Balling Silver Wire

[Milomade]

Hi there

I've been making somelovely pieces with sea glass using balled silver wire and I'm not happy with my balling. I'm started off with 1.8mm wire and then for my second piece used 1.5mm and will be using 1.5mm from now on.

I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong but the balls always end up rough and I have to spend hours filing and sanding them down to get them smooth.

Any tips on balling wire would be much appreciated. I'm goign to try a few different things tonight and see if I get any better.

Here are some images:

This is the 1.8mm wire and required tons of filing and sanding and in the end I kind of lost the ball effect.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4350591061_29818f1eda_o.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4351338386_0309db6d63.jpg

This one used the 1.5mm and required less filing and sanding, but I kind of just gave up with it and kept it rough.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2716/4350594257_021fa47dd4.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4350593449_02f01682a1.jpg


Please help.

E

[mizgeorge]

sterling will pit - it's very hard to avoid. You can try removing the heat very slowly to reduce it, but it still happens to a degree.

The pitting doesn't happen at all with either fine or argentium silver. Fine might be too soft for the designs you're working with, but argentium would work perfectly. Better get it quickly though.

[Sheltie]

Have to be honest I like it with the pitting, works well with the sea glass and it adds something to the piece

[MuranoSilver]

As George said removing the heat slowly will help - fluxing the wire seems to help too...
Here's a tutorial from Art Jewellery mag (just to compare)
How to ball up the end of sterling silver wire with a torch | Video « Wonder How To (http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-ball-end-sterling-silver-wire-torch-224807/)
Nic xx

[Milomade]

Hi All

Thanks for the replies - I've cracked it and so chuffed with myself that I've mastered this technique at last. I tried a load of things on Firday night and in the end got the resluts I wanted.

The best way to achieve a smooth ball is to flux the wire first [although I've tried it without and got good results too] then heat the wire at the hottest part of the flame. As the wire begins to ball, move it slowly into the cooler part of the flame and then remove the heat. I've got some perfect smooth balling doing it this way. Occassional pitting but not too much to concern me and it's alot easier to file out. I'll take a pic of the piece I made and post it up for you to see later.

I think the pitted look is also Ok - but think that would better and more acceptable if the wire was oxidised I think. So will give that a go on the once that are pitted and see how they come out.

[Milomade]

Re: Argentinium:


Better get it quickly though.

Why so?

[Di Sandland]

Re: Argentinium:



Why so?

Cooksons are not stocking it after the end of this month (I think its this month, they're certainly not doing it any more tho). Real shame, it's lovely to work with and fuses just as well as fine silver, so no need for solder.

[abyjem]

Really like what your doing with the sea glass!

[Milomade]

Here are some images of the latest piece...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4354144801_4bc41d58db.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4354145189_f85a086468.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4354144983_9ab5bb38ed.jpg

bigger images on my flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/milomade/)

[MuranoSilver]

Yep you can see the balls are smoother :Y:
Neat!

[Gemma]

Simply gorgeous! :Y:
And thanks for the info on how you achieved them too. I've been using argentium but as its disappearing and I can't afford to stock up I'm going to have to return to sterling.

[Trudy]

Lovely pendants. I like both the textured style and the smooth. :Y:

[Green Beetle]

Haven't used it but wondering why argentium is disappearing so soon after its launch?

[Di Sandland]

Haven't used it but wondering why argentium is disappearing so soon after its launch?


Here (http://www.cooksongold.com/forum/got-jewellery-question/2095-argentium.html#post31132)'s your answer