I love finding supplies to make jewelry at the hardware store. For this bracelet I revisited an old favorite the ‘hex nut’ and this time I brightened it up with a purple rat tail cord.
You can easily stack this bracelet with all your others for a great look.
VIEW DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS >
What you’ll need to make your DIY Hex Nut Diamond Bracelet:
- Brass hex nuts
- Brass jump rings
- Pliers
- 24″ of rat tail cord
- Lighter
Step 1
Lay out your hex nuts to determine your pattern.
Step 2
Using your pliers, open your jump rings to fit around your hex nuts, you will be joining 2 at a time.
Continue until you have joined all your hex nuts together and completed your pattern.
Step 3
Cut your rat tail cord in half.
Fold it over and loop it through your end nut.
Take one hex nut and feed your cords from each side through the hex nut.
Tie your ends in knots.
Using your lighter, carefully melt the ends of your cord. You don’t have to touch the cord with the flame and it melts very quickly. Please be careful.
I have to tell you that I was inspired to make this bracelet while I was watching an episode of the Real Housewives of Orange County, when I was at the gym. Inspiration can come from any where, right? Lol…
I actually set out to make earrings with this project. But when they were finished, even though they were cute, they were way too heavy! My ear looked like it was being pulled off! So I made an executive decision and turned them into a bracelet, which I think looks even better.
Let me know how your bracelet turns out, or would your wear them as earrings?
:) Love this one! I have an addiction to the home depot, too! :)
Did you get the brass jump rings at the hardware store? I would love to try this. What size are the jump rings? I am very new at this so I have lots of questions. Thank you for the tutorial
Hi Wanda,
I bought the jump rings at Michael’s Craft store. They are 1/4 inch in diameter. I apologize don’t have the packaging and I think that’s how they measure them.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
xoxo
Cathy
Maybe earrings would be cute and not as heavy if you only used four rings instead of 16? Also this looks like a cute tutorial ill have to try it.
I found this through craftgawker.com (just discovered that site today and it’s like crack!)-saved for a to-do. I love how you paired the industrial look of the hex nuts with a delicate purple shade. Nice juxtaposition :)
Hi Audrey,
Thank you so much! I know what you mean about craftgawker!LOL It’s easy to get lost there!
xoxo
Cathy
What a stunning piece of jewelry…awesome.. love that you’ve used purple!
I think a necklace to match should be next! Very cute.
hi…i make jewelry from nuts and i am making ear-rings as well…u just have to use smaller nuts…size M 2.5 or M 3 are perfect for them…not heavy at all…;o)…and if u like unusual jewelry u shoud to try washers…perfect for ear-rings…good luck
What size hex nuts did you use? And what size jump rings?
I am attempting to make this bracelet. I am using #6-32 brass tone hex nuts. I tried linking two nuts together with a 6mm jump ring and it was too big. I tried a 4 mm and it was too small. I am going to get some 5mm jump rings; they should be the right size. If not, I will resort to using 26 gauge wire to link the nuts.
So lovely! Must try it.
How did you get the last strand through the nut that secures the end of the bracelet?
Hi Rivers,
As far as getting the last hex nut on, I recommend putting the cords from one side through the hex nut and pulling them tight against the hex nut. Then twist the ends from the other side and push them through in the other direction. There’s no real trick, if you have a hard time getting them through sometimes you can use a blunt needle to try and help push them through. Good luck! ;)
xoxo
Cathy
Where’d you get all of these supplies? Like the rat tail cord and the hex nuts? I really want to make this!
Hi Ingrid,
I bought the hex nuts at The Home Depot, any hardware store will have them. The rat tail cord is available at JoAnn’s fabric store or most any fabric store. JoAnn’s also carries the jump rings and so does Michaels craft store.
xoxo
Cathy
What a graet idea!
I’ll try it the next time,
Thanx Franzi
Hi! Discovered this a while ago, and I’m planning on making a couple of these bracelets (for me and as presents to some friends)! Will try to make a matching necklace too, let’s see how that goes! :)
What a great idea. Just wondering, are these 1/4 inch hex nuts?
Thanks!
this is super..first time on your blog & i love it
Thank you and Welcome!!
xoxo
Cathy
that’s a really good idea !
I done an article an my blog about you here : http://modeuse-timbree.blogspot.fr/2012/08/diy-9.html
See ya !!!
Thank you so much for including me on your blog!
xoxo
Cathy
I am going to make a few different bracelets to sell at a bazaar my friend is throwing – and I have just added this to my list!!! How cute!!! I will let you know how they turn out!
