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caroleallen
26-07-2009, 06:09 PM
Hi, I run my own jewellery company in Cornwall and am looking forward to getting and sharing lots of tips with you all.

julie
26-07-2009, 06:22 PM
hello & welcome

Solunar Silver Studio
26-07-2009, 06:30 PM
Hi there. What sort of jewellery are you 'in to'? Everybody seems to be very different on this forum so that is great as you find out all sorts of things you didn't know you didn't know!!:D
Barbara

Charlotte
26-07-2009, 08:01 PM
Welcome caroleallen! I look forward to seeing your work. This place is very addictive, but very inspiring too:)

caroleallen
26-07-2009, 09:00 PM
I've put a few pieces in my album. I've been working in silver and enamel for the last 10 years but am now dabbling in aluminium.

Solunar Silver Studio
26-07-2009, 09:19 PM
How cute is that Bleujenn Hammered link bracelet! I'm just starting to 'play' with enamel on pmc...and I love little flowers! I know nothing at all about aluminium. How is that bangle coloured...
Barbara

bustagasket
26-07-2009, 09:34 PM
welcome welcome, someone else to bug for info :P heehee

caroleallen
26-07-2009, 09:37 PM
The aluminium is anodised and then painted and dyed. It's then boiled to seal the colour.

Solunar Silver Studio
26-07-2009, 09:56 PM
AH! Hmmmmm! (Nods sagely):o

...not a clue what you've just said!

Anodised...is that what they do to titanium to make it go all pink and blue? ....how technical am I???;)
Barbara

ps_bond
26-07-2009, 10:35 PM
Similar process, but the oxide layer in aluminium is porous & colourless (hence the dye), whereas the thickness of the oxide layer defines the colour in titanium (and nobium, tantalum etc. etc)

Di Sandland
27-07-2009, 03:55 AM
Carolallen, those aluminium bangles are to die for! Hello from Devon!

di x

Solunar Silver Studio
27-07-2009, 06:52 AM
Thanks Peter, isn't this forum great?!? Ask any question and the answer pops up! ...and you are obviously our resident chemist...excellent!! So the oxide produced on the aluminium acts as a 'key' to bind the colour to the metal? Now that's interesting! What sort of dye is used? How does boiling fix it and can you get a shine on it or is it always a matt finish?

And - final question...How come I've never even heard of this before??!!!!:D
Barbara

AlexandraBuckle
27-07-2009, 08:19 AM
Hello caroleallen and welcome to the forum!

(blimey so many new people since i last logged in!)

ps_bond
27-07-2009, 08:20 AM
Thanks Peter, isn't this forum great?!? Ask any question and the answer pops up! ...and you are obviously our resident chemist...excellent!! So the oxide produced on the aluminium acts as a 'key' to bind the colour to the metal? Now that's interesting! What sort of dye is used? How does boiling fix it and can you get a shine on it or is it always a matt finish?

No chemist - but I am an engineer in the day job... With all that that entails.

I'm going to be lazy again:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anodizing - overview of the process for many of the metals around (inclusing what boiling does).
http://astro.neutral.org/anodise.shtml - one of the hits I found on a brief Google.

I've done a bit with various dyes (microscopy stains, Dylon...), I've never aimed for anything other than a matt finish on it.

Do remember that many of the pages around will be American, so the spelling will be different for both anodising and aluminium should you search.


And - final question...How come I've never even heard of this before??!!!!:D


Clearly not enough mad scientist in your genes :D

caroleallen
27-07-2009, 08:32 AM
The aluminium comes in either shiny or matt finish. I used shiny and textured it myself. The dyes and inks are specialised and very very expensive. That's the catch!

Solunar Silver Studio
27-07-2009, 08:47 AM
Clearly not enough mad scientist in your genes :D

You'd be surprised...my dad, sadly deceased 14 years now, graduated as a chemist and was 'an engineer' most of his life...and I am married to a chemistry graduate who worked in the food industry until he retired...and I met him in a chemi lab as one of his 'minions'! Still - you can't know everything about everything can you?...or that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!:D Anyway, that's why all these brilliant people are on this forum!!;)

Thanks for the links though! I now feel all 'ejookatid'!:-D

Do you think you could dip it in molten wax after sealing it (as boiling it seems not to be 100% effective) and buff it to a shine?
Barbara

caroleallen
27-07-2009, 10:49 AM
Boiling it closes the cells and makes it impervious to corrosion. No reason though why they couldn't be rubbed with wax.

agent_44
27-07-2009, 09:14 PM
Hi Carole, nice to meet you - I love the cuffs in your gallery!

MuranoSilver
27-07-2009, 09:59 PM
OMG - this forum is DANGEROUS now I want to play with Aluminium too!!!
Nic x

Ominicci
28-07-2009, 01:41 PM
Hello Carole!! Your work is beautiful!

EmmaRose
28-07-2009, 03:48 PM
Hi there and welcome!
Love aluminum. Do you anodise yourself or buy predone sheets to dye?
Em:welcome:

caroleallen
28-07-2009, 04:02 PM
I use pre-anodised sheet. Thanks for all your kind comments. I've taken a selection to one of my galleries today and the owner was really keen to stock them, so I'm a really happy bunny! :dance:

EmmaRose
28-07-2009, 05:08 PM
:))) congratulations!

EmmaRose
28-07-2009, 05:10 PM
someone in one of the other threads was asking for advice on anodising, perhaps you can help them??
I only have a basic knowledge from uni. I think they need suppliers for pre done sheet and what you can use to dye it!
thanks
Em