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Spoon rings are made from the handles of sterling silver, silver-plated or stainless-steel spoons. Stainless-steel spoons are less expensive but are more difficult to work because the metal is so rigid. Crafters vary in their preferences for silver plate or sterling silver. Some crafters state that silver plate is more likely to break during the spoon-making process so it must be handled more carefully. To make a spoon ring, jewelry makers and crafters cut the spoon at the narrowest part of the handle, just before it begins to enlarge to create the bowl of the spoon.
Cutting
The handle is separated from the bowl of the spoon. For this process, a vise to hold the spoon tightly is useful so the cut will be straight across, or at the desired angle. Pad the vise's teeth with duct tape or masking tape to prevent marring the spoon with the teeth of the vise. Cut with a hacksaw or a rotary tool with a cut-off wheel. The bowl of the spoon can be used for another craft, for instance a pendant with designs engraved or cut into it using a handheld engraving tool or a rotary tool fitted with a engraving tips.
Smoothing
The cut edge of the spoon handle is smoothed before the handle is turned. A soft-faced mallet is used to remove rough snags and edges. Leather mallets are popular for this purpose. A lead-filled mallet adds weight that helps in shaping your spoon jewelry without stretching the metal. The cut edge is filed with a half-round ring file until it is slick to the touch. Polish with emery cloth or an electric polisher.
Sizing Mandrel
The spoon handle is wrapped around a ring mandrel for shaping and sizing. A jeweler's ring mandrel or a piece of copper pipe may be used for shaping the ring. A pair of pliers padded with duct tape or masking tape to protect the spoon handle from the teeth is used to bend a portion of the ring around the mandrel. The mallet is used to further shape the handle around the mandrel.
Finishing
Emery cloth or an electric polisher are used to ensure the ring is perfectly smooth after shaping. Silver polish applied with a clean white rag will remove fine dust and tarnish from the spoon ring.
References
Photo Credits
- Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
