Hello,
My name's Tim. I registered some time ago, finally got round today to saying hello and promptly forgot username/password etc but now sorted.
I'm 2+ years retired from the NHS and decided to convert an 'evening class hobby' into something more, so have undertaken additional training with a great teacher at her gallery on the Barbican in Plymouth. Was delighted and encouraged when she asked to display some of my work for sale in her gallery. Trouble is the more I learn, the more I find to learn!
I've registered my hallmark at London this year and for anyone new to hallmarking I can thoroughly recommend the LAO Hallmarking Information Day at£35. Especially as I used to think it was only fully time served craftsmen who could register. The lunch alone was worth the money. I believe SteveLAO has made a previous post about it.
I do have a problem that I could do with some advice on or pointing to suitable reference works.
That of ring sizing. I have made a number of rings in the past of varying shapes and sizes but because they have not been for specific customers, I offer them as they turn out so to speak.
Recently I have been asked to make a couple of rings for of a specific size, one for a distant customer who quoted me size Q but obviously couldn't send her finger. It seems that there is a big difference between churning out rings of varying sizes than building to a specific size.
I have a cheap (£20) ring stick with US and European numbers/circumferences/dia etc but when I refer to conversion charts even this seems to be at odds with measurements taken by my teacher with her English lettered ringsticks.
Any info/advice/references would be appreciated particularly on the following.
- Allowances to add to length of metal when making rings - some say twice the metal thickness but that seems to end up small.
- Tips on measuring finished ring sizes - e.g. when to use leading edge or centreline and any differences between wide and narrow bands
- Similarly any tips on measuring fingers would be useful.
- Anything else!
Hope this isn't too long for a first post. I did look for other posts on the subject but couldn't find any so maybe its just me that doesn't quite get it.
Many thanks
Tim
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