Ring-Making

[c_t_e1004]

Anyone here make rings?
Im looking into it and wanted some tips and techniques.
Thanks!!!   

[Polly]

I personally don't make rings, but I know of a few books that offer some good ideas.

* Wire Jewelry (from the Bead&Button Project Series)
* Contemporary Copper Jewelry, by Sharilyn Miller
* Contemporary Wire Wrapped Jewelry, by Curtis Kenneth Leonard
* Creative Designs in Wire Jewellery, by Mavis and Susan Llewellyn
* All of the Art Clay Silver metal clay books
And I thought there were some books with some ideas for rings strung on stretchy cord (such as Gossamer Floss or Stretch Magic), but I can't find these books now. They might have been seasonal publications that are no longer in print.

Anyone else have suggestions or ideas?

--Polly

[Metalman]

I want to add one more book to Polly's list: 'The Complete Metalsmith' by Tim McCreight [R&T#62-010 ; http://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/Book-The-Complete-Metalsmith-An-illustrated-handbook-499p17185.htm ]
A couple of reason's
1] Of all jewelry, rings probably need to take the most abuse and so... must be durable
2] Traditional metalsmithing/jewelrysmithing methods remain the best for such durability
3] McCreight's book gives a great basic outlay of metalsmithing and jewelry making
4] There is a great little way to make Silver metal clay durable for rings or to develop copper and bronze rings. That is to make a light weight ring blank as an inner sleeve for the ring you are making - that way the milled silver you use will give you durability and if you are using metal that discolors human skin the silver makes a protective barrier. the Downside: You still need to learn basic metalsmithing to make a light weight ring blank