Silver?

[Hillbillysmith]

I need some help. I have a 1 troy ounce piece of .999% pure silver that was bought in the shape of a heart with a space for someone's name. I don't know if I want to just make this into a pendant for my friend, or if I want to make it into a little ring or a couple of little rings for her. What should I do? If I decide to make it into some rings, how would I go about melting this down and casting it without messing it all up? I'd like to make it into something else but don't know how silver acts. Any comments on how it acts/reacts or ideas whether I should just make it into a pendant or not?? Every comment will be appreciated.

Here's the pics:




The top picture says "I Love You" and the bottom picture says "For Someone Special" with a blank for a name to be punched.

[Finnr]

My self, I'd pick up some other silverfor rings. That's a real pretty piece and it's a shame to melt it down.

There are several great sites on Jewlery work. (Which I don't have on this comp) that should be a big help with casting.
Finnr

[Ice Czar]

Id say dare to make a ring, lost wax is likely the way to go, and if you screw up, gather up all the pieces and start again.


Jewelry making, Tips from The Jeweler's bench - Jewelry making information center - Instructions on making jewelry
(search query = lost wax ring)

Id also beg to differ on the "beauty" of that particular chuck of metal, no offense Finnr

[bipolarandy]

Hillbilly, if you've never worked silver, you may not want to mess with your troy ounce's. Silver is very different than steel, you need a very clean setup, you must be OCD about cleaning all the scale off the metal each and every time its annealed, it has a low melting temp too, so the ol'e forge is not an option for heating,,,,, and its soft,, so any marks in your tools will mark your silver. Thats just the basics.
Now, your question about rings, fine silver is too soft for a ring, it will deform very quickly. Sterling is whats used for most jewerly because its much harder than fine silver.

I would try engraving your friends name into that troy ounce and making a bezel setting to hold it, like these. slides and pendants , than you can put it on a leather cord or something.

-Andrei

[Rich Hale]

Go to a place that sells lost wax materials and talk to them about your ideas..buy some wax and form whatever it is you want to cast. take your wax and your silver to them or someone they recommend and have it cast, they can alloy it to sterling while they are at it. I had some things done and they did a wonderful job with my design. I had gold and silver pieces made from the same mold, they made rubber molds from my wax....

[ThomasPowers]

I have penannular brooches and belt buckles I made from fine silver that I wear camping at LH events and have not had any trouvle with them deforming---of course some of them are only 20+ years old so far...

In general I hot forge the silver into things; charcoal or gas forge (a one firebrick forge is great for this) and be very careful not to melt it! If it melts than save the bits and use them for casting.

[Farmer Phil]

Hey Hillbillysmith,

What did you end up doing with your silver? I'd be pleased to further discuss some of the possibilities, but thought I'd see if you were still pondering before I started pontificating. (I was a silversmith for about 15 years.)

Would love to hear of your progress.

Phil

[ornametalsmith]

Originally Posted by Finnr

My self, I'd pick up some other silverfor rings. That's a real pretty piece and it's a shame to melt it down.

There are several great sites on Jewlery work. (Which I don't have on this comp) that should be a big help with casting.
Finnr

hmmmmmm I have to agree with Finnr....... seems a shame to melt that down. AND.......I also agree....you really want Sterling, and not Pure Silver for rings. The first thing that comes to mind.......is what kind of ring did you want to make? By that I mean what type design? Plain band? or elaborately detailed design? That could help determine the best process.

you can make simple designs by melting it, or other scrap sterling, into a carved negative in a charcoal block. I've done many items in this way...... Nuggets pendants and such are popular..... I'd be happy to take some pix of my charcoal block with a bunch of different "carved negatives" in it....if it might help get your creative juices goin.

For the more detailed designs.... lost wax casting is the best option. Much more involved, requiring much more equipment.

[steve2]

I made very nice serviceable wedding bands out of old silver quarters. I held them between my thumb and forefinger against my leg and struck them repetitively with the bowl of a teaspoon or a smooth butter knife handle. They turned slightly with each blow, and I worked my way around and around until I achieved the proper diameter for my beloved's finger. I then drilled out the center and filed it with a rat tail file. Voila, a nice silver band! One of the really cool things about them was that you could read the words "In God We Trust" and Quarter Dollar that were around the rim of the coins on the inside of the rings. One note tho, you have to work with the old silver coins not the sandwich coins of today.

Later, Steve2

[Nick]

Both my and my wife's wedding band I made out of a piece of .999 silver which had special significance to us. Mine is fairly heavy, but her's is quite fine, and there's been no problem with deformation. Scratching, yes, they're no longer a mirror polish. But it is much softer, and I only used my jewelry setup while making them. They were forged and soldered, using a microtorch for heat.