[Jewelry making - Article 01097] - Re: [Orchid] Using aluminum in jewelry

[Rexarino]

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    Zoe, I'm most certainly not an expert, but I know some things about
    aluminum that may help you. 

    You can solder aluminum, but not aluminum oxide - and raw aluminum
    almost immediately oxidizes as soon as you stop exposing fresh metal.
    The process of soldering involves cleaning as you apply solder. Using
    a stainless brush to scrub the aluminum with melted aluminum solder
    and heat is the surest way I know. This provides a "tinned" surface
    that will join to another "tinned" surface. It's not trivial. 

    Aluminum alloys vary widely in composition, and people vary widely
    in their reaction to metals. I know of people that are "allergic" to
    nickel, copper (and therefore brass), stainless steel (possibly
    nickel alloy), "base metal", pewter and zinc. I also know people that
    wear each of these as jewelry without rashes or allergic
    manifestations. 

    It would seem that pierced ear loops or finger rings would be more
    likely to cause problems than a bracelet, because the exposure to the
    metal is more intimate. 

    From Machinery's Handbook, the typical wrought aluminum alloy
    elements are Cu, Si, Mn, Mg, Cr, and other - in some cases, other is
    a significant part of the alloy. 

    If you can produce good jewelry or statuary, and clearly label the
    composition of your pieces, you will have to assume that the
    customer has some judgement about their own relative allergic
    reactions. I personally have a bit of trouble with grocery store
    basket handles causing a rash by the time I fill it with groceries -
    but I play with a lot of aluminum of varying alloys and haven't
    noticed a problem. On the other hand, I don't cook with raw aluminum
    pots, because the link between Alzheimer's and aluminum is a bit
    muddy - there are conflicting claims. 

    Now, was that close enough to a fence sitting position? 

Good luck,
Rexarino

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