How To Make A DIY Spoon Ring

Nate is so talented when it comes to the arts, someday I’ll have to share his drawings, ceramics, papier-mache, and so much more. 

 

As we were making the rings, I realized I still have the baby spoon that my mom kept for me. I’m so tempted to turn it into a ring, but at the same time, I kind of want to just keep it as it is. I’m thinking this could become an emotional DIY project for some if you’re working with parents or grandparents flatware.
I still have all of my mom’s jewelry that still needs to be split amongst my siblings. Every single piece I remember her wearing, and I remember a story behind the piece. As a little girl, I was always in awe of her wedding ring, so many beautiful memories.

Here is a before of 2 of the spoons  

 

Materials Needed

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Directions:

Select Your Spoon

First thing, you want to make sure you are using the right kind of silver spoons. These particular spoons were found at our local thrift stores and the swap meet in downtown San Diego for $1 apiece. We usually go to the swap meet once every other month as a family and make a day of it with shopping and lunch. It’s so fun to find treasures. You could also find old spoons at garage sales, flea markets, or Etsy shops. When you do go searching for your spoon, make sure it’s sterling silver by checking the stamping on the back. It should either say .925 or sterling. Stainless steel is considerably harder than sterling silver and would be difficult to work with. You also want to look for a spoon that is on the thinner side; the thicker it is, the harder it is to bend.

Measure Your Finger

Using a piece of paper or ribbon, wrap it around your finger, and mark where it overlaps.

Mark that length on your utensil.

Making the Cuts 

For your next step, cut the bowl and cut off the spoon handle based on the measurements on your ribbon/paper. You can make the cuts with a hacksaw or put the spoon in the vice and hammer it with your rubber mallet until it is completely bent, then snip with your pliers. 

Note: If you want to keep the end of the spoon (the handle) as part of your ring, you would only be making one cut that fits your measurements. 

 

File the ends

File any sharp edges or rough edges and cut ends with either a metal file or coarse-grit sandpaper. You want to get a super-smooth finish.

Bend & Size

I recommend wrapping some sort of cloth around the mallet and socket to protect the metal from scratches. (I took the cloth off the bit for photo purposes)

Put the spoon and the drill socket into the vice. Using the rubber mallet, slowly bend it around the bit. Keep repeating this process of pounding and shaping the spoon around the socket.

 

Almost There!

Use pliers to help you close the gap.

Polish (optional)

If your spoon is old and dull, you might want to polish it. 

This DIY Project took us about 1 hour; if we had all the right tools, we might have shaved about 15 minutes off, but really, what we used worked just fine.

Now, stand back and admire your new jewelry. Feel free to get creative here and make this your own style. These would make the perfect gift for Mother’s Day!

 

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

Getting the best results — tips from experience!

Choose the right spoon. Always check the back of the spoon for a .925 or sterling stamp. Sterling silver is soft enough to bend by hand with the right tools. Stainless steel is much harder and will fight you every step of the way — skip it.

Go thinner when in doubt. If you find two spoons you love, go with the thinner one. Thicker spoons require a lot more effort to bend and are more likely to crack or split at the edges.

Protect the metal. Wrap a small piece of cloth around your drill bit or mandrel before you start bending. This one step will save you from scratches on the surface of your ring. I took the cloth off for the photos so you could see what we were doing, but don’t skip it!

File more than you think you need to. Any rough or sharp edge left on the cut ends will catch on skin and fabric. Take your time with the file or sandpaper and run your finger carefully along every edge until it feels completely smooth.

If it’s not perfectly round — don’t panic. Put it back on the mandrel or drill bit and gently tap it into shape with the rubber mallet. Small adjustments go a long way, just work slowly and evenly around the whole ring.

If the ring feels too big or too small, sterling silver has a little give. You can gently open or close the gap at the ends with your pliers to adjust the fit slightly. Just don’t force it or bend it back and forth too many times or it may weaken at that spot.

Polish at the end, not the beginning. If your spoon is dull or tarnished, wait until you’ve finished shaping and filing before you polish. It’s much easier to polish a finished ring than to try to keep it shiny throughout the whole process.

 

I would love to see your pictures. I can’t wait to make our next batch of rings!

Time to see what all of my thrift store friends made with their treasures this month!  

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Reclaimed Wood Valance Shelf Redo from My Repurposed Life

Flower Pot With Metallic Copper Spray Paint from Petticoat Junktion

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How To Make A DIY Spoon Ring from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Upcycling a Bamboo Tray with Blueprint Paper from Sadie Seasongoods

Upcycled Mail Organizer from House Of Hawthornes

Vintage Bentwood Chair Makeover from Organized Clutter

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Office Chair Update from Shop At Blu