Linked Metal Fish Scale Necklace

This instructable will teach you how to make a necklace with overlapping links that look like fish scales. The design can also be used to make bracelets or other types of jewelry.

Materials:

Brass sheet 7.5 by 6.25 inches

Sharpie Pen

220 Grit Sandpaper

Metal Wire

Jump Ring

Solder

Chain

Tools:

Jewelers saw

Patterned Metal Plate

Rolling Mill

Blow Touch

Tongs

Anvil

Leather Mallet

Bracelet Press

Wire Cutter 

Pickle 

Polisher

Metal Hole Punch Pliers

Use Tinkercad to create a 3D model of one link. Starting with one cylinder, a rectangle, and two squares. Use the cylinder as a hole to cut a semicircle from the bottom of the rectangle. Use the two squares as holes to make one end of the rectangle a point. Use the draw feature to create a wave pattern or the pattern of your choice. Then use the same squares and new rectangles as holes to match the pattern to the shape. Duplicate the shape and enlarge it. Use this new shape as a hole to cut out a crescent on the top of the main shape. Attach a flattened ring to the opposite side of the point. Attach three small cylinders to each other rotating each cylinder slightly at each joint to the middle of the underside of the shape. Then attach the sphere on top of the last cylinder.

Use a sharpie to draw the outline onto the brass sheet. The dimensions should be 1.5 inch by 1.25 inch. Use a jeweler's saw to cut out the shape. 

Sand down the edges with 220 grit sandpaper.

Pick out any patterned metal plate that you like. I chose a wave pattern to give the appearance of fish scales. Place your cut link over the patten plate and roll it though a rolling mill. It is okay if the link has a slight bend.

Use a bracelet press to bend the link into shape and continue with the horn of an anvil to finalize the shape. If the metal is too hard to bend you may have to anneal it before this step.

Using a wire narrow enough to fit through your jump ring, use a blowtorch to melt down the top of the wire to create a bulb. Cut the other side of the wire down to approximately 1.3 inches in length and flatten that end with a rolling mill to make the soldering easier.

Using a blow torch, solder the jump ring on the bottom of the link, making sure to keep the jump ring hole open.

Repeat the previous steps to create as many links as desired for your necklace.

To connect the links, put one link on top of the other with the point of the top link handing over the bottom. Push the wire through the hole in the jump ring on the top link with the bulb on the top. Solder the flattened end of the wire to the middle of the bottom link to attach them.

After the connected links have cooled in cold water, place them inside the pickle (sodium bisulfate liquid) to remove oxidation and flux. Then polish the links.

Add a chain to the connect links. The chain will connect to the jump ring on the final link and, on the other side, a hole created with the metal hole punch pliers. The necklace is now complete.