Anyone know wher I can get some raw Gold and Silver cheap ?

No worries. If you wanna try cold forging though, the best tip I can offer is to anneal often. Just work the metal under the hammer enough to move it a bit, until you feel it starting to work harden, and then heat it up with a torch & quench in water or pickle to anneal it again. This gets rid of the stresses so it doesn't crack or delaminate on ya. With copper or brass, you probably want to get it glowing orange before quenching; with silver it should just barely start to glow pink in dim light before quenching. If you heat silver till it glows orange, you're about a half second away from turning it into a puddle.

Also, keep in mind that every time you heat it, you'll create a layer of "fire scale", or oxidation on the surface. It's generally best to remove this each time with acid or sandpaper so you don't hammer that crap into the metal while forging.
 
Possum,
Much obliged, that all makes a lot of sense and actually sounds less time consuming than I thought. Hmmmm ? (scratching chin) I might give it a try....Thanks again and take care....Rich
 
If you have any other ques. I'll keep an eye here too. I've done jewelry work as a hobby for over 10 years, and have worked with a Master Jeweler from Vietnam with 30+ year experience doing it "the Old Way". hehe, he still mixes his own gold because he doesn't like the stuff that comes from companys, to many diff recipes. :)

Bryan

P.S. Try www.riogrande.com Great company
 
Okay then, so what are some basic hand tools I will need to work with gold and silver ? As well, Mokume ? Thanks for the offer Bryan R
 
Rio Grande is the supply company in New Mexico. Links above

As for tools. Jeweler's Saw, files, sandpaper, torch, hammers, mandrals, casting equipment(lost wax, cuttlefish bone, charcoal block), flexshaft, polishing equipment, pickle. Problem with jewelry work is there's so many tools. Rio Grande will have what you need and the metals too. If you have any spec. ques about techniques, ask and I'll see if I can answer.

Bryan R
 
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