[Jewelry making - Article 00474] - Re: [Orchid] Alternative metals

[Trevor F]

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>     I still recommend starting with brass and copper. 

Hello Judy and Group,

    I enthusiastically second this. Brass and nickel silver are how I got
    started making jewellery and I still enjoy working with them. My
    reasons for starting with them was purely economics but in the process
    I discovered that I actually like the way they age and wear. I've
    since added copper and stainless steel to my metals palette for many
    of the same reasons. 

    For instance, nothing beats the look of an old brass buckle or a nice
    heavy copper money clip. Chains are another great use for base
    metals, such as pocket watch or billfold chains. In many of these
    applications the base metals would be my first choice for all the
    reasons that they would not be in other designs. The precious metals
    are great but the base metals are "part of the family" too. The other
    thing I learned by starting with base metals is that the torch and
    polish skills you learn on the base metals make the move to precious
    metal work a breeze. Since the base metals are a lot "dirtier" when
    heated they force you to be conscious of and develop good work
    habits. And the contrasty look of silver solder on brass certainly
    made me aware of the difference between a good solder job and the bad
    ones. All of this served me very well when I moved into the precious
    metals. 

Cheers,
Trevor F.

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