Thursday, November 26, 2009

Making Tension Set Rings

Hello fellow jewellery artists,
I love the look of tension rings and learned to make them in a two day workshop.  I had a great teacher (Kelly Allanson), and I use the techniques she taught me.  I've made two styles of tension rings, both very attractive styles, but I find they are quite difficult to make.  Maybe I just need more practice!!  I'm looking for ideas about how to form the silver band for a tension setting - OTHER THAN SHAPING THE SILVER AROUND A RING MANDREL.  When making what is called a comfort setting - using 1/2 round 5x3mm sterling silver "wire" - with the 1/2 round on the inside of the band, I find it so difficult to shape this very thick wire around a ring mandrel, even after anneling the wire.  I would love to get some new ideas on how to shape the band for a tension set ring.
Click on the link to view the tension set rings I've made - in the Akasha Jewellery section of my website.
Thanks for your ideas!!

2 comments:

  1. Try putting it through a roller first. I note that the roller tends to 'roll' the metal as it emerges from the rollers. This may establish a new memory for the metal with a large radius circle.

    cheers

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  2. Hi Martin,
    Thanks for your suggestion, but I'm working with 5x3mm sterling silver wire when making tension set ring bands, which can not be put through a roller.

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