A wood ring, it’s a great idea. I had been throwing it around in my mind for some time when a customer mentioned it to me as well. I began sketching to figure things out. How would I craft it? It needs to be a perfect combination of strength and beauty. Would I carve the silver base from wax or form it directly from the metal?

I began with wax. As I shaped the ring, it began to look a bit stuffy, too refined. Wood is a very earthy material and I thought it would be most complemented by a less sophisticated hand cut ring base. My first try at this second approach I found too crude. The second attempt I felt worthy to carry through to the end. I gathered the pieces, a hand carved silver flower with rivet, cocobolo wood circle, silver circle and ring band. For the next steps, I had to enlist the help of my teacher, Dad.

First, he hammered the ring band into a circle and filed the edges flat, in preparation for soldering onto the silver circle. Next, we traveled to the soldering bench, soldered, and then placed the ring in the pickle- a chemical cleaning solution. Then Dad sanded the ring while I polished the wood with a hand-held buffing tool. Laura polished the silver pieces and then it was time to assemble.

The silver flower was cast with a small rivet centered on its back. I inserted it though the holes I had drilled in the wood and silver ring base. Then Dad placed it on the ring sizer and hammered the top until the rivet expanded and flattened out, securing all the pieces in their place. Tada!!! The ring was complete. All in all I am pleased. There are a few changes I might make before it hits the line. I’ll let you know when it’s available.

posted by: lara

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