I=B4m new here and glad to have found this discussion group. Since I
don=B4t have jewelry schools in this country i=B4ve had to learn
everything by experimenting and books, I=B4ll send pictures of my work
soon.
So here=B4s the question: I need to make about 70 silver bells for
gifts to give on a wedding day to all attendants, and was wondering
what kind of metal do I use for the weight to make it sound better.
I am using silver but the chime is not right. Maybe lead?
What method are you using to make the bells? Although bronze will
“sound” if it is cast silver tends not to and needs planishing so
that the metal hardens.
What sort of clapper are you using?
Lead will not “sound.”
Tony Konrath
Gold and Stone
www.goldandstone.com
julieta, Bell tuning is both an art and a science. There have been
discussions on bells and bell tuning on ArtMetal and you could do a
search at http://www.artmetal.com/village/search.html and see what
you can find. I am sending you some info I have on my computer
directly to you so as not to bother the list. If anyone else wants
this info, please contact me directly and ask for the bell info.
Hope this is of help.
John
MidLife Crisis Enterprises
Cynthia Thomas Designs
Cynthia’s sculptures are at: http://www.MLCE.net
G’day Julieta. The type of metal used for a bell is dependent on the
type of Tone and the length of decay of the tone you wish to
produce. I will list below some common Bell mixes that I use. I you
wish to use Sterling Silver then you must work harden the metal to
produce the sound required.
Mixes For White Metal Bells
Table Bells. Sn 97% Cu 2.5% Bi 0.5%
Silver Bells Cu 50% Zn 25% Ni 25% (Contains no Silver,
pleasant colour)
Silver Bells Cu 40% Sn 60% (Contains no Silver, pleasant colour
and tone)
High Grade Table Sn 19% Ni 80% Pt 1%
German Silver / Nickel Silver.
General Bronze / Brass Bell mixes.
Swiss Clock Bells Cu 75% Sn 25%
Best Tone Cu 78% Sn 22% (This is the one that I prefer)
House Bells Cu 78% Sn 20% Zn 2%
Sleigh Bells Cu 40% Sn 60% (Silver Colour)
General Clock Bells Cu 80% Sn 20%
General Bell is the same a mix as general clock.
Fire Engine Bells Cu 78% Sn 20% Ni 2%
Large Bells Cu 76% Sn 24%
Rail Signal Bells Cu 60% Zn 36% Fe 4% (Basic High Tensile
Brass)
Gongs Cu 82% Sn 18%
Light Cymbals Cu 92% Sn 8%
Heavy Cymbals Cu 80% Sn 20%
After Casting any of the above bell mixes the bells must be cold
worked to produce the tone and length of decay required, too much
cold working will cause the bells to be brittle and after repeated
use they will crack.
Hope this is some help
Michael W Kohlleppel. ( Metallurgist )
Art Tech Castings Australia.
@MWKohlleppel