[Jewelry making - Article 00050] - Re: [Orchid] Playing with Palladium

[Douglas Zaruba]

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Hi Janet,

    I have been using a 95% palladium/ruthenium alloy available through
    Hoover and Strong. Its price is less than 14k gold (by $2.00/dwt). It
    is a special order item that usually takes two days to fabricate. You
    can get it in sheet and wire, actually any of their mill products.
    I've never asked for casting grain. I solder with 1300 platinum
    solder and lower, or with gold solders if I'm attaching gold to it..
    I mentioned in a previous post that I occasionally had trouble with
    oxidation that I could not remove with my "normal" pickle and had to
    remove it by abrasion. This could cause problems if the oxidation
    formed in a solder joint. It wears very well, too. 

    I never had any resistance when selling it. The color is great, very
    white, and the price makes it a very affordable alternative to
    platinum, and is in the Platinum family. The price did a rocket ride
    upwards a few years ago, and at one time was more expensive than
    platinum. I stopped using it then, but I've been looking into working
    with it lately. I'd just like to find a good pickle for it. Jim
    Binnion suggested using a warm Tarnex solution, but I haven't tried
    it....yet. 

Douglas Zaruba
33 N. Market St.
Frederick, MD 21701
301 695-1107
dreamgate AT earthlink.net


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