How to Make a Signet Ring and Seal Your Envelopes in Style

Nothing is more embarrassing than getting to the end of a letter and realizing that you don't have a good wax seal for the envelope.  With a couple of easy steps, a 3d printer, a kiln, and a spin caster, you can have a signet ring in no time.

Submitted by Milwaukee Makerspace for the Instructables Sponsorship Program

Step 1: Design the Ring

Using Sketchup or openScad, or your favorite cad design program design a ring.  Below is a question block ring I designed using Sketchup.  Also attached is an openScad ring designer I am working on.  Whatever you want to design is up to you.

If you use Sketchup, there is a variety of plugins you can get to take your design from .skp to .stl.  I found one from the makerbot website, and it worked great.

Comments

[Kinnishian]

Have you tried doing this without the casting? You inspired me to make a a simple version. ABS doesn't soften until ~212F, and paraffin melts <195F,

Sounds like they can be friends! It might not last as long (longer if I chill the ring before hand)...but I can always reprint :). Until the day I get access to a beautiful kiln.

[eugenius]

This article is like "how to draw owl" instruction:
1)draw some circles
2) draw the rest of the f*** owl

[LobosSolos]

One thing that I do know is when you are making this, if you want it to fit on your finger then you need to allow for some shrinkage. The metal, from when it solidifies to when it hits room temperature will shrink by a percentage (I'm not sure by how much, probably depends on the metal).

[malweth]

What would the approximate cost be if you skipped everything after the CAD design and sent it somewhere like Shapeways?

[matt_the_maker]

I uploaded a similar ring to shapeways and it was around 30 bucks for steel or 70 for silver. I don't know if it is print-able though, because I didn't ensure that the tolerances matched for the material specs from shapeways.

[AxisBloodmoon]

this is completely awesome, ive wanted to make a signet ring for the last 5 or 6 years, and finally decided i was going to go to a jewelers and have one made of silver. i have yet to go to the jewelers and so but but this makes me want to even more.

I live in madison, so it was nice to see your in milwaukee ;P

I just wish i had access to all the things you do and the insperation to do it this way, ive bin thinking about a few other cheap ways to cast one, AWESOME instructable. THANK YOU!

[matt_the_maker]

Thanks for the comments. Glad to hear you liked it. If you are looking for a great place with lots of equipment and people that know how to use them, you should look into Sector 67. I've not been, but they are the makerspace in Madison. Also, if you look into shapeways.com , you could design the ring in a cad program and have them make it in silver, steel, or plastic for you.

[rasterweb]

Great work Matt!

[Penolopy Bulnick]

That is so awesome! I love the designs you picked, so fun!

[framistan]

This is super cool. I like it because it is not just RETRO... it is PRE-retro ! Makes me want to get out my quill-pen and send someone a REAL LETTER... not some lame old email. great instructable !