"Pearson Hurst" (phurst) 02/16/2018 at 21:09 • Filed to: None

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Ok, not car related, but definitely “playing with power tools and exotic materials”, which is still fairly oppo. I’ve been married for 20 years now, and somehow along the way lost the body of a 20somthing and ended up with the somewhat expanded body of s 40something. As a result of this, my wedding ring doesn’t fit, and hasn’t for some time. I could get it sized, but honestly, its a thin, plain, 10k band, and besides the fact that it was the ring used at my wedding, holds no real sentimental value to me.

So, a few months ago I started looking around online for a replacement. I wanted something cool, but not super flashy. Something distinctive, and not the same old gold band. I found a wide variety of options. Tungsten, cobalt, carbon fiber, titanium, wood, you name it. Then, I came across a ring that caught my attention on a number of different levels. It looked unique, and was definitely exotic.

It was a ring machined out of a chunk of superconductor. Made from 99.99% pure copper and titanium-niobium alloy, it ticked ALL the right boxes for me. Unfortunately, it was also $800. Not outrageous for a men’s wedding ring, but still, more than I wanted to spend. So, I though, I wonder if I could make myself one. I have a lathe, let’s see how it goes.

Well, after some trial and error, I have what I think is my replacement band. As a bonus, my wife even likes it enough that she wants me to make her a matching one. Jewelry making is definitely way outside of my wheelhouse, but I’m pretty happy with the results, and it’s one heck of a conversation piece. I just finished it last night, and have had 2 people ask about it today.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > Pearson Hurst 02/16/2018 at 21:24

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This video goes through etching it to make a really neat effect:

lone_liberal > Pearson Hurst 02/16/2018 at 21:29

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Very cool! My original ring is somewhere at the bottom of the Clark Fork River in Montana since I took a bit of an unscheduled swim break while rafting. I ended up getting an identical replacement but I wish I had the talent to create something that great.

Pearson Hurst > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 02/16/2018 at 21:34

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Yeah, that guy was my original inspiration. This one is lightly etched, just to give a little texture. I tried one etched deeper, and found the protruding titanium somewhat uncomfortable.

GTiceman > Pearson Hurst 02/16/2018 at 21:39

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That’s awesome

TheRealBicycleBuck > Pearson Hurst 02/16/2018 at 21:51

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Where does a person pick up a chunk of superconductor to put in his lathe?

Pearson Hurst > TheRealBicycleBuck 02/16/2018 at 21:54

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On eBay of course.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > Pearson Hurst 02/16/2018 at 22:02

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 So they don’t eat each other from a galvanic reaction?

Chariotoflove > Pearson Hurst 02/16/2018 at 22:04

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That is wild.

Pearson Hurst > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! 02/16/2018 at 22:08

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Since they’re used in MRI machines and particle accelerators, they need to be as stable as possible. I’m guessing the titanium alloy is pretty non-reactive.

dsigned001 - O.R.C. hunter > Pearson Hurst 02/16/2018 at 22:10

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Now pondering things I could do with castoff superconductor....

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Pearson Hurst 02/16/2018 at 22:13

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I am totally doing this when I get married one day.

TheRealBicycleBuck > dsigned001 - O.R.C. hunter 02/17/2018 at 05:48

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1. Buy superconductor.

2. Become super villain.

3. Use superconductor to build secret super weapon.

4. ...?

5. Profit!