Virginia Vivier creates jewelry from things that are completely not intended for this. Take, for example, a cartridge case - what does it mean? That someone was aiming at someone, shooting, maybe even taking his life. And the craftswoman creates amulets and talismans from these things - jewelry designed to protect from various troubles. Here is such a paradox.


According to Virginia herself, the fact that she started making such unusual jewelry is the “fault” of her neighbor. The latter brought her several boxes of used cartridges and said: "You are so creative, try to think of what you can do with them." It was a kind of challenge, and Virginia accepted it. Thus, the idea was born to create jewelry from shell casings.



Having put on rings, earrings and pendants, Virginia Vivier went to the fair, where she successfully sold all her products and received orders for new ones. But that's bad luck - the craftswoman ran out of material. It was not so easy to get the necessary cartridges: they were either too expensive or outwardly did not correspond to the author's design ideas. Finally, someone advised Virginia to go to one of the sites outside the city, where lovers of shooting practiced hitting targets. It was here that Vivier found what she was looking for.



Some shells are used in their original form, others have to be melted down to achieve the desired result. Using shell casings in her work, Virginia kills two birds with one stone: on the one hand, she takes care of the environment (after all, shell casings can lie in the ground for many years or be mistakenly eaten by animals or birds), and on the other hand, she creates unusual jewelry.

Someone will say that this is a pendant, someone will call it a pendant - the essence is not so important. In any case, we will consider how to make this product with our own hands from a 7.62 caliber bullet. Such decoration will be a good souvenir or a gift for a man, a connoisseur of military affairs.

First of all safety equipment. We are not responsible if your work (God forbid, of course) ends badly for you. We chose the 7.62 sniper cartridge, the drilling of which does not bode well. If you have a sighting-incendiary, tracer or armor-piercing tracer cartridge, then it’s better to throw this idea out of your head - it’s dangerous to handle such bullets at home with your own hands.

Why pendant and why 7.62

To make the pendant with our own hands, we chose a 7.62 caliber bullet and there is an explanation for this. First, the bullet size is 32mm high and it is much more noticeable than, for example, a 5.45 bullet. Secondly, the weight of the 7.62 bullet is almost 10 grams and it is weighty, tangible and somehow masculine, if you like. For example, a 5.45 bullet weighs only 3.4 grams, which seemed too small to us. Yes, and drilling such a small bullet size will be somewhat inconvenient.

However, these are just our comments and they do not mean at all that the cartridge with a 5.45 bullet is not suitable for making a pendant with your own hands. Perhaps you just want to make just a small and light pendant, or maybe you have a bullet of this caliber “lying around”. If so, then the algorithm of actions is not much different from ours.

Bullet pendant: step by step description and photo

Here is the cartridge from which we will have to extract the bullet and make a pendant out of it with our own hands. This is PS - a sniper cartridge for the Dragunov rifle, which was made in 1977 and has been perfectly preserved to this day. The caliber, as already mentioned, is 7.62 for the bullet, and this is quite enough for us to make not a big, but not a small pendant (pendant).

First you need to extract the bullet. There are several ways and they are all good in their own way: you can clamp the bullet with pliers and gently loosen it, you can use the strength of your fingers, or you can drill a hole in a wooden bar with a diameter of 8 mm, insert the bullet into the hole and loosen it in this way, holding the cartridge case with your hand. A small vise can also help you out. We ditched pliers and vices for one reason: we don't want to accidentally scratch the bullet. Drilling a hole in a piece of wood or board is an option as the soft wood will not leave marks on the bullet. But we also refused this, because we know that with your fingers you can pull out a bullet easily and easily.
The photo shows that after the first pressing, the bullet succumbed and slightly arched the sleeve. Believe me, it is very simple and easy - the efforts of an adult man will surely be enough. Next, gently loosen the bullet and pull it out at the same time.

Here is a photo after disassembling the cartridge: the cartridge case, gunpowder and the bullet itself.
We will leave the cartridge case just in case (we will still figure out what to make of it), we will also collect gunpowder - we will make a small rocket to demonstrate to the boys in the yard, as well as to instill curiosity and homemade products. But that's all later, but for now, do-it-yourself pendant-pendant is on the agenda.

Actually, everything is simple - you just need to drill a hole where the cord, chain or ring will be threaded. Only not everyone manages to do this and not scratch the bullet. We solved this problem simply: we needed a piece of plastic window sill lying around, a vise and a sharp nail (a pencil, pen, marker or core will do - if only we could put a mark on the plastic).

The photo shows how we continued the work: the plastic window sill was tightened in a vise, and you can mark the place for the hole using the bullet next to it.
In our case, a hole 8 mm from the edge of the bullet will be made in the pendant, since the pendant will be attached to a simple nylon cord. If you want to insert a metal ring first, then you should choose the exact drilling location so that the ring is exactly planted. There are random honeycombs inside the plastic product, and there were several of them where the bullet went very tightly. So tight that fears about the rotation or deflection of the bullet when drilling disappeared instantly.

