[Jewelry making - Article 01104] - Re: [Orchid] Using aluminum in jewelry

[Wayne Emery]

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Hi Zoe,

    I think TIG is the only way out, you might consider cold
    connections. 

    There no health risks from Al worn on the skin. 

    Aside from the usual brushing, sand-blasting and polishing, the most
    common, useful and durable finishing technique would be anodizing,
    with or without colorful dyes. 

    There is an extremely detailed discussion of working with aluminum
    in Oppi Untracht's monumental work, "Jewelry Concepts & Technology".
    If you don't own this, you should. 

    My brother, Brant Emery. owns a small business, E-Wax,
    (brantemery AT comcast.net) providing CAD and CAM services to the
    jewelry and hobby trade, along with specialized wax products for CAM
    users, including bits and tools and fixtures of his own invention.
    He is a professional machinist by trade and spent quite a while
    welding aluminum boat hulls, both above and underwater. Most
    beautiful joints I've ever seen, a true master. If I had a question
    about the various aluminum alloys, he is the one I would ask. I do
    know that he recently milled some beautiful aluminum pieces of
    jewelry fro a Utah customer, incredibly smooth, nearly-polished
    surfaces right off one of his mills. 

    I don't get a commission from him, just passing on the info and hope
    it is of some help to you or others here. 

Best regards,

Wayne Emery
The Gemcutter


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