Hammer texturing a ring

This is the first of what I hope to be monthly mini tutorials. They will be small simplified tutorials offering info on tools or a technique. I hope you enjoy!

Today I'll be talking about hammer texturing a ring and the steps I go through to complete it.

Start with a plain piece of ring stock cut to length.

Roughly round it with pliers and solder seam.

Clean up edges and solder seam with files and/or sandpaper.

Place ring mandrel into holder. Note here I do not hold my ring mandrel while hammering. I find it very hard on my hands to hold something I am hammering on. My ring mandrel is in a clamped steel block I've had made to fit my anvil.

You can also use this idea, I used it for years before I had the steel block made. Bore out a hold in a sturdy bench leg that your ring mandrel will fit into snuggly. 

Note I've added a bracing block underneath the hole to give the mandrel more support when you are hammering on it.

Place soldered ring onto ring mandrel and hammer with texture hammer until desired texture is achieved. I used the above hammer at a slight angle to achieve the texture on this ring.

Buff, patina and finish ring!