Mens 5 Cent Ring

Now you can make a matching set.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Sweetheart-Nickel-RingPendant/

Step 1: Mark The Center

Center the coin in the carpenters square. Using a razor blade score a line in the center. Rotate the coin 90 degrees and score another line. Where the lines cross is the center. Now use a punch to mark the center. This helps you in the next step

Comments

[sparktech]

I would like to make one for myself that is made from a pre 1964 quarter...should I drill a smaller hole and then form it into a cone? I am worried that If i drill a large hole and then hammer it it will be too large for my finger

[stroker-ms]

This was great!! I just read this like 3 hours ago! and Have a Really Cool Ring....going to make another one!! This was a great instructables with great instructions!

[tycrump]

it actually broke while i was working on it. i can try to make it again and see how it turns out

[Mrballeng]

Could you post a picture? I'd be a better help if I could see how your ring looks at this point.

[tycrump]

I tried making this and it worked up to this point. when i started hammering, it became a thin circle. how did you get it to be that conical?

[chockenbury]

Found the exact answer from the US MINT WEB SITE
http://www.usmint.gov/consumer/?action=FAQ

Can I make jewelry from U.S. coins?
Yes, but your business should be careful not to imply any endorsement by or association with the United States Mint in its advertising and marketing materials

Can I melt, drill holes through, or mutilate U.S. coins?
Maybe. It is a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 331 to alter a U.S. or foreign coin with the intent to defraud. The United States Mint cannot issue interpretations of criminal statutes such as this, which fall within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Justice. Furthermore, 31 C.F.R. Part 82 states that no person shall export, melt or treat any 5-cent coin or one-cent coin of the United States. HOWEVER, there are a few exceptions such as for novelty, amusement, educational, jewelry and similar purposes. Your business should consult with an attorney to ensure it does not run afoul of these laws before melting or mutilating U.S. coins.

[MicioGatta]

I love your instructables, not easy but beautiful. Can you tell if one can do something like this with useless 1 & 2 euro cent? I hate them ;-P ;) Bye!

[builderkidj]

Nice headcrab killah :)

[AronC0816]

This is really cool! I want to try making one but I am worried that my lack of patients will have me turning out with a less than satisfactory product. What are modern nickels made of? I figured they were some kind of alloy.

[Mrballeng]

I think they are an alloy of nickel and copper.

[2muchfreetime8]

they're made of a nickel copper alloy, thats true. ive noticed that it turns my finger green as the copper oxidizes. is there any way to prevent that? i was thinking maybe covering the inside part with solder then polishing it again. would that work?

[Julianne fights Dragons!]

If you have clear nail polish it should prevent greening from happening!

[naked_ape]

Little late on the ball here, but for the best results try to find silver quarters, they were 90% pure up to 1964 for the US... uhh, Canada is a wee bit more complicated see the following chart [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarter_(Canadian_coin)]
Silver is soft and easier to work with, also doesn't leave marks on the skin.

[htonks]

I'm going for a thinner, woman size 5 1?2 around ring. Do you recommend your cone shape hammering, or just hammer it head on ( the edge) so it stays the same shape just gets thinner and wider?

[Mrballeng]

Go the "on the edge" route. It's eaisier to shape and polish this style into the ring your looking for.

[htonks]

Thanks! Will this still come out a little but wide, but just not as wide as the mens?

[Mrballeng]

Yes. Play around with it. You'll find out real quick how to get the thickness you want.

[htonks]

So does banging it into a cylinder work better than just banging it it right on the edge while on the mandrel?

[Mrballeng]

I wouldn't call either method better, though it is eaisier to hammer it on edge while it's on the the madrel.

[ddbear]

Where can I get a bit like that? I used one I had lying around, and destroyed the tip on it! Is it a special bit made for metal?

[Mrballeng]

This bit is actually for wood. I used a low rmp setting on my drill press and it did well. But I think regular drill bits would work better. You can buy this type of bit at the home depot.

[Asmodeous]

Will a nickel be able to accommodate a large finger width, like a size 12? if not, what coin would? Thanks!

[Mrballeng]

Yes, the ring would just be thiner.

[phoenix124]

how do you control the sizing of it?

[Mrballeng]

Check this out.


http://www.instructables.com/id/Five-Cent-Hoop-Earrings/

[phoenix124]

oh wow, thank you! i'll post pics as soon as i get done :)

[Skip]

This type of technique is called coning and converting. Wedding ring manufacturers use a similar technique to make seamless rings which go into a CNC lathe to be shaped. I know this because it is my job.

Great to see it can be done "by hand" as it were.

By machine, "washers" are stamped out of strips of metal. They are then pressed in the middle (coning) with a hydraulic press, creating a cone, then they are pressed through a polished hole (converting) which turns the washer into a short round tube which is called a slug.
The slug is then put into a press roller which rolls the ring with a steel mandrel in the middle against a nylon press. This expands the ring ready for the CNC lathe.

The only thing I'd warn against with using coins as rings is the high Nickel content of the coins (search "cupronickel") , but for the majority of people, this is a great thing to do.

[username252]

Is cupronickel dangerous? I looked it up, but nothing stands out for me as dangerous (or that I missed something)

[Skip]

Some people have nickel allergies

[spottedape_05]

Modern nickels are minted of 75% Copper 25% Nickel alloy <---

Its probably safe to say that most of the users here are aware of what hazards they may encounter when performing an 'ible, and that those with a nickel allergy would realize the risks involved with utilizing a coin as a material that is commonly referred to as a "nickel". My five cents.

[brandon.horrell]

When are the best years to use, metal wise?

[Mrballeng]

As far as nickels go, I just use whatever is on hand. Most of the ones I've used are from after 1980.

[swede7son]

Another excellent i'ble Mr B! After making one of your teardrop pendants for my wife yesterday, I had the urge to go back out to the shop and try making one of your nickel men's ring for myself. It took longer to grind a mandrel out of an old steel shaft than to make the ring. I did things a little bit different than you instructed but got it done anyway. I chose to leave most of my tool markings on the surface of the ring to show that it's handmade. I like the hammered look. Sorry for the crappy iPhone picture.

[Mrballeng]

This is great! I really enjoy when others post pictures of their work. Thanks for the comment.

And if you have any project ideas for me let me know. I'll gladly make the i'ble.

[Mrballeng]

Why yes it is. I was trying this same process on the outer part of a $2 peso coin but it didn't work out. Maybe after some more practice.

[joreknight]

is that the centre of a peso coin?

[Dr. Pepper]

Just awesome!

[atombomb1945]

This is by far one of the best Coin Ring Intructables I have seen to date. Top Marks!!!