Thanks Professor John! My first jewelry teacher called the simple band ring the "gateway drug" to metal-smithing. Once she hooked us with that we were jewelers for life!
Thank you so much for sharing this phenomenal video! I've saved it for future reference because I know that I'll have much use for it. There are just ENDLESS possibilities for this ring!!!! Again, many thanks. It's people like you and organizations such as OnLineJewelryAcademy that give people like myself the education we so thirst for yet could never dream of receiving! Without you, I would probably just be doing macrame... YIKES! Lol!
+Teri Steinborn Macrame!?! Teri the 1970s called and said to let it rest in peace. I'm so happy that you feel that you have benefited from the OJA's videos. We strive to provide our subscribers/viewers with the sort of information that will fast track them to success and fun. Thanks for watching! : )
This is one of the very best educational channels on TH-cam. Prof. John, I have met a lot of lecturers since college and Uni and you are one of the best. I think for a teacher to be effective, they have to be knowledgeable and also approachable and you really excell in both. I have seen people on TH-cam claim to want to educate jewellers, but, if asked a question, reply in a condescending manner which is really off putting. This is the reason why you and two other US sites and Theresa from Create with Copper are my absolute favourite teachers.
I know this comment is from 4 years ago... But I want to add that a teacher also must have the ability to keep the audiences attention all while still relaying all the pertinent information and even highlighting key details in a way the student will remember... Well, I have to say I don't know a darn thing about making jewelry... But I'm crafty and can pretty much make/build anything with instructions... And I watched this entired video! You nailed it! What I have taken away from this is... Omg making rings takes A LOT of work! Lol. Also, considering the cost of the all the tools also not a cheap hobby either. Lol. But I did enjoy watching anyways... And I'll definitely appreciate my handmade pieces A LOT more now. Lol.
Hi Jennifer, I'm glad that you enjoyed the video. I hope that you will check out other OJA videos. You can find our complete playlist on our website at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com Thanks for your support! : )
+Andy harpist Hi Andy, Thanks for the nice comment. I try my best to be a nice guy every day. But trust me, I have my moments in traffic. Thanks for watching! : )
Hi professor John Ahr, I noticed after you soldered the ring it looks like there is a groove left in the seam. Is that common? I had the same happened to me with the first ring I made. The ring is soldered and connected but there's a small groove. Should I cut the ring and soldered it again, or should I leave as it is?
I honestly didn't notice that I had a seam in the ring that wasn't completely filled with solder. Making things on camera often prevents me from noticing everything since I'm juggling multiple aspects of the project with the filming process. Anyway, when you have a seam that isn't completely flush and filled with solder, the best way to deal with it is to saw the seam open and solder it again. Sometimes you can get away with merely flowing more solder into the seam. It's a judgment call. Good luck Ingrid. Thanks for your support! : )
Thank you so much for these great videos, I have learned so much from you. I have been wondering about the ventilation system you have set up. Is it for dust, fumes or both? I also want to know if it is readily available for the hobby jeweler? I've set up a bench at my dining room table for cold connections etc. I'm just starting to learn about soldering thanks to you, but I'm concerned about air quality as I have no access to ventilation there. I do not plan on soldering often or very much when I do, so I'm looking for a reasonable solution. The other option is to set up soldering on my stove top and use the hood vent... I'm just not sure about safety. Thank you muchly in advance 😊
I was using a 6 gauge half round sterling silver wire. Glad you liked the video. I hope you enjoy the others on the channel. Thanks so much for watching! : )
Thanks for another brilliant video. This is my favourite you tube channel, without question. I would like to know your views on solder paste compared to using the flux and pallions, if you don't mind?
+Emma Bates Hi Emma, Personally, I don't like paste solder. I find it hard to gauge how much to use. But, in some tricky situations it can be a lifesaver. I prefer to use pallions whenever possible. Thanks for your support ! : )
Very nice tutorial! I have a couple of questions: 1. What happens at the soldering level to the ring? Is the join pretty much solid now or do you have to be careful with pressure there? I kept waiting for the ring to part at the join! 2. Does the join buff out well, or will a line always be there?
