When I first started making jewelry, about 12 years ago, I focused on beaded necklaces, bracelets and earrings. What were the necessary tools? Beads, wire, jump rings, a clasp of some sort, pliers, wire cutters and crimp beads to secure the necklace end. That was a lot…but that was about it. But now…
I have gotten away from beading and into metalsmithing. I truly love metalsmithing! There’s something about working with the properties of metal that is very exciting and satisfying. You can saw it, hammer it, melt it, make it appear polished and shiny or give it an antique finish. You can make it into a ring, necklace, bracelet, pin or earrings. Each of these objects that we like to wear can literally have an unlimited number of shapes, forms and designs. Sigh….that’s the life of a metalsmith.
So, back to the question…how many tools does it take to make a ring? Yes…from scratch, as my mother used to say when making dinner. The first thing you need to do is decide which type of ring you would like to make. What are your goals? A simple ring out of round wire is a good starting place. Who are you making it for? For yourself or for a friend? I would suggest first starting with yourself using inexpensive materials as well as an easy design. You want to encourage yourself by learning the basics. Then later you can move on to more advanced techniques. Here is the beginning of the list with links if you’d like to purchase. (By the way, I do not make any commission for the purchase suggestions.):
Goals:
- What type of ring…simple, using round wire…aluminum or sterling silver flat wire could work, depending on your budget.
- Who is the ring for…yourself. (Good choice!)
- Will you wind the wire until you get your desired look…or will you solder the wire into a continuous circle? Soldering will be featured in a future tutorial.
Note: The first ring I made was out of 18 gauge copper wire. I did not yet have the soldering equipment or skills yet. But, I did have a hammer and a few metal stamping stamps to imprint cool designs of the wire. I’ll explain how to make that ring in another post, with a picture and a link. 🙂
Materials:
- Wire…20 gauge or 18 gauge copper is inexpensive and easy to find. Check out your local hardware store like Home Depot or Lowes. Contenti online is also a great place for copper wire. http://www.contenti.com
- Steel bench block…they come in various sizes. https://contenti.com/steel-economy-bench-blocks
- Sandbag or rubber bench block holder https://contenti.com/rubber-bench-blocks
- Plastic mallet/hammer https://contenti.com/plastic-mallet
- 1 lb brass head mallet/hammer https://contenti.com/brass-mallets
- Ring Mandrel, steel is best. Some have ring sizes engraved on them which comes in handy. https://contenti.com/economy-graduated-ring-mandrel
- Metal Design Stamps, if you want to add designs https://beaducation.com/collections/metal-design-stamps
- Large Wrap and Tap / Looping Pliers https://contenti.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=wrap+and+tap
- Cutting pliers / cutting shears https://contenti.com/cutting-tools/hand-shears
- Black sharpie marker
- Steel wool, 1000 grit or Polish Pads https://contenti.com/ultra-polish-pads
Steps:
- Measure your finger using a piece of string or yarn. Make sure you allow enough room for the ring to fit over your knuckle. You should have somewhere between 65 to 80mm in length.
- Lay the string or yarn flat against a ruler to see how long you need to cut your material. Depending on your desired look, you don’t need to be super picky about the length. Just be sure that it will wrap around your finger with some extra length to spare.
- Cut your material
- Use the 1 lb brass head mallet/hammer to apply designs using the metal design stamps…your choice.
- Use the Large Wrap and Tap Pliers to get a circular shape going with the wire. If you choose to spiral the wire this is where you would start that process by positioning the wire at a slight angle, perhaps 40-45 degrees.
- Switch the wire to your steel ring mandrel and use the plastic mallet/hammer to continue the circular shape.
- Apply the black sharpie marker to your designs and allow a couple of minutes to dry.
- Polish with steel wool or Pro Polish Pads.
Online Jewelry Supply Stores:
- Contenti https://contenti.com/
- Beaducation https://beaducation.com/
- RioGrande https://www.riogrande.com/
So, there you have it. It’s possible to make your own ring with approximately 11 tools. Please keep in mind that this is just the beginning of your jewelry making adventure! There’s more fun to come as your skills grow and improve. Anything worth doing takes time and effort. Stay engaged and have fun!
“Promise me you’ll always remember: you’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” A. A. Milne, English writer and playwright, author of Winnie-the-Pooh.
Thanks for tuning in!
Sincerely,
Samra
Sizing a ring is pretty easy. It just takes a little applied mathematics. First, determine the inner diameter of the desired ring size. Then, take the inner diameter, add the thickness of your wire and multiply by pi…3.14.
Designs By Samra…a Jewelry Making Adventure 