Silver Ring Made from Scrap Metal(2012)

Once you realize that something can be made, it’s surprising how many things suddenly feel possible. The motivation for this piece came when my wife’s silver tooth came loose. I decided to combine that silver with the scraps I already had — including shavings from a ring I made in the past — and turn them into a new ring.

Process:

1. I poured instant cement (the white type) into a yogurt cup and used it to shape the ring mold.
2. Using a gas burner, I melted the silver over the mold.
3. When the molten metal held together in a ring shape — resisting surface tension — I cooled it and filed the surface with a metal file.
4. Finally, I polished it using Pikal to bring out the shine.