Rotor Pendant

While scavenging from an old VCR and other equipment I came across some rotors. They looked kind of neat so I figured I'd make them into pendants.

Materials:
- rotor from old electronic equipment
- copper wire
- solder

Tools:
- straight cutting pliers (dremel cutting disk or other way to cut pliers will work...)
- smooth pliers (could use regular pliers but will mar the copper)
- soldering iron
- steel nail or burnisher

The hole in the rotor faces the wrong way to just put string through, it would never hang straight. The rotor is mostly copper, so to keep the color similar I grabbed some electrical cable and pulled out a lead to make a loop for the string.

I cut off the pointy and oxidized end with some straight cutting pliers (alternatively use a dremel cutting disk to get it straight) to leave a straight end that will leave only a small soldering spot.

I bent the first loop around one of the arms of the rotor. Copper is soft so I used some smooth pliers to reduce marring.

Try bending the loop to the size you want with the wires still overlapping so you can play with the size. Cut the wire with the straight cutter's straight side facing the loop to make the loop flat. Cut in line with the stem,  then bend it sideways toward the stem. If you try to close the bend by closing the loop in line with the turn it will spring back and not be nice and snug to solder.

I soldered the joint on the first loop so it will stay put, then bent the second loop and soldered that as well.

I have a burnisher (round rod of hardened metal) to sharpen cabinet scrapers. I ran it over any scratches I made in the copper to rub them out. Works surprisingly well, and leaves it nice and shiny without any polishing dirt. You could just use a nail or any smooth steel surface instead.

Tied a string through the loops using a lanyard knot (https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Tie-the-Lanyard-Knot/), adjusting the length as I go along.