Some coin rings

[NoHope587]

I have not posted here for a while.. Since my coin buying days are on hold right now I will post here.
I don't make a lot of rings its a noisy affair and when you are offshore the sound of the hammer travels through the hull and people complain.  But i was home for a little while and people are supposed to be at work during the day...  here are some of the results of my labour. Strangely the clad or copper coins are easier for me. I tend to be heavy handed with the hammer and the harder metals are more forgiving than the silver. However i have good days and the Kennedy turned out extremely well.  The two pennies were an experiment to see how small a ring i could make with a larger coin. not an easy task.

[Triggersmob]

Looking good Richard.

[SirStacksALot]

Those  look pretty cool, how long does it take to hammer one out?

[NoHope587]

3 to 5 hours if i am careful.. 2 to 3 hours if i am heavy handed lol..  the more time you take at the beginning  the better the shape at the end.  its hard to resist the urge to hit it with force.. the trick is to let the 4oz hammer do the work of shaping you just provide the fulcrum

[Erik]

I dont understatnd how you made it ?? Could you share some photos step by step ? And please what is price for half dollar ? It is beautifull.

[NoHope587]

Erik i am offshore right now so pictures are not possible,

however the steps are easy and well known  the problem is most people do not want to spend the time  required to make a good ring they are always looking for short cuts :-)

Step one mark the center of the coin
Step two drill or punch out a hole in the center of the coin
the Diameter of the hole should be less than 1/3 of the diameter of the coin.
Step three anneal the coin (heat it to a cherry red colour and drop it in coll water) this is important or your coin will split when you start to shape it.
Step four place the coin on a ring mandrel ( I prefer a stepped one not a tapered one)
http://jewelryinfoplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/ring_mandrel.jpg
Step five with a nylon or preferably rawhide hammer gently work the coin so its folds flush with the ring mandrel.
Step six pickle the ring in acid and polish.

Generally i only make rings to order especially silver ones so this one is sold sorry.  It takes anywhere from three to six hours to make a ring I generally consider my time to be worth at least $10 an hour  so anywhere from $30 to $60 plus the cost of the original coin.  I am however not motivated buy the money as such and i have done work for a lot less.

[Triggersmob]

That sounds like cheating and here I was thinking you were spending hours tapping the coin with a spoon.

[Erik]

Thank you for reply. I had no idea how you made it. It is very interesting and beautiful.   

[NoHope587]

That sounds like cheating and here I was thinking you were spending hours tapping the coin with a spoon.

LOL I spoon rings too but they don't come out like that when they are finished the design is on the inside of the ring only. I like spooning rings  but people want the folded rings more

[MattTheRiley]

I like spooning rings

The only thing I like to spoon is my wife! 

Nice job! I am excited for mine!  I had forgotten all about it!

[NoHope587]

its sitting waiting for me to get back to Houston and mail it :-)