Reshaping Rings with Heat: A Beginner's Guide

Question
Hi Thomas. This is a wonderful site. Thank you so much for devoting your time to it. I'm interested in jewelry-making and have been looking at what's out there, trying to get a feel for what can be accomplished on a "starter" budget (until I'm sure it's right for me). I notice a lot of "nugget rings" and was wondering if many of these are created by melting old rings slightly or dripping melted gold onto existing rings. Many are obviously well-crafted, but occasionally I see one that looks pretty crude. Also, I've seen butane mini-torches with soldering tips. Do you know if these can be used to melt the surface areas and re-sculpt existing rings, or are they intended only to be used with solders? (I'm guessing the latter, because life couldn't be that easy!) Thanks for your time. Joe

Answer
Joe, regardless of the torch you have including fuel gas/oxygen ones which are much more suitable than the butane hand torches for jewelry work, you will find it very difficult to alter a ring in the method you suggest.  I believe the results will be an uncontrolled mess.  : )

The method would require fusing, that is joining metals together by bringing both to a temperature allowing liquid joining of each. Sure, I do fuse metals in special circumstances and have made fused gold "nuggets" but have not formed rings and altered existing ones this way.  Control of heat must be exact, meaning right on the degree or more melts than desired. Simply dripping melted gold onto a gold ring will not work. The contact surfaces of both must be up to temperature to allow a real joining of the metals.

The quality of the nugget ring you see all goes back to the manufacturer. Quick and junky work produces junky looking results. Fine and considered work produces a finely done item.  Most nugget style rings are made by casting. The ring is originally carved in a special hard wax, duplicating all the nugget look desired. This model is used for lost wax casting the ring. When cast and finished, the ring is done.

You might be able to melt some gold in small amounts with the butane torch.  Total heat produced is what tells that tale.  Why do this? Well, you can melt small pieces together or use gold solders to join while on a block of jewelers charcoal to make a nugget pendant form.

The best way to see if jewelry work is for you is to find a local arts center, school or college offering evening non-credit courses in basic jewelry making. Believe me, these will be basic courses but introduce you to the tools and first methods.  This a good way to go.

Otherwise, look for a book or two on jewelry making but check to see it is will illustrated with how-to's and covers forming, soldering, etc.  A good book certainly costs much less than the equipment you might purchase only to gather dust later on.  Also, perhaps a library will have some info you can check out.

God Bless. Peace and Good New Year.      Thomas.