A printed circuit board, or PCB, is a plate inside most of our commonly used electronics that allows them to function. circuit boards are covered in traces, conductors, resistors, and other interesting-looking electronic components that make them works of art. With these intricate and delicate designs, circuit boards are perfect to use with making jewelry!
This tutorial will show you how to make an easy, simple do-it-yourself pair of earrings using some materials that you may just having laying about the house. So wipe that dust off your old computer or cell phone, whip out that nail polish, and let's get started!
Materials You Will Need:
•A printed circuit board or a printed wiring board (either one works well)
•Electrician scissors, or a tool sharp and durable enough to cut through thick material
•Earring hooks with pinch bails
•Needle-nosed pliers
•Clear nail polish and a nail polish color of your choice
•Safety glasses (to shield your eyes from shards of components)
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Depending on where you got your circuit board, the directions for this process may be a little different than mine. I got my circuit board from an old hard drive, but you can also use circuit boards from old cell phones or other electronics. Also, depending on the thickness of your board, electrician scissors may not be the most efficient way to cut.
1.After you've gathered all your materials, separate your circuit board from anything that it's attached to. You'll be using the screw holes left behind as a place to attach your bail to your board.
2.Using the screw holes as a guide, think of the size, shape and positioning you'd like for your earrings. I chose to make my earrings diamond-shaped with a screw hole in the top corner. You can make yours long and rectangular, short and rectangular, circular, triangular, or any other shape and size that you wish.
3.Very slowly and carefully cut your circuit board, taking extra care when cutting through components that can create sharp debris. Protect your eyes with safety glasses and even your hands with gloves if the pieces are extra hazardous. Your board may warp a little, but it should settle down when it gets used to its new shape.
4.Brush away any debris, then paint the edges of your new board a single color to cover up jagged edges, and to give it some spice.
5.If you want a glossy look, paint your board with clear nail polish.
6.Attach your earring hook with your pinch bail using the empty screw hole that you cut around earlier.
7.Enjoy your new jewelry!
Other DIY Circuit Board Craft Ideas:
Earrings aren't the only crafts that you can make with an old circuit board. When that creative techie mood strikes, try out some of these projects:
•PCB necklace - If you've got a lot of board to spare, string pieces together on a thin beading wire. This requires a drill so you can make holes in your board as necessary.
•PCB picture frame - Glue pieces of a board onto a cheap picture frame to make a nerdy border around your favorite sentimental picture.
•PCB bracelet - Circuit board pieces make a nice noise when they clack together. When life gets stressful, jiggle your wrist for quick sound therapy!
•PCB cell phone cover - This may feel a little rough, but you've got to admit--it would be pretty cool-looking. Why not expose all the things that make your phone tick?
