Rings?

[ptbeads]

I hope this isn't a stupid question, but I don't know anybody that makes rings and have never seen instructions on making rings. My friend saw glass rings at a craft show and wanted me to make some for her. They were made out of boro.
Do you just get large mandrels and make it just like a bead? Do you have to use boro? This is probably one of those "duh" kind of questions, but I've got to know.

Thanks

[Cosmo]

Harold Cooney is the first name that comes to mind. He wrote an article for The Flow a while back showing how he makes rings. He does his all off-mandrel. I have made a couple using his method, and it works. I just need a lot more practice before I could see myself selling them. I would imagine boro would be the best material to do rings with because you have to do a lot of spot heating, and there is a lot of "in and out of the flame" work. But, I'm sure it could be done.

[brallynadd]

you can make a glass ring freehand. I find that it is nice to have a ring mandrel that has the ring sizes marked down the side. Winship design offers these mandrels at a very good price. I think I bought mine for under 10 bucks. They have a website too.. I think it is www.winshipdesign.com

[sislonski]

I have a special ring mandrel. Just melt the glass on as you would a normal mandrel. I have a variety of sizes. Haven't actually made any to sell, haven't had the time, but have played with it a bit. They're actually a lot of fun.

shari

[ptbeads]

Thanks!
You wouldn't believe the number of hits you get in a forum with the search term "glass ring"!
I thought it might make a nice Christmas gift for her, so I'm off to look for special ring mandrels!!!:koolaid:

[Cosmo]

Harold makes his without a mandrel. That's the way I have done it as well. I make the "setting" on the end of a rod, then flatten one side of it. I take a twisted cane, and form it into a "C" shape. Heat the back of the "stone" then stick the C to it. Get the whole thing hot and use an octagonal reamer to smooth out the inside. You can make a little mark on the reamer so you know what part is what ring size. That also smooths out the inside of the band when you do it. However, if any of you make them on mandrels, I'd love to see it...

[Cosmo]

Oh, it's Volume 2, Issue 1 of The Flow that has the article on making rings...

[Orchid40]

I have been messing around with making rings on mandrels for awhile. My mandrels came from Frantz. I think I'm going to have to give the offhand rings a try. It's a lot of fun to experiment with rings. Mine are mostly floral.

Here are some pictures of fairly recent ones although I haven't had a chance to make any lately.
Char
8441

8442

8443

[ptbeads]

Thanks! I'm a new subscriber to The Flow, so I only have two issues I think. But, I just got that back issue ordered, so that will give me some other options to look at.
I've never made anything off the mandrel, so that makes me nervous.