[Jewelry making - Article 00053] - Re: [Orchid] Gold crystal surface

[Mark Zirinsky]

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    the grain size in your metal is probably too small. The matted
    surface is most likely due to the crystals being small, about 0.020"
    across, or equivalent to about a 120 grit finish. 

    You can try increasing the crystal size by holding the gold at
    550-600 deg F, you can expect a growth rate of about 0.005" per
    hour, I think (guessing from experience, I did not actually measure
    this). To get bright crystals, you want them about 8 or 10 per inch,
    as they will overlap, then you need about 20 or 0.05", so try four
    to 8 hours in the oven. 

    Or, you can purchase natural crystals, reproduce by lost wax. 

    Or, you can do brightcuts 

    Or, other surface texturing. 

    Let us know how it turns out 

Mark Zirinsky, Denver
Bsc Mining Engineering, Col School of Mines
'private cutter buying rough and collections'


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