River People Cuff-links

Julia, this is for you :-)

When I make earrings, I cut the shards by eye, and make the bezels for them afterwards. With cuff-links it's a bit different, they have to fit into a specific size of frame which requires a bit more planning.

Here is a step by step account of how I go about it. It's a long and quite dusty process...

Here is a large shard with people on it - I want to use both of them so it will be a bit tricky. I also want to avoid the rust stain on the bottom right which didn't come off in the cleaning process.

I mark out the bits I want to use, and the direction of the cut. It's very close!
(This must have been a plate, and there were some curved bits round the side which I have removed as they get in the way).

I'll have to get a very precise cut...

Yay! (and 'phew')

I use my mosaic nippers which I have left over from my mosaic making days.

Then I roughly shape the circles:

It's off to the grinder now, to smooth them out. I have to wear these:

and this:

The grinding produces lots of dust which I'd rather not breathe or get in my eyes. 

Then, the final refining - with an old rusty metal file I found in a boot sale, then sandpaper.

I also adjust the height (more sanding) - and now they are ready to be set!

Here they are in the Thermo-Loc, I have just set the right hand one, I still have to do the left one.

Finally - they are set and cleaned up, photographed and uploaded to my online shop.