Quaght I'm glad that you enjoyed the video. And, you asked a couple of great questions. What happens when you solder silver is you join the two sides of the seam at an atomic level. So, when you solder the ring, you literally turn it into one piece of metal. The solder is a silver alloy. It is essentially silver blended with other metals to lower its melting temperature. Because solder isn't alloyed the same way that sterling silver is, it has a slightly different color. You can minimize the appearance of a seam by removing any solder on the outer surface of an object followed by sanding and polishing. But, if you want it to completely disappear, you'll have to plate the item. I hope this answers your questions fully. Thanks for watching! : )
Is there ANY possible way you could do a video on how to make a 3 stone bezel ring. I completely understand how to make the silver ring(video was amazing) but I'm wondering if there is a more simple way of laying down arm like bezels on a already made ring, or would this need to be done with 1 strip?
+Logan7o2 Hi Logan, You should probably watch this video th-cam.com/video/FKPov5t85a8/w-d-xo.html There is also a video on the OJA playlist that covers how to make a bezel cup to fit an odd shaped stone. You can find our complete playlist at www.onlinejewelryacademy.com Bezel cups are never produced and sold in strips. One reason why is because they need to be placed on an item with enough room around them so that stone setting tools can access them from all sides to properly set a stone. If you follow the information in the video I've suggested, you should be able to create a ring with the three bezel set stones on it. Here's a tip to ensure your success, use all of the different solder types (a different one on each bezel cup). This should help prevent the previously soldered bezel(s) from moving while you attach the next one(s). Good luck with your project. Thanks for watching! : )
Hi Candice, Thanks for the compliment. I'm glad you liked the video. If you want to stamp a name on the ring it is easier to do so while the band is flat. I would also suggest that you use a flat ring blank rather than the half round one used in the video. Good luck with your project. Thanks for your support! : )
Hi I love ur videos. I have learned so much from you. Thank you. Do you have any videos that will help me upsize a silver ring and downsize also. Also I have to make a ring from a 4 inch 9 gauge silver wire and two 4 inch 16 gauge wire all have to be soldered then shaped for an online class I am taking. There are only books to go by, and no videos and I am really having a hard time with this project. This is my first attempt at this and I am not sure first how to measure. I have many tools but I think I need a ring gauge ruler to determine the length of the wire to cut for a size 7. Thank you! Tammie
Hi Tammie! Thank you for the high praise. I really appreciate feedback from viewers like you. In the books you have, there is probably a page in each of them that explains how to determine the proper length to cut from your wire stock to make a ring of a particular length. You need a ring size ruler. Often, the ruler needed is stamped into the surface of your ring mandrel near the top. And, your books might include one. I'm sure a Google search will produce one. Anyway, the general rules are that you use the ring size ruler to measure the length needed for a particular size. Then, you add three times the thickness of the wire to the length needed to make the size you want. Good luck!
