Hollow box cube bead

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hi,

I would like to make some hollow box(cube) beads in sterling silver.

Can anyone help me?

Thanks.
Regards,
Kavitha Balakrishnan

2

Hi Kavitha,

I remember reading your post where you made a bent ring round.

So I will assume you are a beginner in this trade.

Now, if you are to learn anything, I will not tell you how to make
this cube.

I will ask you the following questions, which you must answer, either
in a reply or you write it all out on paper, as part of your learning
note book.

How many sides does a cube have?
are they all the same size?
then take some card, and a pair of scissors,
and cut out this no of sides, say 5cm by 5 cm.

Now see how you can put them together.

How many ways can you do this? Start with some more card and see how
you can reduce the number of pieces to the barest minimum? I will now
give you a clue. this minimum is 2 pieces.

work out how you can do this, then come back here with you
description and answer.

Now we have gotten this far. I will next let you take some thin
copper sheet say 1/2mm thick and your scissors or shears, and
replicate these pieces in metal making each side of your cube say 2.5
cm. by 2.5cm When you have done this, you will need to solder up the
sides.

Thats another skill which i expect you to have studied in books on
silversmithing, and practiced on odd bits of metal to the stage you
can repeat your soldering accurately every time.

Only when you can complete say, 5 identical cubes in copper, I will
then let you do the same in sterling.

I await your proper written reply.

Ted.

3

Ted, I loved your reply to Kavitha. It is clear and precise, and
really should help Kavitha in learning how to deal with new problems
in silversmithing.

Alma

4

This is a bit off but I’ve got a free tutorial on how to make hollow
silver wire beads with sugar cubes here:
http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/1wo

Youtube video on it here: - YouTube

Lisa Van Herik
beadifferent.com

5 
I loved your reply to Kavitha. It is clear and precise, and really
should help Kavitha in learning how to deal with new problems in
silversmithing.

Could you do it in one piece as a “T” shape?

6 
I loved your reply to Kavitha. It is clear and precise, and really
should help Kavitha in learning how to deal with new problems in
silversmithing.

Yes, I did think that it can be done from one piece, however, the
problem is the last fold over a square steel block…

How do you get it out without distorting one of the sides? Im
assuming one wants all 6 sides to be true, flat and all corners to
be 90 deg.

Have you thought how to make it from 2 pieces? thats the easiest way.

Let me know what you think.

Ted.

7

Frank,

Yes, you can do it in one piece as a t-shape. It uses a larger piece
of sheet, and takes a lot of very accurate measurement, sawing, and
groove filing. I remember holding my breath as I folded it up, hoping
that I was not off anywhere! It was required when I was a student.
The exhiIaration was wonderful, but I would not recommend doing it
more than once in a lifetime!

Michelle

8

From our archives…

…

Doming Silver Beads, by Nancy Howland, 2008
by:

Nancy Howland’s manual on making silver beads, “Doming Silver
Beads”, is now available to the members of Orchid and Ganoksin.
Nancy passed away in 2009 and the second printing of her book was
sold out so her family has decided to make her book available for
free. Ganoksin is charging a micro fee only to cover the bandwidth
costs in distributing and hosting the book.

If you’ve ever dreamed of making perfect silver beads every time,
then this manual is just what you are looking for since Nancy shows
you step-by-step with illustrations how to do it. Nancy’s family
hope you will check out her book, “Doming Silver Beads”.

You will learn how silver beads are made and how to:

Select the best silver gauge sheet metal
Determine the disc size using easy formulas
Cut and prepare discs for forming
Add textures and designs
Form matching domes
Solder perfect seams
Sand and polish flawlessly

Continue reading…

9

I agree with Michelle. It can be done with a T-shape, but as she
points out, it takes a lot of sawing, and I found getting it soldered
with no gaps in the seam and getting it perfectly square wasa real
challenge. I make a lot of square beads, and pendants, and the method
that I use is asfollows. If It want a 10mm square bead, I cut two
squares measuring l1mm each(the excess will be trimmed after
soldering.) Next I cut a silver strip measuring 10mm X 40mm. Then I
cut 4 grooves in the silver strip 10mm apart, so that I have 4
perfect squares. Accurate measuring is essential.

Next I form it into a round shape (like a round bezel), and with
hard solder join the seams. I then take the soldered round piece, and
shape it over a piece of square wood which I use as a mandrel. The
previously cut grooves help with the forming. When it is perfectly
square, I place it on one of the previously cut 11 mm squares,
solder, drill a small hole for gases to escape, and solder the two
together. Finally, I place the other 11mm square on the top, get it
all soldered on, then trim off the excess. In order to make the
entire process as easy as possible, I usually use 20 ga. silver for
the 11mm squares, but use 22 or even 24 gauge for the long strip. it
is easier to form. There are many ways of making square cubes, but
this works fine for me. Alma

10

Thanks everyone for the lessons and reply.

I did try doing a box bead in one piece after seeing a tutorial on
making a trinket box in youtube. Lovely one.

But at the end I could not fold the last one on top.

After that only I posted my query on this forum.

What a lovely forum, people are all so helpful to share

I am just back from Bangalore (Silicon valley of India). So I am
going to try different, effective, easy methods.

Once I am done will post it on Orchid.

Thanks to all once again.