Pages

3.27.2020

Wire wrapped Ginkgo ring


You need:
1. Copper wire (0,8 mm) 20 gauge  - 40 cm
2. Copper sheet (0,4 mm) 26 gauge  - 4*4 cm
3. Copper wire (0,4 mm) 26 gauge — 1 m
4. Bead Peridot  – 4 mm
5. Chain nose pliers
6. Round nose pliers
7. Wire cutters
8. Butane torch large
9. Board for soldering
10. Copper-phosphorus solder
11. Borax powder or flux
12. Miniature Horn Anvil
13. Hammer
14. Needle for sewing
15. Jewelry saw 4/0 or scissors for metal
16. Sandpaper 500, 100, 1500
17. Needle file
18. Maas Polishing Creme and Polishing pads or tumbler
19. Liver of sulfur
20.  Rustin's lacquer for metal

   For first we have to cut two ginkgo leaves of copper sheet. Print the leaf pattern on the self-adhesive paper and paste it onto a sheet. You can use jewelry saw for this or scissors and file for cutting. Make two leaves of different sizes: one larger, one smaller (you can download my sketch)
In the photo, I show 3 leaves that were made in different ways. But you have to make 2 only.












Use the file and sandpaper (from 500 to 1500) to smooth your leaves.







Fix the leaves on the anvil and texture with a needle and a hammer.






Cut 3 pieces of 30-ga wire – 13 cm (5 inches) 



Use butane torch and borax powder or flux to make a ball on one wire.



Smooth the ends of two other pieces.


For soldering, you need: Butane torch large, board for soldering, copper-phosphorus solder



Place the leaf on the soldering board (backside on top). Place one wire on it.



Cut a small piece of solid copper-phosphorus solder and put it close to the wire. And make soldering. Start heating the wire and move to the leaf.





Do the same with the second leaf. After the soldering the copper became dark. Put all three pieces in citric acid solution or pickle to clean them.





When the leaves are light, wash them with water and bend a more natural shape.




Combine all three pieces as shown in the photo and start the weaving with the thin wire.
1. Two coils around the middle wire
2. Two coils around top and middle wire together
3. Two coils around the middle wire
4. Two coils around middle and bottom wire together
5. Repeat








Weave the pattern about 5-6 cm length. It depends on the size of your finger.


Bend the wire around any suitable size cylinder. This way we get the adjustable ring.



Use a thin wire to connect the leaves and add a bead.





Now you need to bend and smooth the other ends of the wire.






Use thin wire to fix the curls.





So now is the time for finishing. Use warm liver of sulfur solution to cover the ring with a patina.





Use polishing pads and Maas polishing cream after them to shine the ring.


Video tutorial: