Tools // With Links

// SOLDERING STATION //

  • Torch - I work with a Wall Lenk butane torch (Amazon) for this video, but a canister style torch head with butane or oxy/propane or acetylene torch will also work. 

  • Fuel - Butane (or other options mentioned above)

  • Annealing Pan & pumice- I prefer the large size rotating pan filled with pumice (Rio - 502044)

  • Charcoal Block (I also like to use a Solderite Board on occasion, but if you are only going to have one for this project, I would go with the Charcoal Block) (Rio - 502027)

  • Tweezers - fiber grip handle (Rio - 115221) & fine point tweezers (Rio - 115015)

  • Solder pick - My favorite (Rio - 503030)

  • Quench bowl

  • Table protection - My table is covered with left over ceramic floor tiles from the hardware store.

  • Safety Items -
    Ventilation (Rio - 500104) or (Rio - 500102)
    General Mask (RZMask)
    Respirator (Amazon) with Cartridges for Vapors, Gasses & Particulates (Amazon)
    Eye protection (Rio - 201058)
    Apron (Amazon)

  • Solder Station Expendables (see expendables list)


// BENCH TOOLS //

  • Pliers: Chain Nose (Rio -111927), Round Nose (Rio -111926), Flat Nose (Rio - 111901), Flat/Half Round (Rio -111180), Stepped Wrap & Tap Forming (Rio - 111107)

  • Flush Cutters (Rio - 111105)

  • Ring Sizer // Finger Gauge Set (Rio - 116021)

  • Ring Mandrel - Flat Back, Open Ring, Forming Mandrel by (Pepe)

  • Ring Clamp (Rio - 113105)

  • Miter Jig (Rio - 112701)

  • Rawhide (Rio - 112209) or Nylon (Rio - 119327) mallet

  • Steel Bench Block and rubber base (Rio - 111211)

  • Ball Peen, Chasing, or Planishing hammer

  • File Cut #2 - half round (Rio - 114929) and barrette (Rio - 114927)

  • Needle files - There are many options for these in quantity and cost. These are the ones I have and I absolutely love them! (Amazon)

  • Saw Frame - My fave is the Green Lion (greenlionstudios.com)

  • Saw & Blades (2/0 - 4/0)

  • Bench Pin & Clamp (Rio - 110015)

  • Cut Lube (Amazon) or Blade Butter (Pepe Tools)

  • Something to catch your silver dust in your lap while you saw so you can continue to create fun texture on future pieces. I use a plastic bin.

  • Center Punch (Rio - 118117)

  • Flex shaft (Pepe Tools) or Dremmel

  • Drill Bits (#65 or 1/32" bit)(Rio - 349424)

  • Pumice Knife-edge wheel polisher, size medium and mandrels (Rio - 332723 & Rio - 333120)

  • Bezel Rocker/Roller (Rio - 113079)

  • Prong pusher (Rio - 113034)

  • Burnisher (Rio - 113029)

  • Sketchbook and/or pad of paper

  • Graph paper with 5mm squares (Amazon)

  • Deli Paper for tracing (Amazon)

  • Pencil and Ultra Fine Point Sharpie (I love the retractable ones! Amazon)

  • Ruler (with mm reading)

  • Small Crock Pot for your pickle (Amazon)

  • Copper Tongs (Rio - 501017)

  • Bench Expendables (see expendables list)

// OPTIONAL MATERIALS //

  • Any design stamps or texturing tools you would like to use

  • Tumbler (Double barrel) (Harbor Freight)- This workhorse is worth its weight in gold. I use one barrel for HONE AND HIGHLIGHT (Rosy Revolver) and the other barrel for STEEL SHOT MEDIA mixed (Rio - 339097). This is technically optional but I totally recommend it if you have the means. The tumbler I have chosen isn't the expensive version made specifically for jewelry but is equally good.

  • Digital Caliper (Rio - 116417)

  • Nylon Jaw Pliers (Rio - 111606) 

  • Hand Sheers (Rio - 111232) or French Sheers (Rio - 114227)

  • Renaissance Wax (Amazon)

  • Magnification if required

  • Your makers mark stamp, .925 stamp or other stamps to add to the back of your pieces

  • Stamping Hammer

Wild Horse Ring // Metalsmithing Course

Buy nowLearn more

// WELCOME //

  • Hello + Welcome!!
  • About Me
  • Studio Safety
  • Facebook Group Link7

// BEFORE WE BEGIN //

  • Raw Materials List // With Links
  • Expendables List // With Links
  • Tools // With Links
  • PRINTABLE // Bench Reference Guide
  • Where to buy castings
  • Wild Horse // Background Info

PART 1 // GATHER MATERIALS

  • Materials Video
  • Wild Horse Ring // Class Samples
  • Wild Horse Ring // Student Work
  • Alternate Theme // Samples

PART 2 // CREATING THE TOP PLATE

  • Creating Ring Top Plate Instructions
  • Choosing Bezel Wire // Q+A
  • Sketch Out + Plan Your Design
  • Bezel Creation
  • Clean Up + Prepare Castings
  • Solder Bezel + Castings To Backplate
  • Sawing Tips
  • Cut Out + File Top Plate

PART 3 // MEASURING + DESIGNING THE RING BAND

  • Measuring + Designing Ring Band Instructions
  • Design Ring Band
  • Ring Band Measurement Guide
  • Create Template
  • Flex Shaft Safety Info
  • Printable Conversion Guide // Drill Bit Chart
  • Pierce + Drill
  • Saw Out Shapes

PART 4 // TEXTURING, LAYERING + SOLDERING THE RING BAND

  • Texturing, Layering + Soldering Band Instructions
  • Design Inside Texture
  • Stamping
  • Soldering Band Layers Together
  • Saw Out Band + Clean Up

PART 5 // FORMING + ATTACHING THE RING BAND

  • Forming + Attaching Ring Band Instructions
  • Forming Ring Band
  • File Band Attachment Point
  • Solder To Top Plate

PART 6 // PATINA + FINISHING TECHNIQUES

  • Patina + Finishing Instructions
  • Patina Info + Q&A
  • Prep Piece + Apply Patina
  • Liver of Sulfur // Disposal
  • Finishing Techniques

PART 7 // STONE SETTING

  • Stone Setting Instructions
  • Stone Setting
  • Troubleshooting Setting Your Stone

// FINAL THOUGHTS + THANK YOUS //

  • Coming Up...
  • Thank You! Thank You! THANK YOU!!
  • What Now? // Ideas for moving forward.
  • My Gift To You!
  • IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS COMING UP