Hello! This is my first post to the Orchid forums after a few weeks
of lurking.
I’m trying to build a sterling silver ring using cast tapered pear
bezels to a ring formed out of 4x2 comfort fit sterling silver sizing
stock. I am having all sorts of problems trying to get the proper
contour of the tapered bezel on my sizing stock. More often than not
in my first two attempts, I do not get a solid mate on the
cross-section and while it appears to take solder, it is probably not
very strong of a joint.
Does anyone have some tips on how to effectively transfer the
contour onto the sizing stock? Other tips on best technique to shape
it (currently using needle files - any other ways?) would be
appreciated!
Bonus Question - When I made the shank, I measured it out to be a
size 7, annealed it and formed it on the mandrel. Soldered it
together, rounded it and then tried to transfer the ‘shape’ of the
pear bezel to the shank. I used a saw to cut out the metal within my
lines and filed it as best as I thought I could get. After my file
butchery and soldering attempts, when I put it back on the mandrel to
check round, the ring went from a size 7 to about a 7 3/4. Did my
soldering job cause my ring stock to lengthen or did I somehow manage
to stretch the band somehow? Maybe I didn’t cut enough metal out to
compensate for the size of the bezel? Any thoughts on this would help
me refine my technique and be very appreciated as well.
Thanks,
Ron
