Forged hinged steel choker & brass rivets - metalworking

Watch me forge a hinged and rivetted steel shackle choker from a flat sheet of steel and use brass rod for the rivets.
This project was part of my jewellery module for my foundation degree in creative metalwork.
The brief was to design a piece of jewellery that fit into one or more of these categories -
- Colour,
- Subversion
- Comedy
See my journey of creation from start to finish - the highs and lows, the test pieces, and what went right or wrong.
There are more videos in this series, including;
- Making solid copper beads
- Making a silver chain
- Creating a crucifix pendant
- The Concept, design & materials - Why?
Find me here;
CZcams - TheCharis777
/ thecharis777
Instagram - @CharisWilliams777
https:/ salvagesistercharis
Facebook - Charis Williams AKA The Salvage Sister
/ chariswilliamsakathesa...
Twitter - @CharisWilliams
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Pinterest - TheCharis
/ thecharis
My websites -
Upcycling & salvage - www.salvagesister.co.uk
My official website - www.chariswilliams.co.uk
ART - www.brightonwallart.co.uk

[@user-ks5ff]

If you like those parallel pliers, look into 'Knipex Pliers Wrench' similar thing but you can adjust the opening size, and they have a 10/1 ration in grip from how hard you squeeze the handles.

[@MakeBrooklyn]

Very cool video ... love seeing the whole iterative process

[@CharisWilliams]

Make Brooklyn thank you, really pleased you enjoyed it 😊

[@ZachariahLawson]

We call those "massive guillotine" a sheer. But if your looking at cutting thicker metal this is the way to do it. Unless you exceed the thickness that the sheer will cut. Then you could use an iron worker or a cutting torch. The torch will cut up to something like two inches thick. The down side to using a torch is you will need a grinder to "de-bur' the edges. If you're cutting sheet metal this this thin though, a sheer is your best option. Also instead of using that hand saw, you might try looking up using a metabo blade on a grinder!

[@CharisWilliams]

Thanks for the info, I'll look up that metabo blade now. I've used a plasma cutter before and oxy-acetylene but wanted a nice clean cut so the 'sheer' worked really well for this purpose, but definitely want to invest in some other cutting tools soon :)

[@gpz50055]

Your vids keep getting better are you in a collage should try your hand at knife making

[@CharisWilliams]

Thank you! I am at college doing a foundation degree in creative metalwork, it is awesome! But we are not allowed to make weapons at college, do not fear - I just purchased an anvil and I'm designing my new metalwork shop as we speak! I will definitely be making some knives ;)

[@Maker_of_Things]

Really liking what you are doing and love the design.
But I wonder why no one told you how to use the hand shear (guillotine)? Use it like you would use scissors on a long cut. Cut part way, open up the shear and move the work further in and cut again. Likewise no one told you how to make the hinge until you had struggled for ages!
Your brass rivets look lovely, really nice work, so much nice then mass produced ones.
Looking forward to the next instalment. :-)

[@CharisWilliams]

Hiya Alfred, I know!! Haha. It's all part of the learning process. All the lecturers told me different things at different times which, when I put them all together actually worked great. I guess everyone has their own way of doing things. I'm kinda bad at asking for help if I'm honest, and I hate waiting, which is what you end up doing a lot of if you're expecting someone to show you 'how to' at college! Got there in the end! Thanks for your comment :)

[@Maker_of_Things]

I know the feeling, I was always impatient to get on when I was studying furniture making. When I was teaching though I would always show a student how to use any equipment they were new to, but not everyone does that. In my own workshop I don't have a lot of metal work machines so end up making do with whatever hacksaws and disc cutters I can make fit the job. One day I'll have a plasma cutter, and a bigger lathe!