These are gorgeous! I was wondering what size are the hex nuts you used? :)
I’ve already done this bracelet and everyone got shocked when they saw it is made of hex nuts:) really fashionable…I’m a teacher and now I’m curious about my students’ reactions to this bracelet because they mostly like my accessories and clothes…
I really liked the idea. I want to make this bracelet for my girlfriend. So I would like to know the size of those nuts that you used. Please tell me. I need it. xD
Hi Igor,
I don’t have the package any more, so I can’t give you the technical size, but measuring from outer flat side to outer flat side they are 3/8 of an inch.
I hope this helps.
Thanks!
xoxo
Cathy
Oh! I’m so glad! haha
I almost bought all the supplies today. But I did not know the dimension of nuts.
Thank you so much! ;)
:) :*
That looks great! So funny how blunders can be turned into beautiful pieces that weren’t originally thought up. That’s how most of my stuff is made!
Thanks Andrea! It’s so true! If you really believe in something don’t give up on it. It’s like they say “from our greatest failures can come great accomplishments”.
xoxo
Cathy
Hi Cathy, I made your bracelet today and I absolutely love it! I used black suede strips to finish it . It looks so rich. Luckily I had all the materials on hand. I made it in gold. I plan on making a silver one soon for my daughter. I have made earrings in the past using nuts in a long straight row, connected with jump rings. I love to be creative and I can see that you enjoy it too. Happy creating, Kathleen
Hi Kathleen,
Wow what a great idea using black suede! I bet it looks amazing with the black and gold!
Thank you!
xoxo
Cathy
I WILL BE DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR USING THE NUTS AND JUMP RINGS. CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT SIZE JUMP RINGS IN DIAMETER/ AND WHAT SIZE NUTS YOU USED? I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN AND MUST ORDER THE JUMP RINGS ONLINE.
Hi Irene,
The jump rings I used are 1/4 inch in diameter.
xoxo
Cathy
What does †stand for, when you are talking about the measurement for the rattail cord? Inches?
Hi Jenifer,
Yes, it does stand for inches. I apologize, there were a lot of bugs in the text when we transferred to the new website. I think I’ve fixed all of them on this post. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
xoxo
Cathy
there are no amount of anything such as how long the cord should be or the size of jump rings or the size of hex nuts
I am attempting to make this bracelet. I am using #6-32 brass tone hex nuts. I tried linking two nuts together with a 6 mm jump ring and it was too big. I tried a 4 mm and it was too small. I am going to get some 5 mm jump rings; they should be the right size. If not, I will resort to using 26 gauge wire to link the nuts.
She does say 24″ of cord and explains how to loop it through.
I wish I could find a video of this bracelet being made.
Adorable! More hours in the day pleas!!
Does the bracelet stay on? Does it loosen when you wear it?
Really love the hexnut bracelet! Making it soon! :) thank you
Thanks Carrie!!! I’m so glad you like it!
xoxo
Cathy
like it!
I like the look of this bracelet so much! It’s unique but still really pretty. Thanks for the tutorial. :)
I would love to make this bracelet, however (in my mind) I have a major concern about how the nuts are connected to each other:
With the nuts being connected with jump rings and the movement a bracelet endures on a wrist, would the jump rings ever loosen up causing the entire thing to unravel…? If so, how could this be prevented?
This worries me a lot. I wouldn’t want all the nuts to spill out all over the floor one day.
Thanks again for the great tutorial! ;)
Hi Kitley!
The jump rings are really strong. You have to use pliers to open them to attach the hex nuts. I can’t imagine that they would come undone on their own.
Thanks!
xoxo
Cathy
Thanks so much for your reply. :)
I will definitely gather the nuts and cord to make this bracelet now!
I don’t comment often, but feel this is important.
Please take care when wearing hardware metals against the skin. These items are made for house building and not made to be worn against human skin.
Hardware components do not go through testing standards that all jewelry and jewelry components go through to be made safe for human wear. There is a whole host of chemicals on hardware store items that can do potential harm. IE lead, cadnium, formadehyde and other hazardous chemicals.
This maybe true but it you must also factor in what the hardware is made of. Also there are precautions I believe you can take to get rid of the chemicals but, hardware companies must follow certain regulations or they will get charged with many violations with OSHA. I also believe if it was harmful to the skin as you say then we shouldn’t be touching hardware at all.
I love this design. Could you tell me what size hex nuts and jump rings you used+? I tried making this but couldn’t match up the hex nut size with the jump ring.
I would really like to do this as Christmas gifts since I have very limited money.
Thank you
Fran
Wow, special idea. How could think of using upcycling in making the diy bracelet ? What size of the hex nut would be more beautiful? Thanks for posting.