Make a Copper Inlay Ring: A Silversmithing Tutorial

This tutorial shows how to integrate some copper into your silver designs. In the video I show some piercing techniques which allow for the insertion of copper components which are then soldered into place. The materials I used were: 18 gauge sterling sheet, a 4 mm thick ingot of silver, and some scrap copper sheet in various gauges. As always, I am using Hard silver sheet solder, and My-T-Flux from Rio Grande.
I enjoy sharing my knowledge with others, as I've taught people for most of my life. This hobby turned into a fun side gig for me for years while I taught public school. I love suggestions and hearing about others' experiences. What is your favorite project? What kind of tutorials would you find useful? Scroll down for information on my new Patreon!
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sleek silver ring with copper inlay
marriage of metal
creating an abstract copper inlay in silver
Making Silver Jewelry
Making Jewelry

[@duanedodson1]

As you were drilling that hole I was screaming at the screen, "you can't twist your bit like that, your going to break it," then the intermission. LOL.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hehe! I bought those bits on Amazon, and they are absolutely trash:). To be fair though my handling of them is at least half the problem!

[@jeanrobert5522]

You always make great vidéo 😊

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Jean!

[@smokeydog67]

This is a very interesting video, I thoroughly enjoyed it and it gave me a few more options to work with!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Glad you liked it Wanda! Thanks for the nice comment:)

[@SheranSimo]

Thanks! Love to have new techniques to try out!

[@chadssilversmithing]

You’re welcome Sheran!

[@Gazz_R]

I think I'd have gone with 'Copper rutilated silver ring', just because it reminds me of rutilated quartz. Very cool, love it! Thanks for sharing Chad and have a fantastic weekend.

[@chadssilversmithing]

I thought about texturing the band similarly, but I thought it might detract from the focus on top. Thanks Gazz!

[@Gazz_R]

@@chadssilversmithing I'm glad you just went with the top. Besides the added amount of work, it would spoil the overall look.

[@bees5461]

I love this ring. I've done enameling but not ever done inlay. I am definitely going to try this, I love the look of it.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Bees! I was pleased with this one too!

[@flyingcheff]

Cool Chad, I've been playing with stone inlay, but love the look with metal that you've done here. I bet this would look really nice with strips of higher karat yellow gold - it wouldn't take much - and then patina the silver to black on the focal. You always inspire me! 🌺🌺🌺

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Flying Chef! It was fun to experiment a little and practice my sawing:)

[@melindakeith4103]

Georgeous! Thanks so much Chad.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks for the nice comment Melinda!

[@lindaheberling2020]

Beautiful ring! I love mixed metals and will have to try the inlay technique soon! Thanks...I learn a lot about the various processes from your videos.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you Linda! I’m so glad you are learning from these:)

[@puresas]

Awesome, perfect timing this was a project I was contemplating. Thank you

[@chadssilversmithing]

That's great Chris! Have fun with it:)

[@user-mq8kq6fb4f]

Thanks ... and good to see that your not "perfect" .. makes me more feel near mortals can do this

[@chadssilversmithing]

Haha! I’m far from perfect. I screw up and learn new stuff all the time. It’s like anything, the more you practice, the easier it becomes:)

[@maladylis08]

You need some big tin snips like I have for heavy cuts ! Love your ring. I think I have a bit of gold I could do that with.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Ooh, I'd like to see that when you're done! Thanks MaladyLis!

[@JustME-ft4di]

Wonderful. I learnt so much watching you do that. I wonder if you put the copper pieces in so they fit exactly and heated the whole thing you could fuse it all together so the solder could be avoided? Leave the swearing in. We all do it. I was thinking the other day I might start a channel called The Sweary Beader as that is my main skill at the moment.

[@chadssilversmithing]

It always makes me happy to hear someone learned something useful from my videos:). Thanks! As far as fusing silver and copper, it can be done, but getting consistent results with fusing can be pretty tricky. Is swearing or beading your primary skill?:)

[@JustME-ft4di]

@@chadssilversmithingThanks! I would say swearing is the thing I am best at.

[@boomjewelrydesigns]

I feel your pain on that sawing and drill bit part. Ive been using my flatnose pliers to hold small pieces as I saw... bcuz my fingers get so tired pressing down, plus, the the blade breaks or slips, ur fingers are out of the way! Be safe out there brother!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hehe. The way I’ve hurt myself the worst doing this is with a jeweler’s saw. Those little blades cut through flesh very well:(

[@boomjewelrydesigns]

@@chadssilversmithing same here!!!

[@robertafronteras1534]

Really great video! Just saw this recently. Thanks for sharing! Could this technique be done with a less thick and bulky piece of silver??

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Roberta! I think it would work fine with thinner material. I might not go below about 18 gauge though.

[@OldManandtheSuperC]

Ever tried filling silver holes or sawn channels using copper solder?

[@chadssilversmithing]

That’s a fun idea. I’ll have to try it. Thanks OldManandthesuperC!

[@donzathreedee]

Just a thought - but wouldn't it be a bit easier to just use wire for the inlay? I'd think it would be a lot easier to squish it into the slots & holes & it could then just be sanded flat.

[@chadssilversmithing]

I think that would work as well. For this one I wanted the copper to go all the way through:)

[@MARIETTAGILWAY]

Pretty serious ring, I love it. But what kind of snips are those that cut 18 ga sheet?

