[Jewelry making - Article 00421] - Re: [Orchid] Granulation without a backsheet

[nancyhowland]

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Bonnie,

    This is the fusing process I use for Argentium Sterling granules.
    The steel sheet is from the hardware store and in the thinnest gauge
    I could buy so that it could be cut with shears. The sheet is
    approximately 12" X 24" and is about 1.5mm thick, if I recall
    correctly about 22-gauge in steel sheet measurements. This steel
    sheet is called "welding sheet" because it is not galvanized. 

    Cut 1 1/2" X 1 1/2" squares of steel sheet. Glue one granule unit
    design to each square. As each design unit is done, place it on an
    old (level) solderite pad until you have 4-6 squares. Allow to dry.
    Darken the room so you can see the fusing. Use a small torch flame.
    Fire each square until the granules are red hot (the steel sheet
    also will be red hot) and you can see a small amount of liquid silver
    on the tops of the granules. Move the flame across the granules. Hold
    the heat for a second or two at this high heat (this might vary
    depending on the torch). After firing, move the square to a cold
    steel block. When the steel sheet cools, the granule unit releases
    from the sheet. When all are fired and cooled, check each design
    unit to make sure the fuse is solid. With magnification, you want to
    see a small bridge of metal fuse between each touching granule (and
    the wire, if any). If you cannot see this bridge, wet with the glue
    mixture and re-fire the design right away. Try to avoid over-firing
    because you will lose granule definition. Do not pickle until after
    all the design units have been fused to a back piece. Just before
    final placement, lightly sand the underside of the granule unit with
    600-grit sandpaper and more aggressively sand the surface of the back
    piece with 400-grit paper. If the back piece is thicker than
    26-gauge, cut a steel sheet back piece for the back piece to prevent
    slumping or overheating. For example, on the 18-gauge (1/4" wide)
    bracelet, I cut a 1" strip of steel sheet to conform to the inside of
    the bracelet. 

    After each use, clean the steel sheet squares with a steel wire
    brush on the flex-shaft and store in a plastic bag to prevent rust. 

    I hope this answers your questions. 

Nancy
www.psi-design.com
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