[Jewelry making - Article 00469] - Re: [Orchid] Raising fine silver to the surface

[Noel]

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>     The piece won't be completely gilded until the surface heats to an
>     even black (or sometimes in the case of gold, dirty brown). 

    I think this may cause confusion in beginners, at least with silver.
    I am not really familiar with this process on gold, but on silver,
    some areas may not darken because the soldering and pickling already
    done may have depleted the copper. More to the point, as you repeat
    the process, there will be less and less discoloration, with solder
    being the last to stop turning dark. This is exactly the point-- as
    there is less and less copper at the surface, there is nothing to
    turn dark in the flame. When heating doesn't cause the piece to turn
    dark, you know you've accomplished your goal-- it is all covered
    with fine silver. 

    One more point-- you don't need to heat the piece to black, and I
    don't recommend it. If you pickle as soon as any discoloration
    appears (it may be yellow) it may take more repetitions, but the
    oxide will pickle off quickly and easily. If you overheat, you
    *will* get firescale, which may not really pickle off. 

Noel
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