Buenos dias! Happy cinco de Mayo!
Gotta work at a different store today, but I get time and a half for it! Its also nice for a change of pace.
Hey Daniel, you go any links for tips on working silver? I think I'm going to use some .999 silver for the guard and pomel on my mini. Or do you think coin silver would be better? Do I anneal it just like other nonferrous metals? Is it as ductile as Cu? I have never done much with silver, so any tips you have would be great!
-Xander
Oh Hey Cool, Happy Cinco de Mayo! I didn't realize it was until you mentioned it. My wife says we should take a break today so we're going for a cruise soon! I need it, I ground my fingernail down yesterday and need a day to heal. The dip bucket kills anything so I'll heal fast! ok that's only half true...
Silver...
www.ganoskin.com may be the best forum to learn from. I haven't done a ton of silverwork myself but my wife has. We are still learning to solder though.
Silver is pretty easy to work, just cut it with a jewelers saw and file to shape. A fine needle file set is the way to go for that. After that you can sand it, 220-320 is a good start and it will sand quickly at that grit. 400 is also a good starting point with clean filework. Then go 600-800, 1000-1200. Buff or polish with Zam compound for a full on mirror polish. You can get a tube of Zam at any jewelty supply and it will last forever if you store it in a cooler place. Zam is also awesome for refinishing old jewelry on the buffer, it works super well on turquoise and a lot of other stones. (but can orangepeel others)
You can get silver in soft, half hard and hard. Copper is a bit tougher to work with. Silver will easily work harden so anneal it as often as you want. The guys here who are really good at stamped silver bracelets ($1000 stuff) may anneal dozens of times getting the stamps as deep as they like which is super deep.
I think fine or .999 silver will be too soft to last on a knife in regular use. I bet it would be awesome on a mini.
I'm not sure on coin vs pure except that usually alloyed silver is harder, tougher and a bit harder to work with. Argentium Silver is a new formula that almost won't oxidize or tarnish, you can also fuse it or "forge weld" it. If you can find a better deal on coins they may be a great way to go.
www.monsterslayer.com has anything you need including the silver and supplies, I think they post tips too
I hope this helps!
Morning men.Had a 5 hour trip turn into an 8 hour trip had to go almost to Ohio before I could go West to my Mother In Laws house.Nice when they have 2 freeways closed and no detour directions.I am whipped.Knowing my new chopper is coming made me concentrate on that instead of getting pissed about the extra length of the trip.
New Chopper!
New Chopper!
New Chopper!
Sorry you had to go through that, traffic problems suck. I have driven way out of the way myself! It's funny looking back at it. (and only looking back)
Hey Big, that blows! Once I got mixed up bringing a boat back from Berkeley and ended up in the bus lane to go across the Oakland-S.F. Bay bridge, only to come down into 4 Highway Patrols sitting there writin tickets to everyone that wasn't a bus! $485! Then I had to cross the bridge and find a way to turn around with a 34' boat that is 8.5' high on the trailer! The worst part is it was a female cop with a chip on her shoulder, no compassion for anyone. 2.5 hour drive turned into a 4 hour adventure trying to just get going in the right direction, between construction, closed on ramps, weight limits on streets, traffic, it was a mess!
Well crack open a Corona, squeeze a lime in there, put on your sombrero and call it a day!
-Xander
Yep!
They have checkpoints here for mandatory searches and get away with by publishing it in the paper... wtf? I consider telling them to stick it until they come up with probable cause, they really need to go by the freaking Constitution! It's like they haven't heard of the Bill of Rights. People justify it but we are giving our freedom away.
You guys have a great day!
).
