[Jewelry making - Article 00734] - Re: [Orchid] Making ring of solid mokume gane

[Chris Ploof]

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    The "real" trick is creating a seamless ring with "heft" - I agree
    with Wayne, the method he mentions is super (and what I started doing
    a long while ago), and congratulations Thomas on your success, but
    personally I make my rings a minimum of 1.9mm thick for the small
    sizes, out of solid seamless mokume gane.even for shanks of
    engagement rings. I've found rings much thinner than that aren't
    durable and don't last as long as thicker rings. Also, look at the
    rings at the end of the you tube videos - look hard enough, and you
    can see the solder seams in numerous places where the rings have been
    repaired.so not quite seamless. It looks like his material is being
    stressed to failure in his process, but he is making a thick,
    although not truly seamless, ring. 

    The challenge is making a quality product, that feels wonderful on,
    exhibits beautiful pattern, will last longer than the wearer, and is
    truly seamless. 

    Hint: star pattern is the easiest pattern to hide a seam on - it's
    much more consuming to make a star pattern seamless ring than to be
    an expert on soldering them 

    Hint #2: I have yet to find a customer that cares about the seamless
    aspect of mokume rings. Their attachment is to pattern, and
    especially original patterns not offered by other makers. 

Chris
Chris Ploof Studio
508.886.6200 EST
www.ChrisPloof.com
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