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Marietta! Those are Fiskar's Craft Shears that I am mistreating:).

[@MARIETTAGILWAY]

I totally get that, I have mistreated the little red ones I have just like yours... Ha Ha Ha. @@chadssilversmithing

[@offyarocka]

✌😎✌

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Offyarocka! I appreciate the comment:)

[@cseraphin3316]

Where did you get that scissors? What is the brand name of it?

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello Cseraphin! They are Fiskar’s craft shears. Hobby stores around here carry them. Check on line for other sources.

[@cherokeecowboy7558]

Thx for the tutorials. Great content.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Cherokee Cowboy!

[@ameliasphotography3406]

I was told that I couldn't put copper in my pickle with silver. Is this not true?

[@chadssilversmithing]

I have heard that before as well Amelia, but I haven't experienced any problems with it.

[@ameliasphotography3406]

@@chadssilversmithing Well that is good to hear. I will go back to working on a piece I had been working on with mixed metals. I stopped because of information that I read........ READ BELOW It is not recommended to pickle copper and silver together as the acid solutions used for pickling can cause damage to the metals and may create a risk of fire or explosion.

[@biggertom1234]

Hi Chad for free floating inlays i learned elsewhere that you can appliqué a pattern of your choice on top of the base plate metal rsther than directly inlay by sawing a chsnnel . If you place your smaller metal pieces on top of the base sheet.metsl and sweat dolder the two the whole piece can be roll milled so that the appliqued pattern will be pushed into the base sheet.metsl underneath .to ecome inlaid ...no sawing needed at all. The ehole tesultsnt inlay can finally be finished smootjly via progressive sanding ...

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Tom! That sounds like an interesting way to do it. I'll have to try it.

[@channeljulio4139]

Is that your Swear Thermos in the background? 😅

[@chadssilversmithing]

Ha! I would have a full swear thermos pretty frequently:)

[@jenniferwilliams5397]

Sorry you cut yourself,but it is comforting to know I’m not the only one who uses colorful language to help minimize the pain!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Ha! Profanity intermissions happen pretty often:)

[@biggertom1234]

What thickness saw blade are you using to make the cuts in order to accommodate the copper sheet metal peices into the slits?

[@chadssilversmithing]

I think I was using a 1 or a 2 on this piece.

[@biggertom1234]

For safety using hazardous flammable equipment as your torch shouldnt you be uding a protective metal sheet undrneath your firing tile brick to cover the wooden surface you are working on ?. Health and dafety are the most important thing above everything in jewellry making and fabrication . As a tutorial its importsnt to be very specific to put this across . Its part of being a professional jewellry maker as your living to be tsken more seriously. Both hobbyists snd more serious crafters need to practise health and safety always with precision . This is the point of teaching and a vitsl part of your own skill set. Best wishes Chad . Your work is very good and beautifully crafted to a high level . You need to be more detailed in talking sbout what you are doing , what you are using etc because jewellry making is a vety precise skill using expensive materials. This needs to be comunicated by more detailing . Cheers Chad. Jewellry is exact but you are putting across that it is not which is in total contrast to the quality of your own eork which is actually made with precision or it would not sell . Its a bit confusing for learners following a teacher who seems a bit vague and unsure of what he or she is doing. You are clearly very good at what you do but 🎉 avoiding more detailed explanation which is key to teaching🎉.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello Ruth, and thank you for your suggestions! I actually have a video about safety, so I wouldn’t have to talk about it in each video. I will try to refer people to it more frequently in future videos. Here is the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKDKhWuHgpmXaposi=y1_dq1yjTF6lRimZ

[@biggertom1234]

Sorry for my being so pedantic Chad. I'm still an ongoing learner as there is so much to learn lifelong. I still feel I'm a beginner. I love your work and it's really nice to hear you speak about your designs when you refer to your design sketch books. It's really good to do this because you can keep track of your own thoughts and your own personal design journey . It's very fulfilling and interesting. Your scope is quite wide and varied which shows all your skills and strengths . You are a master artist craftsman yet so humble. Many thanks for sharing with us all out here, all that you do at your bench..Am learning new things from your tutorials as well. Greatly looking forward to more .Many thanks again Chad.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you Ruth!

[@biggertom1234]

When filing metall shouldnt you be using a bench pin to sipport your filing with precision ie perfectly flat flush edges . You are communicating that you are unsure about what you sre doing which defeats the purpose of teaching ohers . Great jewellry works , tutorials could be clearer ❤. Best wishes Chad . Love your eork they are all beauifully crafted . You are an artist in every srnse. Wonderful.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello Ruth. I sometimes file against my bench pin when needed, and when extra precision is necessary I sometimes use my Miter Vise Jig. Generally, I’m an “air filer,” much to the chagrin of some viewers, but it works for me. When I am showing uncertainty in a video, it is oftentimes that I am figuring out a technique I haven’t tried before, and I am illustrating my problem solving process. I am primarily an advanced amateur who is self-taught, so many viewers seem to benefit from seeing how I figure things out. My two primary skill sets are soldering and problem solving:). I recognize that many of the ways I do things are unconventional, and my hope is that people take what works for them from me, but also from others. Thank you for the comments:)