Mobius Rings

by Judy Larson

Category: Findings
Technique(s): Butane Torch Techniques
Skill Level: Beginner

If you solder together three jump rings into a solid love knot, Judy Larson contends it becomes a mobius ring: one with no beginning and no end!

Materials

Silver Filled Jump Rings Open (.040) 18ga (OD) 6mm (ID) 4.02mm - Pack of 25

S11-17

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.16
Gold Club Price: $3.12

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Tools

90 Degree Bent Nose Pliers

G2-66

G2-66
Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each
Price: $7.97
Gold Club Price: $5.98

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WireJewelry 9 Inch Rotating Turntable with Fire Brick

G32-9910

G32-9910
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $39.95
Gold Club Price: $29.96

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Blazer Big Buddy Turbo Torch, White

TRCH-8012

TRCH-8012
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $40.00
Gold Club Price: $30.00

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Aqui Flux, 1/2 Pint Spray Bottle

SOL-932.03

SOL-932.03
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $6.95
Gold Club Price: $5.21

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Silver Solder Paste Medium SS70 - 1/4 T.O.

SOL-822.15

SOL-822.15
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $18.95
Gold Club Price: $14.21

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Silver Solder Paste Soft SS65- 1/4 T.O.

SOL-822.10

SOL-822.10
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $16.95
Gold Club Price: $12.71

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Stainless Steel Shot - 1 lb Bag

G24-4

G24-4
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $43.95
Gold Club Price: $32.96

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Thumlers Tumbler Model A-R12 Rock Tumbler

G34-130

G34-130
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $348.17
Gold Club Price: $261.13

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Instructions

Step 1

Read through the tutorial before starting the project. Follow all safety precautions pertaining to the tools and supplies being used and the space you are working in.

For any size of jump rings:

Close one jump ring. Connect and close a jump ring to the first closed ring.

Judy Larson's Mobius Rings - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, mobius rings

Step 2

I am right handed and tend to lay the second jump ring to the right. No matter which way the ring is placed, all succeeding attached ring MUST be placed in the same direction.

Step 3

Open, attach, and close a jump ring to the two nestled together rings from Step 2. Remember, the newly attached jump ring MUST nestle correctly with the other two. In this case, it goes to the right.

Step 4

Three connected jump ring will make a mobius link. Adding more rings will make a heftier link.

Alternative Ring Finishing

Because I like to have many sizes of mobius rings on hand and do not like to fiddle with nestling the rings together, I fuse or solder each ring after attaching it and then fuse or solder the nestled rings together. Each fused or soldered seam is cleaned and refined before adding new jump rings.

Step 5

Close a jump ring. Fuse or solder the join.

Pro Tip: When fusing, the metal becomes slightly molten. It is imperative to fuse on a clean surface so the back of the ring does not take the texture of an imperfect surface of a very used board.

Step 6

Attach a new ring to the closed ring from Step 5. If the closed ring seam was soldered, make sure the join is not touching the new ring to be fused or soldered. If the rings are large enough, they can be hung off the side of a soldering surface as shown. Fuse or solder the new seam.

Step 7

Make sure the two rings are nestled together in your preferred way. Attach and close a new jump ring. Again, if the rings are large enough, they can be hung off the side of a soldering surface as shown. Make sure the joins of the first two rings are not touching the new ring to be fused or soldered. Fuse or solder the new seam.

Step 8

After all the rings are connected and soldered or fused, nestle the rings together. Try to hide the ring seams in the nestled rings. If the rings are fine silver or Argentium, place them on a soldering surface and fuse the mobius rings together. If the rings are sterling silver, place small bits of medium paste solder between the rings and heat until the solder flows.

Step 9

Pickle, rinse, and dry the mobius rings.

Step 10

Tumble for several hours to bring up a nice shine.

Mobius rings can be used as beads, as with the Argentium mobius rings on either side of the lapis lazuli beads in the turquoise necklace, or as links, as in the mobius and pearl drop earrings.

Reviews

Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!