Patterned Band Ring

Select your metal You can use a base metal, which includes nickel silver, brass, or copper. They are only 25 cents, so if you accidentally ruin it you aren’t out a lot of money. You can also use sterling silver. It is an alloy of 92.5% fine silver and 7.5% copper for strength. It is expensive but looks great and is easy to work with.

Flatten your metal Use a rawhide mallet on the anvil

Texture your metal Be sure to do a thorough job so that your pattern is even and complete. You can use either a hammer, stamps, or the rolling mill to create the texture.

File the sides of your metal Texturing the metal changes its outside shape. Use a file in the vise.

Determine your ring size. Sizer should slide on easily but be hard to get off. A dash – means a half size.

Cut a tag board pattern It should be the same length and width as your metal piece.

Mark length on tag board. Make your ring about a size larger than the size you wear. It shrinks when bent! Wrap around mandrel and mark length.

Transfer length to textured metal

If you are using a fairly thin piece of either copper, brass, or sterling silver (not nickel silver), there is an easy way to get a perfect fit instead of the method above. See me if you’re interested.

Cut metal to length

File ends flat Be sure to flatten the ends with a mallet first.

Bend ring into a triangle Use non-serrated pliers. Anneal if needed.

Flatten to close On laminate table, push down with your palm until ends come together. Use pliers to adjust for a perfect seam

Cut your Solder You will need a piece about 2-3mm long. Always use MEDIUM solder for a ring unless there’s a good reason to use something else. Don’t flatten your solder. Don’t mix up your different types of solder—once they are out of the bag, it’s impossible to tell which is which!

Solder your ring Put solder UNDER the ring at the seam. Use medium solder. Heat the block, not the metal.

When you solder, don’t forget all the steps! Pickle, rinse, dry. Add flux. Set up with the solder UNDER the seam, so that you can see the solder flow. Let cool until black, then quench. Pickle, rinse, dry. ***only use copper tongs in the pickle!***

File sides even

Round ring on mandrel

Remove firescale Use a Cratex bullet on the flex shaft Use outside ring holder to get the inside. Use a wooden mandrel to get the outside.

Antique, if desired Use the appropriate antique solution for your metal. Sterling silver uses a different antique that has to be mixed up just before use. No double dipping! Heating up your metal after adding the antique can make it darker. Do not pickle after this. Rinse and dry before buffing.

Buff, using only red rouge

Buffing notes Tripoli can buff your pattern out. Don’t use it unless you have a very deep pattern. Notice the angle on the wooden mandrel…point the narrow end in so that the ring will be forced up the mandrel and won’t fly off.

If your ring doesn’t quite fit: Dome it a little if it’s too big Stretch it a little if it’s too small (easy with silver, brass, or copper, not easy with nickel silver) If it’s way off, switch fingers or give your friend a lovely gift

Clean your ring Use the ultrasonic cleaner with heat and waves for about 5-10 minutes] Scrub out texture with a toothbrush to remove buffing compound.