Re: I would like to make my own Sterling and Argentium Metals... Is this possible ?

On Sun, 02 Mar 2008 23:00:29 -0800, in rec.crafts.jewelry Jman
<mooglieman@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I currently possess a large number of pure silver bars (500 oz's) and
a LOT of pure copper. Can I combine (using a proper scale) the proper
weights and make my own Jewellry grade silver in a crucible ? I've
seen many a link where this is being done, but I have never spoken
with anyone who has "Actually done it".

Is the process more difficult than it looks ? Is making a strip ***
of sterling or argentium even possible without foundry type tools ?

Are there other metals that one can produce in a shop environment ?

Sure. lots of gold alloys, in particular, are fairly easy to alloy on one's
own. Often, jewelers buy the premade alloys, without the precious metal, to
save the work of the precision mixing of the more volatile componants, remxing
it only then with the required gold to get the needed result. With silver, it's
simpler. Since standard sterling silver is only silver and copper (7.5 percent
copper by weight), it's easy enough to make it up on your own. The main trick
is controlling oxidation, so the resulting ingot you pour is solid, rather than
shot through with bubbles and included oxides and the like. This takes some
care and skill, but it's not technically complex. Making an ingot from which
you'll roll wire or pour shot for casting is somewhat simpler to get good
results than an ingot which you expect to roll into good quality *** metal,
since small bubbles or blisters in a wire ingot tend to form threadlike
impurities down the center of the wire, where it causes little harm, while the
same blisters/bubbles in a *** ingot roll out into wider blisters which, when
annealed give you bubbles and defects in the *** that DO matter. Poor quality
shot for casting can often be fixed when you again melt in, perhaps in smaller
quantities, for casting, and then, defects often tend to float, staying in the
sprue or button. Well, not always, but defects in castings like you'd get are
common enough when you use purchased shot, since they form just as easily during
the melt for casting as when you made the original alloy.

Argentium, however, is a proprietary alloy. You buy it. You're not supposed to
infringe on the patent holders alloy recipe, and they don't sell it as a
"master" alloy to which you'd add silver. No doubt they'd trade you fine silver
for argentium, if you deal with a metals dealer who also buys metal as well as
selling it, as most do...

Peter

Some Tools / supplies currently on hand:

-Kiln (very soon)
-Oxy/Ace Torch
-MAPP / Propane
-Small crucibles
-Stainless Steel, Carbon Plates, etc...
-Lots of silver, Copper, Bronze, Brass, Steel, etc...

Cheers,

/FC
.