[Jewelry making - Article 00003] - Re: [Orchid] How to alloy copper into Shakudo

[Ivy Fasko]

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    Hi Doug - I have made shibuichi, following Andy Cooperman's
    instructions in the July 2000 issue of Lapidary Journal.  It was not
    a very scientific attempt on my part i.e., no attention to order of
    mixing, just threw it all into a crucible (68%cu, 32% fine silver) ,
    scattered some borax on top and had at it with a torch, needed to a
    second torch to get it to completely melt, since I was using a presto
    lite w/ acetylene - no ox supplement..  Worked quite well, and I am
    still using it.  Textures well into little bubbles and oxidizes
    nicely with the torch, and using various patinas. 

    Now its your turn - and anyone else who is working with Mokume and
    marriage of metals - I'm trying to follow in Carrie Adells footsteps,
    but so far, her reputation is safe! 

    I have been trying to create a 2 layer billet - copper and sterling
    - and using the soldering method as described in Steve Midgett's
    book.  So far, not too much luck.  Could you pass along your
    technique or hints?  I don't have a kiln, so that is likely part of
    the problem.  My results so far include lots of bubbles between the 2
    sheets.  I am in the process of trying to sweat solder them by
    coating one sheet in stead of binding the 2 sheets together and then
    trying to flow the solder into them (this yielded the bubbled results
    - possible because the flux was not dry b-4 assembly and soldering. 

Anyway, any help will be appreciated!!
Ivy in Oakland (still wishing it was Taos)

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