[Jewelry making - Article 00203] - Re: [Orchid] Working with Argentium

[Cynthia Eid]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

>     So I guess I'm wondering - should I be annealing the wire first,
>     even though it is already quite soft so as to ensure the tarnish
>     resistance and then heat harden it and then construct the necklace?
>      Will the wire then be too hard to do nice wire-wrapping? 

Hi Nan,  

    There are several ways for you to ensure  tarnish resistance, but I
    think that the easiest thing to do is to heat the wire for 10 to 20
    minutes at 250 degrees Fahrenheit. This should be enough heat to be
    sure that there is plenty of germanium oxide. 

    OR, if the design and technique allow, and you would like to harden
    the metal:  you could heat harden in the oven (1 hour at 580 degrees
    F., or, if your oven is like mine, and does not go that high: 2 hours
    at 550 F. ) after wrapping, but before adding the pearls. 

    (If there is any discoloration after heating, simply pickle.  If the
    silver needs brightening, use a Goddard's Long Shine Silver Cloth or
    liquid, or brass brush with soapy water, or tumble in steel shot with
    burnishing compound.) Using Goddard's Long Shine Silver Cloth or Long
    Shine liquid also adds to the tarnish resistance. 

    By the way, it's worthwhile learning to work with this new material
    that has the advantages of no firescale and added tarnish resistance,
    don't you think?!

Cynthia Eid
http://www.cynthiaeid.com

____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________