Ryan Cooper Hi Ryan, I'm happy to hear that you've been enjoying the videos we've posted. The trick to polishing is to first remove all of the scratches by sanding (320, 400, 600 grit progressively). Then you progressively polish with various polishing compounds. Obviously, I need to create a video on polishing. For silver I use "ZAM" polish. Good luck on your projects. And, thanks for watching! : )
Hi Roxy, I use dead soft wire for the projects that I make in the videos. I either buy it already annealed or I anneal it myself. The ring in the simple band video was made from 6 gauge half round wire. You can probably find the wires that you need by doing a search online for jewelry supply companies. Good luck with your projects. Thanks for your support! : )
Hi Jessica, Thanks for the compliment. You can find solder for sale online from any number of jewelry supply companies. And, you can use any profile of wire. Have fun. Thanks for your support! : )
+Silent Knight You will need to invest in a torch and other soldering supplies like flux in order to make this ring. Glad you're enjoying the OJA videos. Thanks for watching! : )
Hi Ingrid, Adding three times the width of the material is a standard approach. I find that adding two times the width of the wire stock works just fine. Good luck with your creative pursuits. Thanks for your support! : )
The length of time that an item needs to remain in the pickle pot depends on a number of things. How oxidized is it? How strong is the pickle? Is the pickle warm? Silver items need to be left in the pickle pot and average of 15 minutes. If you see any dark spots on the surface after brass brushing, just put the piece back in the pickle for a little longer. Neutralization with water and baking soda is necessary; especially if you are pickling a hollow form like a bead. If you leave pickle on the surface of your piece it can corrode it. Check out the OJA's many videos on pickling included in our playlist on the OJA website at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com Thanks for your support! : )
Chrisi Flower I try to use "hard" solder for every soldering operation (unless of course, one joint is extremely close to another). If you use hard solder every time you leave the option of using a solder with a lower melting temperature for another jeweler who might need to repair or size the piece. And, every time you heat a piece, the solder does slightly alloy up to a higher melting temperature. There are two videos on the OJA channel and website that explain the various types of solder. Check them out! And, thanks for watching! : )
In that particular video I used a wooden mallet. But you can use a rawhide, plastic or wood mallet to form the wire without leaving a mark. Thanks for your support! : )
Alejandra Val Hola Alejandra! You can buy half round wire from any jewelry supply company. Try to find one in your area so you can save on shipping charges. Thanks for watching! ; )
+Cathy H Hi Cathy, The wire used in the video is a 6 gauge half round wire. It is possible to solder smaller gauges like 18 and 20. Good luck with your projects. Thanks for your support! : )
Fabulous instruction! I've made a similar piece but I made a necklace and I didn't texture the discs. I also used a different way of creating the intermediate loops but, I have to say, I prefer the way you have done it here. Be a pal - tell us how you made the texture sheet you used - pretty please :-)
Hi Hilary, I think you posted a comment about the Moonshine Bracelet on the Make A Simple Silver Ring video. The way that I made the textured sheet metal for the discs was I roll printed them. I achieved the texture by creating a brass tool out of sheet metal. I center punched the sheet about 1,000 times. Then I randomly drilled holes across the surface of the sheet. I ran the brass tool through the rolling mill with a piece of facial tissue between the tool and the silver sheet metal to create a surface that has both matte and shiny qualities. If you look up the rolling mill videos on the OJA website at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com you can see all sorts of way to work with the rolling mill. Plus, I posted a playlist specifically related to the Moonshine Bracelet project here on TH-cam. Have fun making textures. Thanks for your support! : )
Thank you so much for taking the time and trouble to send me such a comprehensive reply, Prof. John :-) Today I have been making a texture sheet out of a piece of copper and have quickly realised that I will have to resort to my drill to get into the centre of the rectangular sheet as my hole-making, screw-down punch won't make it (!) so your advice has come at just the right time. I would never have thought of using facial tissue between the tool and the silver sheet metal - phew! - thanks for that! :-) I also had another success today: for the first time I have successfully done some pick soldering. What a clever technique! Now I'm going straight to your rolling mill videos for more nourishment . . .
