DDalton Jewelery Class 1 Final by Dane Z Dalton

How to make a wire snowboard

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 14:40:41 UTC

This is a tutorial to show step by step how you can make a snowboard out of wire.

Step #1

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 14:41:50 UTC

The first step is to measure out a wire. This will determine how big your snowboard will be.

Step #6

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 14:44:25 UTC

The next part is the top of the bindings. This part is more difficult to shape and solder because of its odd shape. If I had more time to do this project I would have spent it on this step. Like the other steps, cut the wire, sand, shape. The shape can be anything, but it should somewhat resemble the picture below. You want the two parts that stand the binding up to fit in-between the binding bases.

Step #2

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 14:44:59 UTC

You need to bend the wire to an approximate shape and sand each side of the wire to be flat. Those two ends need to connect with no space between.

Step #3

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 14:46:31 UTC

To connect the ends of the wire you need to solder it. Cut pieces of solder and grab a torch. Apply flux to the joint. Next heat it up till it is clear. Put solder over the joint and heat it up till it melts then take the flame off.

Step #5

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 14:51:23 UTC

Next you need to make the base of the bindings. This is a similar process to making the board. Cut to a length that will fit snugly between both sides of the board. Then solder them and and shape them. You will then solder them onto the board. It should be on top of the board, but it should not hang off the edges of the board very much, if at all.

Step #4

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 14:55:01 UTC

Shape the board. The anvil is useful for this. Use a wooden hammer and the end of an anvil to shape and get straight.

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 15:11:18 UTC

Step #10

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 15:13:59 UTC

Now that the snowboard is built, it is time to clean it up and make it look nicer. To get rid of the discoloring from the soldering, go to the sand blaster and clean the snowboard. It will have a sandy, dull texture afterwards. All you have to do is polish it and you're done.

Step #7

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 15:14:25 UTC

The top of the bindings need to fit well in the binding bases. It should be about the same length as the bases and same width. Fit the top into the base and solder them together.

Decisions

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 15:18:30 UTC

Here I was done, but it was flat on the ground and bland to see and the way it was it only really showed the top of the bindings. I decided to add legs and make it statue-like and stand up at an angle to show the entire snowboard.

Step #8

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 15:21:00 UTC

You need to find an angle you want the snowboard to be seen at and then cut 4 wires that will go on 4 different places on the board to hold it up. You can cut and sand them further to get the exact lengths you want.

Step #9

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 15:25:30 UTC

Hold the snowboard in the air with clamps at the desired angle and solder the legs onto it. This is harder than it sounds, but it just takes time.

What I wish I had redone

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 15:31:26 UTC

The joint that connected the board itself got a little messed up. Not a big deal, but it doesn't look as nice because of it. If I had more time I would fix it.

Final Projects

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 15:35:58 UTC

Wire Snowboard 9/25/15

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 15:36:30 UTC

-12 Gauge Nickel Wire

-Hard Solder

Reflection: I really enjoyed this project. This was definitely the most fun to make for me, even though I had some troubles with it. It is probably because of my passion for snowboarding. I was happy with the outcome of this project except for one part; the solder of the board itself. It got messed up while I was trying to solder the 4th leg of my snowboard which took FOREVER to do. I was so frustrated with the 4th leg of my snowboard I decided to just leave the board how it was.

Sawing/Piercing/Exquisite Corpse Eye 10/16/15

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 15:37:25 UTC

-Nickel sheet metal

-Copper sheet metal

-Easy solder

Reflection: This project felt like it took forever. The sawing it along with soldering the pieces takes forever. I used a lot of easy solder on this project. And when I say a lot, I mean a LOT. I had an entire strip of easy solder and went through nearly all of it. The final project turned out well I thought though. If I had more time I would have tried to add some shape to it. But I did not know how or have the time. I also used this piece as my exquisite corpse project.

Hot Twist Wire Bracelet 10/30/15

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 15:37:47 UTC

-10 Gauge gold wire

-Small blue wire

Reflection: I would have added the hot twist to the eye I made, but since it was taken for exquisite corpse I needed to think of something else. I decided to make a small bracelet from the hot twist. Since just a hot twist was plain, I made a flat spot on the top of the bracelet so I could add a blue wire because I like how blue and gold go together. This was my most basic project.

Enamel Piece With Wire 11/26/15

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 15:39:30 UTC

-Copper sheet metal

-Thin, pressed copper wire

-Glue

-Enamel

This was my first enamel project and I was very happy with how it turned out. I like all the colors in it and its shapes and how small it was. The enamel takes longer than I thought it would, but it wasn't an issue. I had fun making this project. I wish I had measured one of the wires better though because one of them is a little bigger than the others, but you still have the general shape.

Enamel Snowboard 12/15/15

ddalton3 — 2015-12-16 15:39:57 UTC

-Copper sheet metal

-Glue

-Enamel

This project was inspired by my own snowboard. Since its December and it still hasn't snowed its all I have been thinking about. This wasn't too hard to do, however I had some problems. The enamel kept sticking to things and when I tried to pull the board off of the platform sometimes it would stick or bend. This affected the shape of it slightly which I was not too happy about. I like the design on the top however.