Handmade Torch Forged Rings p2

The following is a continued description of how I make my hand forged rings. It is a long involved process so I am splitting this description into several posts. This is the second of these posts. Part 1 can be read here.

Torch Forged Rings
Part 2 - Forming the Ring Stock
made by Ash
Unicorn's Garden

Part 2 begins with forming the prepared ingot from part 1 into the ring band stock.

Ingot After First Hammering Session

Forming the silver for the band is a slow process. Each time the hot silver contacts the steel pounding block and the hammer contacts the silver it is cooled by the steel. After several strikes the silver is placed back on the charcoal to be heated again. Once heated the silver is again placed on the pounding block and hammered closer to its finished shape. This process continues until the silver is the right width and thickness for a ring band.

Second Hammering Increases Length - still too thick

I have never counted the number of times the silver goes from heated to hammered and back again but it is quite a few. Each photo of the silver being shaped is after about an hours worth of heating and hammering. After each session of hammering I let the silver air cool on the charcoal blocks or the heat-reflective soldering pad beneath the charcoal blocks.
With most torch work I quench the piece in water for a quick cool down but never with forged rings. With forged rings the slow cool down of the silver is very important. It has to do with keeping the molecular structure that is created through the heating and hammering process. As I said I have never been formally trained in forging so I don't really know all of the specifics but I do know if the silver is quenched at any point it ends up being annealed. Annealing is a process of heating and quenching metal to make it softer. That would make all of the hammering done to the silver a complete waste of time in about 30 seconds.

Third Hammering Continues to Increase Length & Thin Band

After the silver ingot has been hammered into the right width and thickness for a band it is time to cut the silver to the proper length for a ring. I will state here that the "right" width and thickness for the bands is not a precise measurement. All of this work is being done by hand and not a machine so the thickness and width does vary slightly from ring to ring. I try to keep these variances below 1 mm though by comparing the hammered metal to 18 gauge sheet sterling and comparing it to other rings I have made that are 3/16" wide.

Fourth & Final Hammering - The band is ready to be cut

Part 3 will be posted on Friday 11/1/13

Handmade Torch Forged Rings p1

The following is a description of how I begin making my hand forged rings. It is a long involved process so I am splitting this description into several posts. This is the first of these posts.

Torch Forged Rings
Part 1 - Melting to Hammering
made by Ash
Unicorn's Garden

Although I have not been formally trained in the ways of forging I have developed a process of torch forging sterling silver rings. This process began with our wedding bands. I wanted to create rings that weren't part of my standard ring lines at the time. Something that would be meaningful to both of us. The result was beautiful sterling silver rings that are stronger than sterling silver usually is.

I have made other forged rings since making our wedding bands. With the most recent forged rings I made I decided to photographically document the steps of the process I use.

Sterling Silver Pieces in curable
with cuttle bone trough

 I begin with pieces of sterling silver that would otherwise be sent back to my silver supplier. These pieces are placed in a clay/silica crucible with some boric acid and melted with a torch. Once the silver is liquified and impurities are pulled out with a carbon rod I pour the silver into the trough of a cuttle bone that I prepared before melting the silver. I let the silver solidify into a rough ingot (usually more lump shaped than anything else) I quench it in water.

As I don't often have enough time in one day to make a ring from beginning to end I usually schedule the different steps with my other work over a course of several days. Thus why I quench the ingot instead of getting straight to forming it.

Sterling Silver ingot, after cooling, in crucible

When it is time to start forging the ingot into a ring I set it on a piece of charcoal with another piece forming a wall behind it and start heating it with a torch. The charcoal not only provides a heat shield for my working surface but also reflects the heat back into the silver I am working with. Once the ingot is glowing orange I pick it up with a pair of pliers, place it on my steel pounding block, and start hitting it with a steel hammer. I find this to be a particularly fun part of the process as it can be very therapeutic repeatedly hitting something with a hammer for creative rather than destructive means.

Part 2 will be posted on Friday 10/18/13

So it has been far to long since I have posted anything to my blog. After ending up with far more to do than time in a day I had to put some things on hold. This blog was one of them. Now situations have changed again and I will be getting back to posting. I don't know how regularly, however, a new post is in the works.... well other than this one. During the time I have not been posting I have been continuing to create new jewelry designs and honing my craft through working on pieces for both stock and as custom orders.
One of the latest things I have worked on is forged rings. That will be the topic of my next post. In preparation for that I have taken photos throughout the different steps of torch forging sterling silver rings. The forging process I use makes the rings stronger than sterling silver usually is.
With the photos I will describe how I turned this mess of different sterling pieces into a ring.

Monday Feature - Etsy West Michigan Team

Today I am sharing some of the newest items from the Etsy West Michigan Team. To view more items from this team go to Etsy and search handmade for "etsywmi team".

Strawberry Rhubarb Glycerin Soap - Vegan

Made by You Stink Soap
www.YouStinkSoap.etsy.com

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Lovely Lavendar Sachets - Set of 3 - Regans Garden Collection
Made by Mom N Mia Quilts
www.MomNMiaQuilts.etsy.com

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Large Sterling Silver Tree of Life Necklace
Made by JustJaynes
www.JustJaynes.etsy.com

Monday Featured Artisan - Dee's Adornments

I would like to introduce you to the work of Dee's Adornments:

What do you make?
Jewelry and some related housewares like wine glass charms. I expect to branch out more but to stay within the accessories side of things. I'm fond of variety.