Hi Hilary, This is Don from the OJA. We will be posting a video within the next few weeks on how to make the tool you asked about. I realise that John already answered the question, but here is an early release link to the video. th-cam.com/video/KROjpimvQVk/w-d-xo.html
The ring in the video was made from sterling silver not fine silver. Fine silver is not used for the construction of rings. It is used for bezels in construction. I don't generally fuse pieces unless I'm working with scrap material or making granulation effects. The OJA has videos on granulation and fusing that you might want to check out. They are in the OJA playlist on our website at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com Thanks for your support! : )
Stevie K. The wire used in the video was probably dead soft. I usually purchase dead soft stock whenever possible in order to avoid having to anneal it. It came out of an inventory of wire that I've had in my studio for some time. So I'm really not sure if it wad dead soft or not. But it's easy to anneal wire like this if you have too. Thanks for watching! : )
Hi Stephen, The OJA does not promote any jewelry suppliers. My best suggestion is to check the spot prices of precious metals online and compare prices between suppliers online. You'll quickly see who has a higher markup on silver. It's gonna take a little bit of work. But, it's important to be aware of markups and to support local businesses whenever possible. Good luck with your shopping. Thanks for your support! : )
Christina LaRoy Your question makes me smile. That's a really old wooden hammer. They work as well as a rawhide mallet. Plus, they are handy for lots of other operations in the studio. You can make your own from a baseball bat. Thanks for watching! : )
+Tamás The solution in the glass bowl is clear water. I dip into it with my paintbrush to moisten the flux a bit before I try to paint the seam with flux. If you would like to know more about soldering, I suggest that you watch the OJA's complete group of soldering videos. You can find the full playlist at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com Good luck with your projects. Thanks for your support! : )
+missqjulie The Online Jewelry Academy's mission is to provide step-by-step instruction on the craft of jewelry making. While I'm flattered that you'd be interested in purchasing a simple band like the one in the video from the OJA, we do not offer any such item for sale. Hopefully, I've inspired you to try to make one. Thanks for watching! : )
lalune59 Hmmm. That's strange. Sometimes videos will mess up on TH-cam. But thank you for letting me know. I'll check into it right away. Thanks for watching! : )
You are a born teacher,. I’m in awe of your talent. Thank you for the uploads.
Wow Tony! Thanks for the nice compliment. I'm trying my best. LOL I'm glad that you're enjoying the video.
Thanks for your support! : )
Thanks Professor John! My first jewelry teacher called the simple band ring the "gateway drug" to metal-smithing. Once she hooked us with that we were jewelers for life!
I always say that everyone interested in making jewelry want to make themselves a ring.
Thanks for your support! : )
Thank you so much for sharing this phenomenal video! I've saved it for future reference because I know that I'll have much use for it. There are just ENDLESS possibilities for this ring!!!! Again, many thanks. It's people like you and organizations such as OnLineJewelryAcademy that give people like myself the education we so thirst for yet could never dream of receiving! Without you, I would probably just be doing macrame... YIKES! Lol!
+Teri Steinborn
Macrame!?! Teri the 1970s called and said to let it rest in peace.
I'm so happy that you feel that you have benefited from the OJA's videos. We strive to provide our subscribers/viewers with the sort of information that will fast track them to success and fun.
Thanks for watching! : )
This is one of the very best educational channels on TH-cam. Prof. John, I have met a lot of lecturers since college and Uni and you are one of the best. I think for a teacher to be effective, they have to be knowledgeable and also approachable and you really excell in both. I have seen people on TH-cam claim to want to educate jewellers, but, if asked a question, reply in a condescending manner which is really off putting. This is the reason why you and two other US sites and Theresa from Create with Copper are my absolute favourite teachers.
Thank you for the great compliment. I'll do my best to keep up the good work.
Thanks for your support! : )
I know this comment is from 4 years ago... But I want to add that a teacher also must have the ability to keep the audiences attention all while still relaying all the pertinent information and even highlighting key details in a way the student will remember... Well, I have to say I don't know a darn thing about making jewelry... But I'm crafty and can pretty much make/build anything with instructions... And I watched this entired video! You nailed it! What I have taken away from this is... Omg making rings takes A LOT of work! Lol. Also, considering the cost of the all the tools also not a cheap hobby either. Lol. But I did enjoy watching anyways... And I'll definitely appreciate my handmade pieces A LOT more now. Lol.
Very clear, thorough video! Love it :D
***** Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching! : )
thanks for taking the time to make this video, its very well done and explained.
Thank you for the nice feedback. I'm glad that you enjoyed the video.
Thanks for your support! : )
Very clear video. Thanks!
Gina Wilson Glad you found the video helpful. Thanks for watching! : )
Hi John! Very helpful! You are a great teacher! Thank you!! :)
Thanks for the compliment. I’m glad that you liked the video. Thanks for watching! 😀
Another one up! Good job guys!
Thank you for your support! Keep watching for new videos.
I love make jewells and i had learned for you ... thank you
I'm so glad that you've enjoyed the videos and benefitted from them.
