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In-fusing

Well I've gotten past the re-fusing thing and went directly to con-fused. Sorry about the fusing jokes. I promise to stop.

After messing around with things a bit more, I got some other wire to fuse beautifully and so I think it is contaminants in the quenching and tumbling water that polluted the finish and prevented it from heating thoroughly. That and for anything thicker than 18 gauge, my torch has to be totally full to reach maximum temp, which is a bummer since I really like working with heavier wire.

Thanks Kathleen for your kind words. I'm only fusing at this point; no solder or pickle or flux. None needed because the silver is pure and not an alloy like sterling. I think it might be a gateway drug though. I do like the idea of what I can do by heating and fusing and/or soldering metal. One step at a time though. First I have to sell enough to justify spending more. I'm so upside-down in this business that it's really starting to hurt.

I put these in the 1000 Markets store today.



Have 2 other pairs ready to go, but don't like the photos (not that I'm crazy about these) and will have to take more tomorrow. I'll also snap shots of the bracelet I made from fused rings and amethyst links. It has a fused S-clasp with ball ends and fits me perfectly. It's also flawed (the pattern is off) and so I think that's a good an excuse as any to keep it.
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  1. Amy NicoleSeptember 28, 2009 at 6:15 PM

    Oddly enough I have just started trying to fuse fine silver, in the past I have only used sterling and solder. So I have the opposite experiences as you! I will say that if you are working with the little hand held butane torch, it takes a LONG time to get the silver hot enough with heavier gauge wire. Every time I thought there was something wrong with my solder, it turned out that my flame wasn't hot enough, or didn't leave it on long enough. I plan on upgrading soon to map gas. It's frustrating, but keep at it! Also, are you using a soldering block? When I first started soldering, I used a brick. Soldering became soooo much easier when I started using a soldering block like you're supposed to! Amy

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  2. Kris aka theWireSmith - BookmarqueSeptember 28, 2009 at 8:11 PM

    That is really funny that we've gone in opposite directions. You're right about needing the torch to be REALLY hot for thick wire, but now that I know I can prepare. Not sure what you mean about a soldering block. I'm using a pumice firebrick right now. It's VERY light weight and totally immune to my 2200 degree flame. Are those the same? It's so hard to be sure with all the nomenclature around these days.

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