Saturday, April 19, 2025

Copper Bracelets

 




I saw a picture online of a copper bracelet that I have been trying to duplicate.  Their bracelet looked beautiful, but mine looked like tangled up wire.  I realized that I needed to make the twists consistent, so I made me a tool.  Then I annealed the copper to soften it for bending.  I heated up the wire until it was red-hot, then allowed it to cool (or quenched it).  The metal fatigue was relieved, and the copper became soft again.  I hit upon 24 inches of wire/looped and doubled and twisted exactly 25 times (I carefully counted the twists).  Then annealing again.  Then I reverse-twisted the 3 double strands until the twisted loops lined up.  Annealing again.  Then I hammered the wire flat on both sides, filed them smooth, finally sanding from 120, 220, and thru to 320 grit sandpaper.  I cut the wires to 6 ½ inches long, soldered the ends, and filed the ends smooth.  I hammered the wires around a wooden form that I made of a pallet runner, finally buffing and polishing the finished bracelet on my cotton buffing wheel.  The key to the whole process was consistency.  Every inch, every twist, every sanding and buffing had to be the same throughout.  I was reminded of the Lord’s immutability: God never changes.  God said in Malachi 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I change not …”  The dear Lord loved me when I was a sinner just as much as He loves me when I have been trying to please Him for 70 years!  He is always the same!  And I can count on God being the same tomorrow and on into eternity!  And you can too!

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