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Square Forms

#1

Dear Orchids,

I am looking for some tricks to build some square forms, say finger
rings. Square, rectangular, hexagonal whatever. Folding the band
over a straight angle is what I do today, but this never gives a
clean fold at 90 or below.

Any tips ?

Thanks,
Ted

#2

Hi Ted,

With a square file you file a v-shaped notch in the band (==v==),
then gently fold the band and solder. Be sure not to file all the
way through, but almost. If you do it correct you will see a thin
line on the underside of the band, that is when you are deep enough.
Sometimes the edges of the file are a bit rounded. In that case I
would finish with a carre graver.

Hope that helped,
Alain

#3

You need to cut and file out out a V shaped section from your metal,
but don’t go quite all the way through. Then bend and solder. If your
saw filing and skills are not great, the alternative is to bevel two
pieces of metal, fit them together and solder.

Mary Ellin D’Agostino, PhD
www.medacreations.com

#4 
Folding the band over a straight angle is what I do today, but this
never gives a clean fold at 90 or below.

You need to file a triangular shaped negative space in the corner.
Then when you fold it, you’ve got a mitered corner.

Elaine

#5

Ted,

Cut grooves on the insides of the corners. Almost all the way through
and remove just enough metal so that when bent there are no gaps. For
a crude start separating disks work, then finish with files, gravers,
or scrapers ( usually home made with the need angle… think a Pull
engraver) Scrapers also works well with a clamped straight edge for
guidance. Old file tangs can be bent, ground, hardened, and tempered
saving the temptation of another visit to the tool store. Probably
some better descriptions with pictures in the archives.

Jeff
Demand Designs
Analog/Digital Modelling & Goldsmithing
http://www.gmavt.net/~jdemand

#6

Also to what is said, I tend to make two L’s in the way described,
solder them together to make your box frame. If you are going to cap
it with tops and bottoms remember to leave a hole somewhere to allow
air to escape.

Kindest,
K. David Woolley