Introduction: Manta Ring

About: I'll take up any hobby i can get my hands on.

 2.) Side Intro: I present the new and improved Manta Ring, well the ring isn't exactly improved, of course you can't improve upon perfection, j.k, but it does have a shiny new name. 
(jagfan), which you can find in the comments below, said it looked like a stingrays mouth, and I most heartily agree.
With out further ado I present to you the Manta Ring, which I just realized I had already typed at the top, so yeah!

 1.) Intro: Alright if you haven't seen this Instructable before, basically its similar to the original (quarter ring) seen almost every where, with a slight difference; The ring has what appears to be a large stingray mouth, or whatever your imagination can stir up.
This will give you the tools, and know-how to create a ring. Follow the instructions carefully, and you might just turn out a mantapiece. :)


Warning:  If you have a quarter that was minted before 1965, it is made of silver and is worth more than 25 cents. 


Laws:Section 331 of Title 18 of the United States code provides criminal penalties for anyone who “fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales, or lightens any of the coins coined at the Mints of the United States.” This statute means that you may be violating the law if you change the appearance of the coin and fraudulently represent it to be other than the altered coin that it is. As a matter of policy, the U.S. Mint does not promote coloring, plating or altering U.S. coinage: however, there are no sanctions against such activity absent fraudulent intent.

Step 1: Tools

What you will need to create this ring:


Tools: Mandrel - $10
Punch and Die - $45
Sledge Hammer - $10
Small Hammer
File - $2
Drill - $25 
Quarter - 25 cents


Step 2: Placing the Quarter

This has the most significance out of all the steps.  Screw this up, and you screw the whole ring up.  Place the quarter on the 1/2" circle of the Punch and Die if you are making a ring for a woman, and the 5/8" circle for a man.   Place the ring slightly off center this is very important as you will find out in later steps.

Step 3: Makeing the Hole

You will be making two holes in the quarter.  Place the quarter further out of center than I did (see picture below) to make way for the next smaller hole.  To start the hole off you will want to get out your Punch and Die using the 5/8" hole or 1/2" as I said before.  This is where it gets tricky putting just enough force into the first 2 hammer swings so it makes an indent to stay in place for the third sledge hammer swing  that will puch out the middle.  The drill process is nearly the same.  Get out your 5/8" or 1/2" drill bit.  Make the bit is for piercing metal as you might destroy your drill bit if it's for wood.   For this step, you may want to mark your quarter where your going to drill with a permanent marker.  Then you are ready to drill your hole.  Once done, you may need to file the inside edges to prevent gettting cut.

Step 4: The Hole Inside the Hole

this is also very important on where you place your hole, you won't want to place it outside the large whole, but barley in it as seen in the image below. The smaller hole, the smaller the fangs. The larger the hole, the wider and longer the fangs will become. But don't pick any size over 3/8 in or your ring will split in later steps. This isn't always bad because you can the adjust your ring size to anything you like. But if you would like your ring with no crack, follow the steps above the same applies to the drilling.

Step 5: Tapering the Ring

This part is not complicated but in the end will take quite a long time. Place the ring on the end of you mandrel. Find a hard surface and wedge it onto the side as shown in picture 2 below. Rotate the quarter every 3-4 taps, while hitting it down towards the end of the mandrel. An easier way to do this though, is get a block of hard wood or plywood. As plywood is very hard to split and cheaper you may want to use it. Now, drill a whole in the plywood about half the size of the quarter, place the quarter over the mandrel and through the hole in the plywood no start hammering on the plywood towards the quarter. At some point what this will do is the same as hammering your quarter against the edge, but with a more finalized semetrical look to it.

Step 6: Finishing Up

For the final and easiest step, all you have to to is file down all the rough edges, along with rounding the teeth if you want to. That step is optional, but there is a possibilty of cutting yourself. Once the filing is done, place the ring on your finger and admire your masterpeice. Thank you and please vote.

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