Basic Scroll Ring: Requirements One continuous piece of wire—do not cut into pieces! Soldered in one or more places At least two scrolls/bends/turns, using shapes from the 3A Wire Practice No wires crossing—flat on top of finger! Buffed inside and out

Basic Scroll Ring Examples NOTE: This simple ring will only earn the lowest mark in the “Degree of Difficulty”

Basic Scroll Ring: General steps Decide on your pattern. Buy 16 or 18 gauge round sterling or nickel silver wire. You need to use nickel silver if you haven’t paid your fee yet. 6 inches is usually sufficient. If you buy silver, save your scraps in your empty clear baggie.

Work from one end to the other Flatten and file one end. It should look like the canoe paddle. Turn as desired, like you did in the wire practice. This is one end of the scroll. Wrap the wire around the mandrel about a size or two smaller than your desired size. Slide up the mandrel to reach your size.

Wrap ring at your size Wrap the wire around the mandrel about a size or two smaller than your desired size. Slide up the mandrel to reach your size.

Wrap the other scrolled end Estimate the length you’ll need to finish the other end, and cut your wire. Flatten and file the end. Continue bending the other half to finish your design. File the side of the wire flat where you’ll put your solder joint. Pieces need to touch over a large surface area with some pressure.

Solder the ring together Flux the joint, then position the ring in a third hand, with the area you want to solder facing down. Add the solder. USE MEDIUM OR HARD SOLDER. Solder using the little torch until you see the solder flow. Quench, pickle, rinse, and dry. A third hand is a weighted base that holds a pair of locking tweezers. It is used to hold your pieces in a particular position when soldering.

Finishing your ring Round ring on a mandrel. Buff using the small muslin buff on a flex shaft, or you may use the red rouge only on the blue buffer if you’re really brave and careful. Nickel silver holds up better on the blue buffer than sterling does. Clean in the ultrasonic cleaner, then scrub with a toothbrush.

Helpful Hints Start at one end of the wire and work to the other. It is easier to start with the more difficult end. Be sure you file really well at any solder point. A third hand may be helpful in holding your ring in place while soldering.

Ring Security These rings tend to look very similar, and are usually very cool. They are frequently mistakenly or purposely taken out of the pickle or ultrasonic cleaner. Follow these precautionary steps so you don’t lose yours: Pickle at your table in a small cup. Dip into ultrasonic cleaner and scrub—don’t leave it there. Keep your ring in your pocket when you’re not working on it. Lock your box in your locker when you leave class.