/3SzVRRx
  
• Aluminum foil https://amzn.to/3M2bW0U
• Apoxie Sculpt https://ebay.to/3URwopj | https://amzn.to/36N1TfF
• Modelling tools https://ebay.to/3srynEG | https://amzn.to/3pksmrp
• Isopropyl Alcohol https://ebay.to/3fGkj6l | https://amzn.to/3C88qgK
• Rolling pin https://ebay.to/3gJLT32 | https://amzn.to/3zb5DCL
  
• Conductive Paint https://ebay.to/3CtqeVc | https://amzn.to/3okY7QA
• All the electroforming supplies https://kit.co/cuforming/electroforming-advanced-kit
• Liver of sulfur: https://amzn.to/3Gt7p34 | https://ebay.to/3BOoR1i
• Zapon Lack: https://ebay.to/35BMb6z
• Respirator mask: https://amzn.to/3JTS1yI | https://ebay.to/3sn6fCv
• Rotary Tool https://ebay.to/3M3Ujxb | https://amzn.to/3so0LHy
• Scotch Brite Brush https://ebay.to/3y9Q9hR | https://amzn.to/3M6fSxF
• Bristle Brush Wheel https://ebay.to/3hooJMu | https://amzn.to/3pnlhX4
• A Candle 

Every standing up project begins from the base.
So I start from the very bottom by making the feet with my wrap 'n tap pliers. I bent the extremity of the copper wire to make a loop. Then I measured 2 cm going up and, with my flat nose pliers, I bent the first angle. After 2 more cm, a second one and, after 3 cm I cut off the pieces with my nippers.

I repeat the process 8 times because spiders have 8 legs.

With the same wire I make a circle. To make it perfectly round, I help myself with a wooden mandrel.

Then I placed everything on my refractory base to put all the pieces together. I use a braising alloy and a butane torch for the job and I start by braising the circle and one by one all the 8 legs. To keep the legs standing in place, I used reverse tweezers.

 I wasn't sure about the stability of the structure while testing it with the candle, so I made a cross shape to reinforce the bottom of the cup that is going to contain the candle.

After everything was completely welded together, I put it in pickling solution for 20 minutes to remove all the burning scales and clean it.

Before I start use the Apoxie resin for the body, I cover then the bottom of the cup with aluminum foil. 

I mixed the Apoxie, always with gloves, and with my steel rolling pin I made a sheet of resin. I applied the first layer, cut the excess and let it cure for a few hours. Once it's hard, it's easier to work with the other layers of resin that I will go to apply.

I then put a sheet inside and start working all the hedges with soft apoxie. I filled all the holes and smooth everything that needed to be done. Also, I use Isopropyl alcohol to work with Apoxie because it's super sticky. I dip my silicone brush of my fingers to make a better job. It's like working with natural clay.

I add the last sheet of resin on the bottom of the cup to make the design. With a metal rod, I made straight intersecting lines to make it look like a pumpkin and with a with aluminum foil I made the blossom end. To finish it, I made a few wrinkles here and there, and I smooth everything with my finger and isopropyl alcohol.

I left it to cure completely for a day and gave it 2 coats of conductive paint. 

When the paint was dry, I dipped it in the electroforming tank. I wished I had my bigger tank set up because with the small one it was difficult to let it inside at first, but after a few attempts I manage to make it fit precisely.

After 27 hours and some adjustment on the Power supply, it was finally ready. 

 

I then set it in a plastic container with water and with lots of liver of sulfur to make a black patina.

 

Liver of sulfur is the chemical substance used to color copper and silver. It has an intense smell produced by the evaporation of the sulfides, just like rotten eggs. It's recommended to use a respirator mask or work in a ventilated area.
Also, after we are done with our job, we need to neutralize it with baking soda or better with bleach. You can also leave it to evaporate before flushing in the drain. It's a toxic substance, we don't want to contribute to pollution.

 

When ready, I start by polishing all the black with a scotch brite brush and my rotary tool. With a bristle brush wheel 1000 grit, I make it to be a little bit shinier. I'll keep my respiratory mask on and carry on with the work.

It didn't take long to make polish it all and have it ready for a photoshoot and finally light the candle.

 

 

I hope you liked this tutorial and Happy Halloween.

 

Don't forget to check the video out on Youtube!!!!

Thank you all by CuForming!!!