Thanks for your support! : )
Great Video. Lovely explanations. Thanks.
Hi Jennifer, I'm glad that you enjoyed the video. I hope that you will check out other OJA videos. You can find our complete playlist on our website at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com
Thanks for your support! : )
hi john!! this is such a good video, im gonna try this as soon as i get the chance! thank you so much for uploading : )
good job, thanks for the incredible information.
What a really nice guy !
+Andy harpist
Hi Andy, Thanks for the nice comment. I try my best to be a nice guy every day. But trust me, I have my moments in traffic.
Thanks for watching! : )
I'll better watch out then, there ! Hhh
this was great thank you!
Don Fazliu Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching! : )
Using that bead sizer as a square...that’s genius!
Glad that you found a gem in the video Grace.
Thanks for your support! : )
OnlineJewelryAcademy I always find great tips in your videos, John! Thank you!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
as told by val
Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching! : )
Great Ring making video I hope my ring turns out half as good as yours.
Thank you very much :)
Alejandra Val Thanks for watching the video! ; )
Hi professor John Ahr, I noticed after you soldered the ring it looks like there is a groove left in the seam. Is that common? I had the same happened to me with the first ring I made. The ring is soldered and connected but there's a small groove. Should I cut the ring and soldered it again, or should I leave as it is?
I honestly didn't notice that I had a seam in the ring that wasn't completely filled with solder. Making things on camera often prevents me from noticing everything since I'm juggling multiple aspects of the project with the filming process. Anyway, when you have a seam that isn't completely flush and filled with solder, the best way to deal with it is to saw the seam open and solder it again. Sometimes you can get away with merely flowing more solder into the seam. It's a judgment call. Good luck Ingrid.
Thanks for your support! : )
Thank you so much for these great videos, I have learned so much from you. I have been wondering about the ventilation system you have set up. Is it for dust, fumes or both? I also want to know if it is readily available for the hobby jeweler? I've set up a bench at my dining room table for cold connections etc. I'm just starting to learn about soldering thanks to you, but I'm concerned about air quality as I have no access to ventilation there. I do not plan on soldering often or very much when I do, so I'm looking for a reasonable solution. The other option is to set up soldering on my stove top and use the hood vent... I'm just not sure about safety. Thank you muchly in advance 😊
Wonderful video! Now I'm going to watch all of yours! I'm wondering what gauge of half round wire you are using..?
I was using a 6 gauge half round sterling silver wire. Glad you liked the video. I hope you enjoy the others on the channel. Thanks so much for watching! : )
Thanks for another brilliant video. This is my favourite you tube channel, without question. I would like to know your views on solder paste compared to using the flux and pallions, if you don't mind?
+Emma Bates
Hi Emma, Personally, I don't like paste solder. I find it hard to gauge how much to use. But, in some tricky situations it can be a lifesaver. I prefer to use pallions whenever possible.
Thanks for your support ! : )
Very nice tutorial! I have a couple of questions:
1. What happens at the soldering level to the ring? Is the join pretty much solid now or do you have to be careful with pressure there? I kept waiting for the ring to part at the join!
2. Does the join buff out well, or will a line always be there?
Quaght I'm glad that you enjoyed the video. And, you asked a couple of great questions. What happens when you solder silver is you join the two sides of the seam at an atomic level. So, when you solder the ring, you literally turn it into one piece of metal. The solder is a silver alloy. It is essentially silver blended with other metals to lower its melting temperature. Because solder isn't alloyed the same way that sterling silver is, it has a slightly different color. You can minimize the appearance of a seam by removing any solder on the outer surface of an object followed by sanding and polishing. But, if you want it to completely disappear, you'll have to plate the item. I hope this answers your questions fully. Thanks for watching! : )
OnlineJewelryAcademy
Thank you for the quick response!
Is there ANY possible way you could do a video on how to make a 3 stone bezel ring. I completely understand how to make the silver ring(video was amazing) but I'm wondering if there is a more simple way of laying down arm like bezels on a already made ring, or would this need to be done with 1 strip?
