Blog 861 – 01.01.2018

One Ring To Rule Them All, Not Rule Them Really

In addition to writting, speaking, singing, inspecting, and teaching a bit I am one heaven of a “ring maker.” I have specialized for almost forty years in making custom rings out of coins, all but one out of silver quarters and half dollars. That one exception I made from a nickel for my then little girl, Emily, she out grew it quickly so I made her another one out of a quarter. But I get ahead of my story.

The first ring I ever made from a quarter was for my girl friend, first wife, Barbara Ann Barefield. I did give her a gold diamond engagement and wedding ring set when we married. That she gave back when we divorced but kept the quarter ring. I made one also from a silver quarter for my mom, the last year they were solid silver was 1964, halves too and even dimes – too small to make a ring. I made rings for my Dad and brother out of half dollars also during my first year of ring making, 1969.

How do you make a ring out of a quarter? I love that question and my quick answer, “With a spoon.” always gets a raised eyebrow or two. The process is quite simple and I promise if you make even one that you too will become an expert ring maker at least from silver coins. I intend to post at least three perhaps four more pictures with this post to illustrate how the coin evolves through the process. I like to place a little book, like a small pocket sized address book on my knee, either one, and hold the coin between my index finger and thumb on it and strike the edge of the coin with the convex edge of the spoon like you were pounding a beat with your free hand. Turn the coin as you tap, tap, tap. Do it till your fingers are sore, no longer. Be prepared for this process to take awhile. But even a few minutes a day will eventually produce a beautiful and very unique ring. I have probably made fifty of them at least. Once I even tried to sell them but no one wants to pay for the time it takes to make one. I think I figured out once it took about seventeen hours to make one out of a quarter and considerably more for one made from a half dollar.

Once it was unlawful to deface U.S. coins but thankfully I was never arrested and some time ago that law was changed, probably so silver coins could be melted down, the value of the silver being greater than the face value of the coins. My last fifty cent ring (Pictured) costed me seven dollars and fifty cents plus tax at a coin shop. Had they even had a 1950 ( my birth year) it would have been considerably more. The advantage of the half dollar rings which are for larger fingers is that when the letters mushroom over and they do, the year will remain on the inside if you carefully remove the middle.

But first you must tap and turn, tap and turn till the inside diameter of the mushroomed edge is the right size for the intended wearer. I usually take a smaller coin and put it inside a ring of theirs and attempt to make my coin ring to that precise diameter before beginning the cutting out process.

As I already said this must be done with care if you are to keep the outside edge mushroomed over lettering of the coin intact, which is to me a great part of the uniqueness of the ring when you show it off to others. I have had a lot of people say, “Oh, please make me one.” I just smile and say, “I have made my last one, but I will show you how and even get you started if you would like to make your own.” I could count the takers of that offer on one hand with several fingers left over.

Once the ring has been tapped to size the removing of the center can be done with a small sharp pocket knife such as the smallest Swiss Army key chain knife. I know I have done it several times but what I recommend is that you carefully drill a small hole in the center of the coin holding it to a piece of wood with you fingers being careful not to mar the outside edge, the lettering, or your fingers. Gradually use a bigger and bigger drill bit till you can use a rat tail file or get the small knife blade in the hole to scrape or file away the silver, turning as you file or scrape keeping the hole as round as possible. As you get close to the lettering you will need to scrape the last as close to the lettering as you can without touching it. I prefer leaving a little lip so that if need be you can make the ring a half to a full size larger without removing the lettering later.

I also prefer the hammer finish of completing the ring to size tapping with the convex bowl of the spoon but if you want a smooth finish as the ring diameter nears size turn the spoon over and strike the the edge with the concave bowl of the spoon.

This past year I made my “last” ring. I made it for me and made it slow and precise. I had it ready to put in a little felt Christmas stocking that I labeled with a marker, “Baby.” It was part of my Christmas gift to me – the ring of silver and a silver and a gold coin. I have not always taken the best care of “Baby” or given him the best gifts but no more. Putting Baby first means everyone else gets the best of me and not a poor second handed down version either. It sounds counter-intuitive but it is still true – one must first take care of themselves to have anything really to share with others.

If you are up to the challenge of making a ring you will be glad you did and have a keepsake to give to someone you love. I made this my last ring for someone I love very much but have spent most of my life neglecting – me. Make your first ring for you. You deserve it. Of all the rings that I ever made with literally pounds and pounds of love this one is the one that I enjoyed making the most because it was for me.

Your friend and fellow traveler

David White

Please let me know if you make a ring. I would be happy to hear that there are other crazies are out there too. It takes one to know one. Two bits, four bits or if you have giant fingers a silver dollar.