[Jewelry making - Article 00642] - Re: [Orchid] Yellow Film on Argentium Sterling Silver

[James Binnion]

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

Karen,

>     If you're using fine silver for the bezel, your piece WILL be
>     tarnish-free.... it's the copper in sterling that causes
>     tarnishing, and fine silver (.999) doesn't contain enough to cause
>     tarnishing. So you can construct the base of the piece from
>     argentium silver and the bezel from fine, heat harden it, and
>     you'll have a tarnish-free construction. 

    Silver whether it is fine or not will tarnish. Tarnish is a silver
    sulfide film caused by silver reacting with sulfur. The sulfur is in
    the air due to burning of fossil fuels and volcanic activity. So even
    if it is not in contact with sulfur bearing compounds it will
    eventually tarnish. Sterling does tarnish faster because the copper
    forms sulfides at a faster rate then the silver but both will
    eventually tarnish. 

James Binnion
jbin AT mokume-gane.com
James Binnion Metal Arts
http://www.mokume-gane.com
360-756-6550

____________________________________________________________________
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
____________________________________________________________________