[Jewelry making - Article 00104] - Re: [Orchid] Argentium onlayed onto copper or bronze?

[Cynthia Eid]

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

Wow, Ellen, this is really exciting!

    I knew that Argentium Sterling fused to copper in a very melted
    state because I worked with Suzanne Juneau at the Stuller Workshop
    last April. But, I have not tried fusing it in a crisp manner, as you
    describe. How fabulous that it works! Yahoo! 

    How are you doing the fusing? I would suggest black flux for working
    with copper, but I wonder what you used? What torch? Any insights to
    share? 

    I think that you should go for this! I do not think that there will
    be any problem with bleed through with 24 gauge. The only thing that
    you will need to be careful about is if you polish, not to smear
    copper onto the silver, as that would, of course, tarnish. 

    In terms of beautiful colors on copper, I am personally fond of
    cleaning the copper, then brass-brushing it with soapy water as a
    lubricant, drying it, and then heating with a torch, gently. A wide
    range of gorgeous colors are available. If you want that red that you
    see sometimes on the antique stuff, like the old Tiffany two color
    stuff, I saw some patina samples at the University of Illinois in
    Champaign, where Billie Theide teaches, when I was doing a workshop.
    She told me that they got the red by heating the copper to red hot,
    and then quenching in boiling hot water. This might be a problem with
    Argentium Sterling, but not with the Argentium 970 Silver. (currently
    only available in grain. Sheet soon, I hope!) 

    PLEASE send me or post images of what you do! This sounds great! 

Cynthia
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
____________________________________________________________________