fun with metal - how to make a flower ring
![](https://i.imgur.com/puv6kKz.jpg)
You can always look into your community college ( USA) and most of them have beginners and medium metal/silversmithing courses that are not too expensive
I start out with 18 gauge sterling silver
18 gauge is 1 mm thick . I prefer that thickness as the flowers do not bend but are not too heavy either draw a circle ( use a template - its easier )
inside the circle I drew a flower
![](https://i.imgur.com/ulb681c.jpg)
using a jewelers saw and 1/0 blades for cutting out the flower
cut out flower
![](https://i.imgur.com/jesYIOI.jpg)
I want to dome mine so I am using a dabbing block
![](https://i.imgur.com/ugZvwji.jpg)
mine is a square block with 30 domed indentations and corresponding hammers - put your flower in a " bowl " and take the "hammer with the ball that fits " using a nylon hammer to pound on the end of that hammer if you do not have a dabbing block you can go with 20 gauge sterling which is thinner and bend your pedals with a pliers
domed flower
![](https://i.imgur.com/GrzJ8sg.jpg)
file your edges smooth
![](https://i.imgur.com/95A14om.jpg)
take any wire you have
![](https://i.imgur.com/ib59vYI.jpg)
I used twisted wire for the ring shank - twisted wire is easy to do or you can also buy it at riogrande or thunderirdsupply.com
cut the wire to length - file edges flat
![](https://i.imgur.com/ZwYU8BR.jpg)
take a needle nose pliers
![](https://i.imgur.com/xjxbtXF.jpg)
bend your ring shank until edges meet
![](https://i.imgur.com/uQSKifs.jpg)
try to get the ends as close as you can together
flux your ring
![](https://i.imgur.com/Qa1bS30.jpg)
I prefer paste flux add some solder and...
....start heating with a torch
![](https://i.imgur.com/GInc9jP.jpg)
heat until the solder flows , quench in water and clean in pickle solution
soldered ring shank
![](https://i.imgur.com/OqpOx5p.jpg)
now comes the forming
![](https://i.imgur.com/4PNij81.jpg)
using a ring mandrel and a nylon hammer , shape you ring shank until its round
I prefer my rings to be flat and not round
rounded ring shank
![](https://i.imgur.com/xizWkLc.jpg)
take some metal scrap - flux and then heat with torch
![](https://i.imgur.com/at7gzcu.jpg)
this is to make the little ball in the middle
![](https://i.imgur.com/sALQ17Y.jpg)
heat the sterling until it forms a ball
![](https://i.imgur.com/03m7lUx.jpg)
here its red hot metal
turn your flower upsdide down and flux both ring shank and flower
![](https://i.imgur.com/3SEEX6I.jpg)
heat with torch and solder together
flip again
![](https://i.imgur.com/AzMuReE.jpg)
flux the inside of your flower and add a small piece of solder
![](https://i.imgur.com/xTmDxoU.jpg)
heat again until solder flows - add your ball of molten sterling and again flux and heat
this is after everything is soldered together
![](https://i.imgur.com/86tdQz1.jpg)
clean in pickle solution to get rid of oxidation ( blackness )
after the pickle bath
![](https://i.imgur.com/Ntz6JRY.jpg)
start polishing ( sand paper , steel wool )
finished
![](https://i.imgur.com/FoBBHQ8.jpg)
I added the smaller ring to the slightly larger one I already had
hope you liked it , please have a look around , comment and maybe even visit my shop at
www.nicilaskin.etsy.com , thank you :)