+Logan7o2 Hi Logan, You should probably watch this video th-cam.com/video/FKPov5t85a8/w-d-xo.html There is also a video on the OJA playlist that covers how to make a bezel cup to fit an odd shaped stone. You can find our complete playlist at www.onlinejewelryacademy.com Bezel cups are never produced and sold in strips. One reason why is because they need to be placed on an item with enough room around them so that stone setting tools can access them from all sides to properly set a stone. If you follow the information in the video I've suggested, you should be able to create a ring with the three bezel set stones on it. Here's a tip to ensure your success, use all of the different solder types (a different one on each bezel cup). This should help prevent the previously soldered bezel(s) from moving while you attach the next one(s). Good luck with your project. Thanks for watching! : )
Great tutorial. If I wanted to stamp a name on the outside would I do that first while its flat or after making the ring? Thanks!!
Hi Candice, Thanks for the compliment. I'm glad you liked the video. If you want to stamp a name on the ring it is easier to do so while the band is flat. I would also suggest that you use a flat ring blank rather than the half round one used in the video. Good luck with your project.
Thanks for your support! : )
Hi I love ur videos. I have learned so much from you. Thank you. Do you have any videos that will help me upsize a silver ring and downsize also.
Also I have to make a ring from a 4 inch 9 gauge silver wire and two 4 inch 16 gauge wire all have to be soldered then shaped for an online class I am taking. There are only books to go by, and no videos and I am really having a hard time with this project. This is my first attempt at this and I am not sure first how to measure. I have many tools but I think I need a ring gauge ruler to determine the length of the wire to cut for a size 7. Thank you!
Tammie
Hi Tammie! Thank you for the high praise. I really appreciate feedback from viewers like you.
In the books you have, there is probably a page in each of them that explains how to determine the proper length to cut from your wire stock to make a ring of a particular length. You need a ring size ruler. Often, the ruler needed is stamped into the surface of your ring mandrel near the top. And, your books might include one. I'm sure a Google search will produce one. Anyway, the general rules are that you use the ring size ruler to measure the length needed for a particular size. Then, you add three times the thickness of the wire to the length needed to make the size you want. Good luck!
NO prob i still love it, and i do hope that i get to make a ring 😂
Hi i want to do this as s hobby and i find this every helpful thank you
Glad you liked the video. Thanks for watching! 😁
love the video. ive only watched a couple so far but they are a huge help. is there a specific type of polish you used?
Ryan Cooper Hi Ryan, I'm happy to hear that you've been enjoying the videos we've posted. The trick to polishing is to first remove all of the scratches by sanding (320, 400, 600 grit progressively). Then you progressively polish with various polishing compounds. Obviously, I need to create a video on polishing. For silver I use "ZAM" polish. Good luck on your projects. And, thanks for watching! : )
OnlineJewelryAcademy thank you for the help. also would happen to have a video on setting an uncut gem into the same style ring you used here?
I want to watch all your videos your awsome jeweler man
Great video, what kind of soap did you use with the bristle brush? Can it be any type of soap?
+Dazzledust22
The brush used is a brass brush. You use it with diluted detergent. Good luck with your projects.
Thanks for your support! : )
What kind of wire do you use for rings and cuffs? Dead soft, half hard, or hard? Thank you for the videos.
I'm having a hard time finding any 14g half round half hard wire. I keep seeing silver filled wire though.
Hi Roxy, I use dead soft wire for the projects that I make in the videos. I either buy it already annealed or I anneal it myself. The ring in the simple band video was made from 6 gauge half round wire. You can probably find the wires that you need by doing a search online for jewelry supply companies. Good luck with your projects.
Thanks for your support! : )
video is awesome! where can I get the tiny pieces of solder? also, can I use round wire and 12 gauge? thanks!!
Hi Jessica, Thanks for the compliment. You can find solder for sale online from any number of jewelry supply companies. And, you can use any profile of wire. Have fun.