If you still do not understand why such wisdom, then we will explain. Many don't know how to drill through a bullet and keep it looking smooth. You can clamp it in a vise through a piece of rubber or wrap it with electrical tape so that the drill does not slip. But both options were previously tested by us and they did not fit: even if you punched a bullet, the drill immediately slipped when it touched and left a mark on the surface of the future pendant. In our case, the bullet is securely clamped, and 1.5 mm of the plastic wall served as a kind of guide for the drill.

And here is the photo of the drilling process itself.
Nothing complicated when there is a screwdriver or drill with the ability to adjust the speed. As you can see, there is no need for large turnovers here. It is important that the drill is directed strictly horizontally and then the hole will not be beveled to the side. It is also advisable to mark the direction of the drill so that it passes through the center of the bullet, although even a slight deviation will not significantly affect - the pendant will look beautiful. We drilled with a 1.5 mm drill. We believe that a large hole diameter is inappropriate for aesthetic reasons.

The hole is ready and now we recommend using a slightly larger drill to bore the edges of both holes.
Firstly, this will remove the burrs, and secondly, the cord will not fray on sharp edges. We used a 3.5 mm drill, which we got from the CISS kit for the printer. Just forget about the help of a drill or screwdriver - there is a risk that the drill at speed will quickly enter the bullet and then you will ruin the workpiece. Better by hand, literally a couple of turns.

That's all, you made the pendant with your own hands, it remains only to stretch the cord. We purchased a dark-colored cord from a church shop, but you can even use a chain if you wish.

Instead of a conclusion

It is not difficult to make a pendant from a bullet with your own hands, as you have already seen. Of the most important rules, always remember the following: not every bullet can be drilled and any scratch will be too noticeable on the surface. Regarding the first Internet to help you - there are many sites where the marking of cartridges is indicated. The second rule, or rather, its consequences, depends on you. Accuracy and accuracy again - it will take quite a bit of time to make the pendant, so there is no need to rush.

What is a cartridge is known to many, in particular the male half. And what it is intended for is also known. But today we will use the ammunition peacefully and make a keychain out of the cartridge with our own hands.
A 5.45 caliber cartridge is ideal for manufacturing: its height is only 56 mm and it seems that a keychain of this size will be just right for the point. For example, if you use a cartridge with a caliber of 7.62, then it is two centimeters higher than 5.45 and will be inconvenient in a pocket in a bunch of keys. Well, at least we think so.
The problem is that the ammunition is real and you need to act very carefully and carefully so that you don’t have to call an ambulance, and a little later, while already in a hospital bed, explain to the police all the subtleties of your craft.
So what tools do we need. Here, at first, let's clarify a little: we are talking about a keychain with our own hands, which means we will try to use an unpretentious tool, the one that almost everyone has. We definitely won’t need some kind of machine, a complex mechanism - everything can be found in your workshop or in a tool box. At worst, you can buy something or ask a neighbor.
The photo shows the tools that we used:

Two slats. We have them with a cross section of 40 * 20 mm, but this is not important. A centimeter more or less - it doesn’t really matter, because their role is simple: to hold the cartridge in a vice.
Sandpaper. It is advisable to use the smallest grain that can be found. We also recommend using a fabric-based abrasive, because the paper will quickly become unusable. "Sandpaper" will grind the cartridge.
Acetone and a couple of cotton napkins. By the way, we will start making a keychain with our own hands from them - acetone will dissolve the red marks on the bottom of the cartridge and in the area where the bullet enters the cartridge case.
A piece of leather. Very good polishing material. In our case, a segment of a leather belt will be involved.
Kerno and hammer. Any sharp object, such as a nail, will also work. Later you will need to deactivate the primer, so look around for such things.
Vice. Even if they are small, they are necessary. It will be difficult without a vice, and if suddenly you don’t have them, then find at least a couple of clamps.
Drill and drill. In the key fob, you will need to make a hole for the ring. We used a drill with a diameter of 3 mm and a drill that can be replaced with a screwdriver.
Felt nozzle for a drill. Also for polishing, although sometimes a piece of leather is enough. But still, it will not be superfluous to polish our keychain - beauty plays a role.
DIY keychain: step by step instructions
The first thing to start with is the removal of the red varnish on the cartridge. Someone may say that there is no point in this, since after further stripping and polishing, the varnish will be torn off. To some extent this is true, but we know from experience that it is better to remove the varnish with acetone at the very beginning of work on the key fob. Here is a photo of what will come of it:
it can be seen that the bullet has been completely cleaned and we have already facilitated the polishing. Do not forget to wipe the bottom of the cartridge with acetone, there is also a red varnish around the primer.
Now let's move on to the most crucial moment in terms of security. You will need to drill a cartridge to remove gunpowder from the inside. Let's make a little explanation about this: there will probably be those who would rather pull the bullet and not risk drilling. However, then it will be difficult to clamp the bullet back into place and not scratch the case. That's why we decided to drill.
However, if you act carefully, then no consequences will follow. In our understanding, the word “carefully” means small turns of the drill chuck, accurate drill guidance and a complete lack of haste.
We clamp our workpiece in a vise through wooden slats:

