Question
Pine textured Silver C
Hello,
I have made a wide band textured Art Clay Silver Ring. Unfortunately the person I made it ofr says it's too big! My question is am I able to cut out a small section and solder using traditional silver methods? This may affect the texture though or would they be better to go to a local jewellers and get it down sized? Thank you so much for your time in looking at my question. I look forward to your answer. Best wishes, Melita
AnswerHello Melita,
No need to send it out particularly as most jewelers won't touch a metal clay piece (purely snobbery!- and lack of experience..)Here's my recommendation:
make a small piece of the texture you used in case of a melt down and pre-fire it. Then measure the persons finger again.From that measurement cut the ring to size and with oil paste, or a bit of heavy slip ( slightly thicker than ordinary slip) refire the piece. If that works and you are pleased with the strength of the join finish as normally you would proceed. If that fails :
1) cut out a section of the ring and insert your pre-fired textured piece .attach it with oil paste or slip and refire..if satisfied you are done!finish as before.
2)try using paillions of fine silver rolled thin in a mill or an easy or repair solder (though less similar to fine silver you don't want to use hard solder on it as the copper in the alloy could pose problems in seeing the join down the road..) and finish as you would any metal clay piece calculating for shrinkage with whatever type clay you are using. If you can find .999 paste solder ( which is simply powdered fine silver in a zinc oxide base ) you may be better off using that though I know Cooksons does not carry it..(or so I think).
Nevertheless, you are more experienced than the average bench jeweler at metal clay and then most jewelers don't use fine silver either so its a double strike -out! The PMC guild or posing your question to Alma Rands on the Orchid forum at www,ganoksin.com ( in fact i think that the question has come up before and is in the archives there),or write (email) to Tim McCreight at Brynmorgen Press in the US directly.Both sources would be good back up for advise.Tim is the foremost expert I know on metal clays and is quite a good man.He will , I'm certain , take the time to reply and his word is what I would most trust in solving your dilemma quickly.
hope this helps,Best regards Ari
