A Simple Wire Ring

An easy to create and inexpensive wire ring!

I posted this a few years ago on a jewelry forum and people seemed to enjoy it, so I thought it would make a great instructable. I sold a lot of these when I started making jewelry - I called them "Bellybutton Rings" and it was one of my very first designs.

I usually made them out of 20 and 18 gauge soft wire (half-hard is too brittle and the "bellybutton" isn't as tight because the wire springs out a little).

• You'll need a ring mandrel (or suitable equivalent), a flat-nosed jewelry pliers, a wire cutter, a small metal file, and a length of wire (the example is made with 14 gauge soft sterling silver).

Step 1: Initial Wrap

Wrap some wire around a ring mandrel twice so the ends shoot out in opposite directions.

• Before I had a ring mandrel I used socket bits from a ratchet set - being metal they worked pretty well and it was easy to hold the ends of the bit while twisting wire to make the bellybutton. I tried a wooden dowel too but it would get all hacked over time.

Comments

[vberry]

Made the ring in silver colored 16 gauge aluminum wire and it really came out well! Again, thanks for the great tutorial! I'm getting ready to make some more for my daughters and granddaughters!

[mejustsean]

To avoid snags from the "hidden" ends of the wire... just use a "wire rounder". This is a tiny smoother for the ends of wires... you can get something much larger, but just as useful in the fishing dept, for sharpening fish hooks. I have used both, and for the most part perfer the rounder, but have found there are times when the "sharpener" is quite useful. I never am able to satisfy myself that the ends won't scratch me or anyone else.... you know how it is, you are never satisfied with your own work... sean.

[vberry]

I found this on Pinterest and decided to try it. I've made a few other wire rings and they were quite fun to make. I made 3 of these today using 20 gauge craft wire and they turned out pretty well for a first try. I'm going to get some 16 or 14 gauge wire and try some more. I also glued a bead to one of the rings to see how that would look. It was okay, but I'm going to try some rhinestones on the next one. Thanks for an awesome tutorial!

[swinding]

So cute and easy - I used two 18g twisted together instead of one thicker gauge!  I think it turned out cool - kind of looks like a rose :)  Here's a pic.

[mrmwright1977]

wow this is beautiful

[Grey_Wolfe]

Very pretty.

[gjanelle]

very pretty:) reminds me of a flower hahah

[insructoperson]

Love it! Great job!

[kittknight]

that's amazing how cool it looks from a wire, nice one

[The nerdling]

when i make on i will put a gem in it an post how to do that.

[CoffeeFreak]

Just made this out of found copper wire. My GF loves it and is coating it with clear nail polish to keep her finger from going green.

You could almost put a "gem stone" in the middle.

[The nerdling]

i know how to do that

[showkat21]

thanks,very good tutorials.

[Verdantic]

Awesome instructable! Such a clever idea and so easy to make!

I made a set of four using colourful paperclips and only one wrap per ring, then bent the bands together to form a stackable set. It makes a nice toe-ring too!

[dmueth]

Sweet, just made one for my wife.

Thanks

[Ladylisa]

I love this ring!

[janettetsmith]

Sweet! Getting my mandrel and wire and tools this very moment! Thanks for the instructions!

[jimjamaroo]

now i know that it may not be the easiest thing to get a hold of but what about silver soldering the ends so you dont risk catching your finger on the tucked in ends

[basketballstarz]

so was their soldering involved in this? also - how/what did you make your mandrel out of?

[totemic]

No soldering - just wire wrapping. I used a store bought mandrel, but you can use anything that's round and has an end the same size as the place you're wrapping the wire (so the ring will slide off when completed).

[theatre_tech_guru]

i have done this for a couple of people i use a socket set and i made a sizing wire that has all the sizes that i have available so i can see what size to make them. but if i dont have it i can eye ball it pretty good

[Shut Up Now]

solder would be no good for you if it wasnt lead free...you should never have lead touching your skin for long periods of time..

[SteveH]

If you were going to solder it you would want to use silver jewelry solder not plumbing solder.  The jewelry solder won't hurt you.

[casey321b]

no soldering i think I read a while ago but id have to check again... im to lazzy tho but im pretty sure no soldering

[whopoder]

Beautiful and creative!

[Toxicity]

i'm gonna make one to appologise to my girlfriend for something i dont know is my fault. i'll tell you how it goes when i do it!

[aressa]

Wow!  I make wire rings too.  This one is incredibly easy.  Thanks for sharing!

Amy

[rickick]

why not use solder and then melt some to make a design

[RoosterSocks]

solder is very weak. i  think it would bend and scratch like crazy

[tyeo098]

Some solder has lead in it?

Lead+Human=BAD

[twenglish1]

the lead in soldler isn't bad for you unless you like eat it or something

[HAL 9000]

You can get solder without lead. In fact, most doesn't.

[Pwag]

What about silver solder?

[Notbob]

solder without lead does not flow as easy as solder with lead

[Grey_Wolfe]

Silver solder would be an excellent choice. Since it would be jewelery quality, and still maintain the workability of solder.

[erie94550]

it hurts when it splatters right in between your eyes...

[bug on fire]

i got it on my check

[Grey_Wolfe]

I'm pretty sure that's true of all solders. I could be wrong though. Still between your eyes is better than in them. Maybe you should get some safety glasses, just in case.

[cowscankill]

???? How did that happen...

[MattandJora]

where did you get the silver wire?