Thanks for your support! : )
Hi Andy. If I use a flat ring blank do I measure the width of the thickness to multiply by 3 or the width of the ring? Thank you♥
Hey Vonda, It's John, not Andy. The measurement you multiply by 3 is the thickness of the material.
Thanks for your support! : )
+OnlineJewelryAcademy thanks♥
will this work with a soldering iron or do I need to invest in the torch and flux? thank you for these lovely videos
+Silent Knight
You will need to invest in a torch and other soldering supplies like flux in order to make this ring. Glad you're enjoying the OJA videos.
Thanks for watching! : )
+OnlineJewelryAcademy thank you for your quick reply and the answer :)
Hi John,when you plan the length of the sliver, why you add 3 times of the thickness of the silver? I think it should add 2 times ?
Hi Ingrid, Adding three times the width of the material is a standard approach. I find that adding two times the width of the wire stock works just fine. Good luck with your creative pursuits.
Thanks for your support! : )
How long should you pickle the piece before removing? And is that neutralizing process with water/baking soda absolutely necessary?
The length of time that an item needs to remain in the pickle pot depends on a number of things. How oxidized is it? How strong is the pickle? Is the pickle warm? Silver items need to be left in the pickle pot and average of 15 minutes. If you see any dark spots on the surface after brass brushing, just put the piece back in the pickle for a little longer. Neutralization with water and baking soda is necessary; especially if you are pickling a hollow form like a bead. If you leave pickle on the surface of your piece it can corrode it. Check out the OJA's many videos on pickling included in our playlist on the OJA website at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com
Thanks for your support! : )
the bes teacher in the world
Thank you for the nice compliment. I'm glad that you enjoy my teaching style.
Thanks for your support! : )
what kind of solder are you using? there are so many options to buy and i don't know the difference.
Chrisi Flower I try to use "hard" solder for every soldering operation (unless of course, one joint is extremely close to another). If you use hard solder every time you leave the option of using a solder with a lower melting temperature for another jeweler who might need to repair or size the piece. And, every time you heat a piece, the solder does slightly alloy up to a higher melting temperature. There are two videos on the OJA channel and website that explain the various types of solder. Check them out! And, thanks for watching! : )
Thanks for this video! What type of mallet are you using to hammer the ring? Is it solid wood or a rawhide mallet
In that particular video I used a wooden mallet. But you can use a rawhide, plastic or wood mallet to form the wire without leaving a mark.
Thanks for your support! : )
AWESOME! I'm so excited to try it, but where can I buy the wire? Greetings from Mexico :D
Alejandra Val
Hola Alejandra! You can buy half round wire from any jewelry supply company. Try to find one in your area so you can save on shipping charges. Thanks for watching! ; )
The silver wire looks very thick. What was the gauge size of the silver wire? Can you solder smaller gauge wire like 18 or 20 gauge?
+Cathy H
Hi Cathy, The wire used in the video is a 6 gauge half round wire. It is possible to solder smaller gauges like 18 and 20. Good luck with your projects.
Thanks for your support! : )
Fabulous instruction! I've made a similar piece but I made a necklace and I didn't texture the discs. I also used a different way of creating the intermediate loops but, I have to say, I prefer the way you have done it here. Be a pal - tell us how you made the texture sheet you used - pretty please :-)
Hi Hilary, I think you posted a comment about the Moonshine Bracelet on the Make A Simple Silver Ring video. The way that I made the textured sheet metal for the discs was I roll printed them. I achieved the texture by creating a brass tool out of sheet metal. I center punched the sheet about 1,000 times. Then I randomly drilled holes across the surface of the sheet. I ran the brass tool through the rolling mill with a piece of facial tissue between the tool and the silver sheet metal to create a surface that has both matte and shiny qualities. If you look up the rolling mill videos on the OJA website at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com you can see all sorts of way to work with the rolling mill. Plus, I posted a playlist specifically related to the Moonshine Bracelet project here on TH-cam. Have fun making textures.