What drew you to your craft and why did you start selling your items?
I used to do stained glass and mosaics. I'm drawn to the play of light and color and shine. So when I looked for a hobby that didn't exile me into the garage, I found a class on making jewelry. It sounded like something I would enjoy so I went, and it didn't take long to realize how much I was enjoying myself.

Oddly I enjoy designing and making jewelry more than actually wearing it. The problem with this combination is that I'd go broke making everything I want to make! So when I ordered my first set of supplies I planned on making Christmas gifts, and items to sell, in hopes that it would help me buy more supplies, etc. Since I've sold stained glass in the past it wasn't too far-fetched to look at doing the same with jewelry, though I didn't approach selling my glass products as seriously as I'm taking my jewelry business.

What is your favorite part of creating your items?
I like variety and I like to experiment, so sometimes I'll have spent time trying many different things before I finally hit that moment where I go "Yes!" and know I've got it. The process of actually assembling the pieces can feel very zen, so I enjoy that too. I've been writing professionally through my entire adult life and wrote prolifically in school as well, but writing is a very cerebral pursuit and can result in me getting too stuck in my head. The ability to achieve some mental quiet and just enjoy making something with my own hands is precious.

Is your craft a full time endeavor or a hobby?
Part-time business. For my "day job" I'm a technology writer and journalist, but this year my goal is to have jewelry account for 50% of my income. That might be expecting too much of my first full year but I like to aim high.

When you aren't working on your craft what do you enjoy doing?
Right now I'm volunteering with the 2010 Winter Olympics (http://dee-annleblanc.com/2010/02/15/the-olympic-volunteer-experience-part-1/) and so far it's incredibly rewarding. It's really eaten into my business time as I'm doing 15 shifts, but I'm trying to be flexible and do things like renew, where normally I prefer to list a new item every day instead.

Outside of that, I enjoy playing with my dogs, playing games on my PS3, and generally being a geek.

Is there anything else about your craft or yourself you would like to share?
I used to think that I'm a lucky person and opportunity just fell into my lap, when it came to my writing career. One day I finally realized that my career wasn't so much about luck as it was about being open to opportunity, recognizing it, and reaching out for it before it passed me by. Doing this means being open to rejection. I don't enjoy that any more than anyone else does, approaching life with an attitude of "it never hurts to ask" is an important part of constantly taking yourself to the next level. That and just pushing yourself to be more.

I try to remember this as I work on my jewelry and building my jewelry business.

My locations online:

shop: http://deesadornments.etsy.com/
blog: http://deesadornments.wordpress.com/
twitter: http://twitter.com/deesadornments
facebook: http://facebook.com/deesadornments

Pieces in this post:
1. Granite, Serpentine, and Sterling Silver Chandelier Earrings
2. Third Chakra Thumblet in Amber for Energy Work
3. Four Seasons Memory Wire Bracelet in Glass, Silver, and Gold

Monday Feature

Some of the newest creations by the Etsy West Michigan Team
To find more of the fabulous works by the Etsy West Michigan Team go to Etsy.com and search for etsywmi team

HAVE A HEART - Genuine Drilled Beach Stones - Slag Glass Set - focal jewelry beads
by
StoneMe
www.StoneMe.etsy.com

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Exotic Coconut Body Butter with Cocoa and Shea - 4 ounces - Vegan
by
You Stink Soap
www.YouStinkSoap.etsy.com

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Wine Bottle Bling
by
One Haute Hostess
www.onehautehostess.etsy.com

Monday Featured Artisan - Jasmine Worth

Today's Featured artisan is Jasmine Worth
Jasmine's work can be purchased at JasmineWorth.etsy.com. More of her work and information about her work can also be found at JasmineWorth.com.

What do you make?
I am an oil painter.

What drew you to your craft and why did you start selling your items?
I have always been as artist, since as far back as I can remember I was drawing or painting. I started selling my artwork on etsy because I wanted to make original art available to everyone. I want anyone who enjoys my art to be able to afford a print or something with my art on it. I have shown in galleries for many years now, but I know that not all people are able to afford original art from a gallery. Selling on etsy allows me to make my work available to those people, as well.




What is your favorite part of creating your items?
My favorite part of painting is the last stage, where I get to put in all the details and highlights. I love seeing the painting come together into the finished product.

Is your craft a full time endeavor or a hobby?
I am a full time painter. I worked at a record store for many years, after the store closed in 2009, I decided to try my hand at being a full time artist. Hopefully the etsy store will help me to achieve this dream :)

When you arn't working on your craft what do you enjoy doing?
I am an avid reader. My house is crammed full of books, they are stacked nearly up to the ceiling in some places! I also enjoy hanging out with my cat Punkin, and watching cartoons.






Etsy Shop: JasmineWorth.etsy.com
More info/images: JasmineWorth.com
Art shown here:
1. 'Midnight Dreary' - Original Oil Painting
2. 'Detached' - Fine Art Print
3. 'Suspended' - Fine Art Print