The photo shows that before that we drew a line on the bars, so that it would be easier to combine the cartridge and thus drill as accurately as possible in the center. Also, a hole was drilled on the first rail in advance - it turned out to be a kind of guide.
It is necessary to clamp the cartridge in a vice quite strongly. You should not be afraid - gunpowder does not detonate, and even with a strong desire, you would not be able to flatten the cartridge through the rail. We attach the drill and start the operation at low speeds:

It is important here to apply moderate pressure so as not to break the drill, and also to feel the tool in your hands. As soon as the first wall is drilled, turn off the drill or screwdriver and unwind the vise. Through the hole made, it is necessary to pour out all the gunpowder that is inside the cartridge. Naturally, there should not be any source of fire nearby.

What to do with gunpowder - think for yourself. You can flush it down the toilet, scatter it in the wind, or just set it on fire later to admire the fire. But now the cartridge is almost not dangerous and you can more safely continue drilling the second wall of the sleeve. To do this, we again clamped the cartridge between the rails, and so that it exactly fell into its original place, we put it on the drill and only then clamped it in a vise:

Now you can pull out the drill, insert it into the drill or screwdriver and continue drilling. A pilot hole, if done correctly and the chuck is set correctly, will not allow curved drilling. If you do everything correctly, you will get a neat hole passing through the center of the cartridge:

Now you should deactivate the capsule. By itself, it does not pose a particular danger until it is hit with a sharp object and a sufficiently strong blow. But you never know what can happen in your pants or jacket pocket, so let's not risk it. To deactivate, we use a hammer, a core and a vise with rails. As before, the chuck should be firmly clamped in a vise, but it is advisable to install it so that the drilled holes are not blocked by rails. With a mini-explosion of the primer, a small amount of gases is released and they can loosen the bullet a little - we do not need this.

For purely aesthetic reasons, try to install the core in the center of the primer. You should not be afraid - a maximum loud bang awaits you, which even the neighbors will not really hear. One sharp hammer blow on the core and your workpiece is no longer completely dangerous. A small amount of haze, a slight soot on the sleeve itself, but the danger was completely over.

The photo shows that we “missed” quite a bit, although this is not so critical. Now let's move on to sanding and polishing. We decided to simplify our task and clamped the cartridge into a drill. And the tool itself, in turn, was still clamped in the same vise:

And again, let's make a small digression to clarify the need for grinding and subsequent polishing. Of course, a cartridge (or rather, an object that visually looks like a cartridge) can already be used as a keychain. But during operation, the green paint will definitely peel off the sleeve. Moreover, it will not be a completely cleaned surface, but, as it were, densely scratched. That's why we decided to remove the paint immediately.
During the grinding process, certain conditions must be met:
The workpiece should not be strongly clamped in the drill chuck. Otherwise, marks will appear on the sleeve, which will be difficult to remove. It is better to completely abandon the clamp with a key and trust the effort of the hands.
The groove at the bottom of the sleeve will require particularly careful grinding. You may have to fold sandpaper in half or even use a small needle.
Do not forget to grind the bottom part, where the primer is located. There are also recesses that are difficult to reach.
Only the sleeve is polished! If you start touching the bullet with even fine sandpaper, it will merge in color with the sleeve. And here it is precisely the peculiarity that the bullet remains red in color, and the sleeve becomes silver.

In the photo above, it is noticeable that it is better to periodically turn on the reverse on the drill - pay attention to the remnants of paint on the left side of the hole.
After grinding one side, rearrange the workpiece and again take up sandpaper. As in the previous case, do not tighten the future keychain too much - only with your own hands and no key.

Polishing is the longest moment of the entire keychain production. The most interesting thing is that there is no understanding of when to stop. For example, if all the previous stages took us about 10 minutes, then polishing "stole" about an hour of time. And this is not the limit: it would be possible to polish more. At least we think so.

And this is what happened after more than one hour of work:
keychain from a cartridge, which was made entirely by hand. If someone thinks that such a product will quickly succumb to corrosion, then he is mistaken. The key fob during operation will be polished by itself, constantly being either in a pocket, or in a purse, or simply in friction with the keys. But the bullet itself will lose a little in color and become a little dimmer.

However, this is not so critical and can always be polished if desired. You can also try to make a personalized keychain by etching a name on it. Here the fantasy is limitless: at least the number of the unit where they served, at least a drawing, at least the famous "For the Airborne Forces", at least the logo of your car. Or you can even turn the keychain into a pendant and thread a chain instead of a ring. In any case, this do-it-yourself keychain turned out to be beautiful and quite original. Much better and more interesting than a chuck machined to size on a lathe.