Copper ring trio

Learn how to make a looped ring, globe ring, and rosette ring while working in warm, economical copper wire. 

Read instructions below, or click here for the free project PDF.

Materials

Rosette ring

• 2 ft. (61 cm) 16-gauge (1.3 mm) copper wire, square, dead soft

Globe ring

• 2 ft. (61 cm) 16-gauge (1.3 mm) copper wire, square, dead soft

Looped ring

• 2 ft. (61 cm) 16-gauge (1.3 mm) copper wire, square, dead soft
• 6 in. (15 cm) 18-gauge (1.0 mm) copper wire, half round, dead soft or annealed

All rings

• Chainnose pliers
• Flush cutters strong enough to cut 16-gauge (1.3 mm) wire
• Butane torch
• Ring mandrel
• Steel bench block or anvil
• Rubber mallet
• Pickle and pickle pot, such as a Crock-Pot or container on a hot plate
• Brass brush or fine steel wool
• Liver of sulfur (optional)
• Spray enamel (optional)

Before creating the rings, anneal the wire by heating it with a butane torch until it glows and then quenching it in water.

1. Cut 2 ft. (61 cm) of 16-gauge square wire, and center it on a ring mandrel at two sizes larger than the desired finished size. Wrap one full rotation, and tightly twist the ends together once (a). 

2. Windmill the ends around the center until the rosette is the desired size. Trim the ends to 2 in. (51 mm) (b).

3. Remove the ring from the mandrel, and wrap each end around the band two or three times (c).

4. Trim each end on the outside of the band. Using chainnose pliers, gently squeeze the wraps in place (d).

5. On a bench block, hammer the ring band with a rubber mallet to work-harden. Pickle the piece to remove fire-scale, and polish with a brass brush. If desired, patinate the piece with liver of sulfur, and apply a coat of spray enamel to seal and protect.

1. Repeat step 1 of the “Rosette ring.”

2. Tightly twist the ends together two more times (e), and windmill the ends around the center, working down toward the band, until the globe is the desired size (f). Trim the ends to 2 in. (51 mm).

3. Repeat steps 3–5 of “Rosette ring.”

1. Repeat step 1 of “Rosette ring,” but do not twist the ends together.

2. Remove the ring from the mandrel, and wrap a 6-in. (15.2 cm) piece of 18-gauge wire seven times around the center of the band. Trim each end of the wire on the outside of the band. Using chainnose pliers, gently squeeze the wraps in place (g).

3. Loop one wire end around the outer edge and back under the center. Repeat with the other wire end, making sure to insert the wire through the first loop (h). Repeat two times on each side.

4. Trim both ends to 2 in. (51 mm), and wrap each end around the band three times.

5. Repeat steps 4 and 5 of “Rosette ring” (i).