A Classic Ring with a Classic VW bug

Ever since my 67 bug’s engine caught on fire a few years back I’ve been wanting to get it working again. I had bought the engine parts years ago and I removed the engine and it’s been sitting outside in the elements with just a plastic bag over it. Not a great situation. So I’ve started to dedicate my time to it so that I can get the engine in and get it running again. It has been quite the process and to be honest the engine is back inside. There are potential issues that will force me to remove the engine again, but with limited tools and equipment I will just have to do what I have to do. If I can get it running then I can worry about the rest. If not then I don’t feel I should spend anymore money on it and just sell it for someone else to put their heart into it. It’s in a stage where if I were to do it properly, I would need to redo so much of it, body work and all. I can’t afford to do that and just want the car to run. I miss it. It brings a good feeling when driving it.

VW 67 engine rebuild — My 67 VW bug engine rebuild - Right = engine after fire - Left = my rebuild attempt

Old classic rings are like my bug. They look so cool and have that antique look. Even though it has that look that doesn’t mean it has to have been made a long time ago. I made this one classic ring years ago and I love it. It’s not super old, but still has the look and feel. The one in the image has a 2ct amethyst stone with small diamonds and other cool design elements.

Platinum Antique Style Ring — Draping Elegance - A platinum ring with a 2ct round center and accent diamonds and filigree.

So there is just something about that old classic look. It’s beautiful and feels good to just to own one. The amount of time that goes into fixing a bug up and to design a ring, clean it up and set all the stones are similar on different scales. Lots of time and energy spent on thinking and even getting your hands dirty. Patients and a careful sense of attention to the small details. In the end it pays off and what comes of it is pure joy. It’s the journey that is wonderful and we need to see life in a way that is positive. A life that lifts our soul that can help shine onto others so we can all progress forward in a constructive positive way.

Jewelry Cleanup after Casting

The Raw Casting

After a ring is cast into metal it has this casting skin on it that prevents the metal from shining. Also the surface is semi smooth for smooth waxes and a little more rough for waxes that were not that smooth before casting. The color is also a little different. Just after casting the metal is a bit oxidized which means it’s black on the surface with a hint of the metal color mixed in. It needs to be “pickled” or put into some acid that will get rid of the black surface and make the metal a nicer color. For silver that is a dull white and for 14k yellow gold it’s a dull yellow. Now it’s ready to go to the cleanup process where the casting skin can be taken off.

Just after casting. The ring is now ready to go into the “pickle” or acid to get the black surface to a clean surface.

These silver castings have already been pickled to a dull white color. Some of them have been cut off the tree.

The cleanup process

Cleaning up the jewelry after casting can be a lot of work, but it’s rewarding. Bands are probably the easiest to clean up. Some engagement rings can be very difficult and time consuming. So let me explain the process so you can have a better idea. I’ll go through the general idea.

After a ring is cast the sprue has to be cut off which is where the metal was poured into the impression of the ring (see the image above). You do that by grinding it off until smooth with the rings surface. I usually will get it as close as I can, but not quite all the way. I can then use a finer grinder or even a file to help file it down. Then sand paper at various grits can be used to get the surface super smooth. This is the general idea. I’ll go over wedding bands and engagement rings in the next parts.

Sanding the sides of a ring after it had been blackened.

Wedding Bands

So wedding bands are usually simple and straight forward. Again, once cut off it has to be grind down so that it’s non existent. As you get close to the actual ring surface while grinding you have to slow down and take your time and use less aggressive methods. Then the whole ring has to be done in this way to get every surface clean and smooth as possible. Now it’s ready for polishing.

Silver rings that have been blackened and a light satin finish applied. Ready for polishing.

Engagement Rings

Engagement rings are sometimes a bit trickier to clean up. For these more difficult rings you need to used small files or even a small amount of sand paper wrapped around the tip of a mini file to smooth hard to reach areas. Also using a rubber wheel can help out a lot. This is attached to your flex shaft. It spins very fast and can speed things up if you are careful. Leaving it too long in one spot can dig into the surface and ruin it. So be careful and take your time. There are times you even need to use dental floss with polish on it to polish up hard to reach areas. Although there are some places you can’t get to there is a solution to at least brighten it up. Using a magnetic tumbler with tinny steel needle like pieces are used to tumble the ring and get those non accessible areas. Once the ring is cleaned up to the best of your ability and as smooth as it can be it’s ready for polishing.

Rendering of a platinum engagement ring I designed many years ago.

Conclusion

Cleanup after casting a ring is a very important process to go through. This will determine how much easier the next step of polishing will become. It makes the ring clean and free of blemishes and rough surfaces getting it ready for polishing. I have to say that I don’t think many people know what’s involved in getting a ring ready for final viewing. Usually it’s seen as a highly polished and perfect piece of jewelry, but it wasn’t always like that. It is quite the process that takes progressive steps along the way until its shine goes through. I hope this explanation helps a little bit to visualize the process and maybe think about the craftsmanship that goes into making a finished jewelry piece.

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Bridal Show and Craft Fairs

So I’m always trying to improve. I am always pushing and pushing to grow my business and most of the time feels like I’m having fun even if it’s not really growing. As long as I’m enjoying the ride, I think that is what’s important.

So I’ve decided to try something new. For those that have never seen my art in person, now’s your chance. December 21st 2019 I will be in a 10 x 10 booth over at the Queen Creek Family Market. 21802 S Ellsworth Rd., Queen Creek, AZ 85142 which is outside the Queen Creek Library. Come and enjoy looking around and pass by if you’d like to see some of my rings and other crafts on display. It’s open from 9am to 2pm and it’s a Saturday.

I will have some new makeup bags or whatever you want to put in them bags available along with many other products. I so wish I had more time to make more, but I’ll bring what I can. :)

Also I will be going to a bridal show over in the Phoenix Convention Center. This will be January of 2020 on the 11th and 12th. I’m in booth #644. Come by if you’d like to see or try on some rings. It will be a fun time. Mark your calendars. I think it’s $12 to get in.

This is something new to me and I don’t have it all figured out yet. This is one way I’m pushing myself to grow. I could use your support if you will be around during those busy times of year. I’ll post about this again as it gets closer to the event, but I just wanted to get this out early on so you can plan for it. :)