You know the way that YouTube suggests videos you might like, based on those you have watched? Well, recently something popped up as a suggestion that was about 'making a ring from a coin.' Intrigued, I watched a couple of videos. No link, as it doesn't really matter, and there seem to be lots of videos to choose from.
Anyhow, I was interested to see a reminder that you really can hammer at metal and change its shape significantly. Of course, I knew in the abstract that it was possible - metals are malleable, right - but since I mostly work in wood, I thought I'd have a go. It's really simple, and I think more people might like it.
I used an old pre-euro French Frank
The technique is simply to stand it on its edge, on some sort of anvil, and tap it all round with a hammer.
You don't need a proper anvil - I used an 'anvil-shaped-object' I was tempted by when I used to bother looking at Rutlands' special offers - but any lump of metal would do. A small hammer is good, and I suggest cleaning the face with some emery if it needs it.
No video here, so either imagine the simple technique of holding the coin in your fingertips and rolling it a little after each tap of the hammer, or go to YouTube.
After a few minutes, the edge of the coin starts to spread out
Just carry on until it's wide enough for the ring you want.
The video I watched showed drilling a big hole in the middle, then grinding it out wider with a small stone in a Dremel. I decided instead to saw out the centre with a piercing saw:
In retrospect, I should have taken more care to make the hole a neat circle, but it was fairly easy to tidy it up with a small half-round file.
The next stage was to hammer the roundness a bit more, inside as well as out. I cut a couple of notches in some scrap wood, held it in the vice, and used a large twist drill as a mandrel, tap, rotate, tap, repeat.
I also used a bit of steel tube, which was better than the drill bit as I didn't need to beware of the spirals.
If you had something tapered, you could enlarge the ring at this stage. Maybe a drill or arbour with a No2 Morse taper on would be good, but I don't have one. Or you can get a ring mandrel on ebay for a few quid.
The result is shown here:
It's a bit scruffy, and a bit plain - but there are loads of things you could do to embellish it. For me, the point of the experiment wasn't to make a piece of fine jewellery but to explore just how easy it is to deform the metal by gentle hammering.
I'm sure everyone will have a few old non-ferrous coins lying around which could be used in the same way. So why not have a go - it doesn't take long or need special tools.
Anyhow, I was interested to see a reminder that you really can hammer at metal and change its shape significantly. Of course, I knew in the abstract that it was possible - metals are malleable, right - but since I mostly work in wood, I thought I'd have a go. It's really simple, and I think more people might like it.
I used an old pre-euro French Frank
The technique is simply to stand it on its edge, on some sort of anvil, and tap it all round with a hammer.
You don't need a proper anvil - I used an 'anvil-shaped-object' I was tempted by when I used to bother looking at Rutlands' special offers - but any lump of metal would do. A small hammer is good, and I suggest cleaning the face with some emery if it needs it.
No video here, so either imagine the simple technique of holding the coin in your fingertips and rolling it a little after each tap of the hammer, or go to YouTube.
After a few minutes, the edge of the coin starts to spread out
Just carry on until it's wide enough for the ring you want.
The video I watched showed drilling a big hole in the middle, then grinding it out wider with a small stone in a Dremel. I decided instead to saw out the centre with a piercing saw:
In retrospect, I should have taken more care to make the hole a neat circle, but it was fairly easy to tidy it up with a small half-round file.
The next stage was to hammer the roundness a bit more, inside as well as out. I cut a couple of notches in some scrap wood, held it in the vice, and used a large twist drill as a mandrel, tap, rotate, tap, repeat.
I also used a bit of steel tube, which was better than the drill bit as I didn't need to beware of the spirals.
If you had something tapered, you could enlarge the ring at this stage. Maybe a drill or arbour with a No2 Morse taper on would be good, but I don't have one. Or you can get a ring mandrel on ebay for a few quid.
The result is shown here:
It's a bit scruffy, and a bit plain - but there are loads of things you could do to embellish it. For me, the point of the experiment wasn't to make a piece of fine jewellery but to explore just how easy it is to deform the metal by gentle hammering.
I'm sure everyone will have a few old non-ferrous coins lying around which could be used in the same way. So why not have a go - it doesn't take long or need special tools.
