[Jewelry making - Article 00115] - [Orchid] Fusing Sterling to Sterling

[JZCROW]

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Hello All,

    All this talk of fusing jump rings in Fine Silver has got me in the
    mood to do a couple of cuff bracelets in sterling. So far with not
    so successful results. I had done this technique in my college
    jewelry fabrication class, but have forgotten a few tricks I guess. 

    I am using 18ga Sterling sheet 3/4"w and 6" in length for the base
    of the bracelet and I am then lying 5 mm to 10 mm squares of 18ga
    Sterling on top of the base piece, and I am fluxing all surfaces
    with a paste flux. I have laid the bracelet out on a fire brick,
    which seemed to work as a giant heat sink and then on a mesh screen,
    which has worked the best so far. I believe we had used a charcoal
    block in class, however I do not have one long enough on hand and
    was thinking of using a soft ceramic block, so the piece lies
    flatter then it does on the mesh screen for less of a chance of it
    distorting to the shape of the screen when heated, since the screen
    may have a bow or two in it.  

    My first attempt seemed to go well until I started filling and
    polishing the bracelet and noticed that there was a lot of pitting
    in my applied squares. I stack the squares 2 to 3 high and then file
    them down to give it a heavy nugget or organic look. And only apply
    one layer of squares at a time during fusing. So, I fuse one layer
    of squares then pickle clean flux apply a second layer of squares
    and repeat the said process until I achieve the desired height of
    squares for carving. I also make sure I bring the entire piece up to
    the same temperature at the same time. 

    My second attempt seemed to go a lot smoother, again until filing
    and polishing when I noticed that some seams where still visible
    between layers meaning that the pieces where not completely fused. I
    did not bring the piece up as high in temperature believing that I
    overheated the first piece, which might have caused the pitting.
    Anyway in my aggravation at this point I tried to re-fuse the piece,
    accept I forgot to apply a flux or fire protection to the piece and
    got a bad torch texture on the entire piece, which is now scrap. 

    My question then is, do you heat the piece until you see the silver
    change to the glassy state and then remove the flame? I can see as
    the silver comes up to this temperature and the whole piece is
    coming up to this state at the same time. Or is this already to hot
    for the piece, which caused the pitting of the first bracelet. Also,
    what is the best surface to attempt this process on; a charcoal
    block, a mesh screen, ceramic block or fire brick? 

    I know it is torch and heat control, but if someone can tell me at
    what state during the heating process the silver actually becomes
    fused? Does it have to reach this glassy flowing state? It would
    greatly help me in my efforts. 

Thank You in advance for any tips,
Joe


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