Thanks for your support! : )
Thank you so much for taking the time and trouble to send me such a comprehensive reply, Prof. John :-) Today I have been making a texture sheet out of a piece of copper and have quickly realised that I will have to resort to my drill to get into the centre of the rectangular sheet as my hole-making, screw-down punch won't make it (!) so your advice has come at just the right time. I would never have thought of using facial tissue between the tool and the silver sheet metal - phew! - thanks for that! :-) I also had another success today: for the first time I have successfully done some pick soldering. What a clever technique! Now I'm going straight to your rolling mill videos for more nourishment . . .
Sounds like you're having a very productive day Hilary. Glad I could help support your creativity. : )
Hi Hilary,
This is Don from the OJA. We will be posting a video within the next few weeks on how to make the tool you asked about. I realise that John already answered the question, but here is an early release link to the video. th-cam.com/video/KROjpimvQVk/w-d-xo.html
You are Megastars!! :-)
Good lesson! What gauge is the half round wire? Thanks.
+Pamela Reising
Hi Pamela, In this video I used 6 gauge half round wire.
Thanks for your support! : )
What gauge is the metal you are using in this video?
Lisa Aguilera It's 6 gauge half round wire. But you can use whatever gauge you think looks best. Thanks for watching! : )
Hi. Since this is fine silver, why didn't you fuse it instead of soldering it? Just wondering.
The ring in the video was made from sterling silver not fine silver. Fine silver is not used for the construction of rings. It is used for bezels in construction. I don't generally fuse pieces unless I'm working with scrap material or making granulation effects. The OJA has videos on granulation and fusing that you might want to check out. They are in the OJA playlist on our website at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com
Thanks for your support! : )
Is the wire you are using dead soft?
Stevie K. The wire used in the video was probably dead soft. I usually purchase dead soft stock whenever possible in order to avoid having to anneal it. It came out of an inventory of wire that I've had in my studio for some time. So I'm really not sure if it wad dead soft or not. But it's easy to anneal wire like this if you have too. Thanks for watching! : )
Muito bom!
Glad you liked the video.
Thanks for your support! : )
Where do you get your silver from? Or rather where should I get mine?
Hi Stephen, The OJA does not promote any jewelry suppliers. My best suggestion is to check the spot prices of precious metals online and compare prices between suppliers online. You'll quickly see who has a higher markup on silver. It's gonna take a little bit of work. But, it's important to be aware of markups and to support local businesses whenever possible. Good luck with your shopping.
Thanks for your support! : )
What kind of hammer are you using?
Christina LaRoy
Your question makes me smile. That's a really old wooden hammer. They work as well as a rawhide mallet. Plus, they are handy for lots of other operations in the studio. You can make your own from a baseball bat. Thanks for watching! : )
Where can I get a ring ruler .
You can purchase one from any jewelry tool supply company. Or, you can print one out: blog.findurings.com/ring-size-chart/ : )
Hi! Can You tell me what is that solution ( 9:45 ), sorry, but I can't really understand what are you saying there. (:
+Tamás
The solution in the glass bowl is clear water. I dip into it with my paintbrush to moisten the flux a bit before I try to paint the seam with flux. If you would like to know more about soldering, I suggest that you watch the OJA's complete group of soldering videos. You can find the full playlist at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com Good luck with your projects.
Thanks for your support! : )
But why wasn't it included where this ring can be bought and if it comes in yellow gold??
+missqjulie The Online Jewelry Academy's mission is to provide step-by-step instruction on the craft of jewelry making. While I'm flattered that you'd be interested in purchasing a simple band like the one in the video from the OJA, we do not offer any such item for sale. Hopefully, I've inspired you to try to make one. Thanks for watching! : )
wow i love the ring, but i cant make it cause my mom has too much things to do and i dont have all the materials 😞
+Julie Lopez
Hi Julie, I hope you get the opportunity to make a ring sometime. Thanks for watching out video. : )
When it finished soldering your voice went on about pickling but the video went to the beginning
lalune59 Hmmm. That's strange. Sometimes videos will mess up on TH-cam. But thank you for letting me know. I'll check into it right away. Thanks for watching! : )