Had some more fun Silver smithing today
I know the album is kinda long , but maybe someone will enjoy it
I made some sterling silver wedding bands today for him and her
I used 18 gauge sterling ( 1mm thick )
draw your shape of the ring - I decided on a feather
you can either pre draw it on paper and then glue that to the metal or if it is an easy shape or you have a template you can draw directly on the metal
after you are done sawing take a chasing tool or a screw driver
start to add some texture
I use a so called third hand to hold the ring
I prefer wire solder cut into pieces
there are many types of solder ( sheet , wire , stick, paste )
lay your solder across the gap after you fluxed it and start heating with your torch
a small butane torch will work as the rings are small and heat quickly I have an acetylene / air torch which i prefer instead of the acetylene / oxygen ones ( its 1 tank of volatile gas vs. 2 tanks )
this is after soldering and quenching
the blackness comes from oxidation during the torching
this is after the bath
form the ring on a ring mandrel with a nylon hammer
basically you hammer away until you have a perfectly round ring
tada--------------round
now comes the clean up
I have a flex shaft ( yes I know .....) which is a dremel with a flexible hose . The bit I use is a 80 grit bristle brush
start polishing
nice and shiny