by Betsy Lehndorff
Silver is amazingly tough. But as beginning silversmiths we’re trained to be careful when handling it. However, this metal can take a surprising amount of pounding and still come out shiny and beautiful.
That’s what this project will show you. In about an hour, you will be able to turn a pre-1964 silver quarter into a seamless ring. The secret is to anneal the metal often. Then, you’ll use a ring file to carve the silver into its final shape and smooth the band with sandpaper.
U.S. quarters minted in 1964 or earlier are 90 percent silver, and you should be able to find them at local coin or pawn shops.
