Sp.Ring
A helical silver ring inspired by industrial springs
Beginnings
The sp.ring was my first silversmithing project in ME 298, my first time carving wax and first investment casting. I thought it would be fun to start the quarter with a bounce.
When I began carving my initial ring designs, I quickly realized that I lacked the fine motor skills to achieve my vision. I needed to simplify and focus me design to complete the project in its short one-week time line. Unable to attain control over flex shaft dremel used by many of my classmates to quickly carve wax, I took a small hand held file. The ultimate simplicity of the design became very useful when I broke my wax carving several times and had to re-carve. The sp.ring was an introduction to silversmithing and a lesson in practicality.
Finished Carving
Ring properly sprued on the wax tree, ready to be cast
Sanding ring using flex shaft
Setup using a ring sizing tool for support while spruing for the first time
Filed ring
Polishing
Course
ME 298: Silversmithing and Design - February 2019
Processes
Wax Carving, Investment Casting
Materials
Sterling Silver