Free Project for Smart Bronze – Solid Ring
New media seem to bring new inspiration. I’ve always leaned toward hollow forms. It never occurred to me that I could work with solid forms, mainly because I was put off by their weight. As it turns out, Smart Bronze is very lightweight after it’s been fired (although not as light as Low-Shrinkage Steel XT), so I decided to give it a try. Once I started, the possibilities seem endless.
Here are instructions for making this ring.
The ring weighs 11 grams after firing. The instructions are long, but only because they are very detailed. It’s actually pretty simple.
1. From the ring sizer, pick a ring that is 2½ sizes bigger than your desired size. Trace the inner diameter of the ring with a pencil. (Tip: if you don’t want to separate the ring from the sizer, do it on a corner of a table; this is the only way it’s going to lay flat).
2. Find a tube whose outer diameter is the same as that of your traced circle.
Or: Find a circle template with the same diameter.
3. Here is the template for the ring:
4. Roll a large layer of Smart Bronze 3 craft sticks thick (18 cards). Cut a circle in it using the tube or the template.
5. Remove the circle. Place the template on top of the layer.
6. To cut the shape of the ring, it’s better to use cutters rather than a knife. Using cutters will help ensure that the cross sections are vertical. Pick a circle or oval cutter that fits the curve on the top right of the ring. Cut this section out.
7. Use a tissue blade to cut the next straight line.
8. Use circle cutters to cut away the excess from the layer on the right and left side of the template.
9. Remove the template. If you used a tube to cut the shank, put it back in the hole. This will help prevent the circle from distorting while drying.
10. Dry the ring thoroughly, then sand it smooth.
11. While the ring is drying, set the stones. You can use any fireable stones. I used an oval natural sapphire and a square natural garnet. For the oval stone, press the stone into a thick patty of clay. Squeeze a drinking straw into an oval shape and cut an oval around the stone. Dry, then sand the bezel to the perfect oval shape.
12. Set the square stone the same way, only use the scraper to cut the bezel around it.
13. Attach the bezels to the ring with thick paste. Dry.
14. Place the ring in carbon, on top of thin fiber paper. Place a piece of fiber paper on top of the shank as well. Cover with carbon, and fire.
Brick kiln: ramp at 1400°F/778°C per hour to 1440°F/782°C. Hold 2 hours.
Muffle kiln: Ramp at 1400°F/778°C per hour to 1490°F/810°C. Hold 2 hours. Make sure the overall ramp time is at least 1:00 hour!
15. After firing, finish the ring following the instructions in the document entitled “Finishing Fired Metal Clay,” available on the right-hand panel of this blog. You can polish it to mirror shine.
May 5th, 2013 at 7:20 pm
Yay!! A project! Thanks Hadar! And…..I will be ordering Smart Bronze shortly!!
May 5th, 2013 at 7:22 pm
That is inspiring…Thanks for showing us!
May 5th, 2013 at 7:23 pm
Awesome!
May 5th, 2013 at 7:25 pm
hello hadar, the rings look gorgeous. i can’t wait to order some and try this. what is the green/blue inclusion in the bottom ring?
May 5th, 2013 at 7:56 pm
Great instructions, this method lends itself to my designs, thanks so much!!!!!!
May 5th, 2013 at 9:44 pm
I just purchased some of the smart bronze clay, and this looks like an interesting project to try it out and add my own ideas to. Thanks!
May 6th, 2013 at 7:04 am
Ziff waves…I went to bed last night itching to make a ring. This is perfect! I like it very much. Thanks for the project Hadar.
May 6th, 2013 at 7:52 am
I just got my clay in the mail and can’t wait to try it! Am looking forward to not having to lug campstoves to classes, too! What smart clay! Thanks hadar!
May 6th, 2013 at 7:58 am
Pamela, This is a natural Montana Sapphire, fired in place.
May 6th, 2013 at 8:31 am
Any reason Smart Bronze cannot be pre-fired on a stove top . . . like including it with pieces that have to be pre-fired anyway?
May 6th, 2013 at 9:54 am
Hadar,
Just read your blog with the ring project. What a handsome ring. I’ve made many hollow rings with similar looks, but this is infinitely easier. You always do such a good job of finding the simplest method for the best look. Thanks for sharing so much with all of us.
May 6th, 2013 at 1:19 pm
Hi Hadar,
Your Ring is beautiful! Thanks for the project info and the great follow along pictures. I think this is one I will try. I will post mine when it’s finished.
Best Wishes,
Janice Wiggins
JMW Silver
May 7th, 2013 at 8:18 am
Ron, No reason. You can certainly do that.
May 7th, 2013 at 10:01 am
Thank you Hadar- beautiful
June 10th, 2013 at 3:31 pm
Hi Hadar,
I’m wondering how much shrinking happens while drying and how much happens in the kiln? I have a smart bronze ring in the dry stage. I made it 2.5 sizes larger,. It fit rather well in the dry stage – perhaps half a size. I can sand some out of the center to allow for additional shrinking if you think it will shrink more than a half size in the kiln.
Thank you!
June 12th, 2013 at 6:59 pm
Nicki, Some of the clay shrink mostly while they are drying. Brilliant Bronze and Low Shrinkage Steel XT will do that.
June 27th, 2013 at 2:04 pm
can you use brass or copper bezel wire with the smart bronze?
June 27th, 2013 at 2:45 pm
Kim, Yes, you can.
June 27th, 2013 at 3:54 pm
thanks!
January 19th, 2014 at 1:48 pm
hello hadar, i meant in the 2nd ring photo, the ring at the bottom. what is the stone on that ring?
thank you!