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MuranoSilver
15-07-2010, 11:36 AM
So far I've experimented with the 1mm wire...
It makes headpins really well no pitting and nice and white even pickling
harder too...
Here's a vid of the Reflections 1mm wire balling up (http://www.flickr.com/photos/muranosilver/4796172646/)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4795539919_56f798c354_m.jpg
There might even be some posibilities of future fusing,
Vids of fusing the reflections and testing the join on my flickr stream
(Join wasn't strong enough but I didn't use flux maybe that's a test for another day).
Nic xx

caroleallen
15-07-2010, 02:42 PM
I also had a go with it. I found that although it balled up slightly better than sterling, it wasn't anything like as smooth as Argentium and I had quite a lot of pitting. I tried to fuse the ends of the wire together (with Auroflux) and despite it being red hot and looking as though the ends were melting, they didn't fuse. It does look whiter than Argentium though.

I really wanted to love this new alloy, but I was disappointed I'm afraid. I'm sure it has good anti-tarnish properties though so some people will love it.

mizgeorge
15-07-2010, 02:59 PM
Oh no! I'd just caved in and ordered some after reading that it didn't pit (sorry Nic, but it's impossible to tell from the photo). Now I hear it does. I guess that's a waste of two sets of postage then.

caroleallen
15-07-2010, 03:11 PM
Oh dear, sorry George. Maybe I took the flame away too quickly and you may have more success with it.

MuranoSilver
15-07-2010, 03:16 PM
George the 1mm wire I tried it on didn't pit at all and formed a lovely ball, the alloy dosn't seem to like
excessive heat so performed better with my small torch (rather than the PT500 used when I was trying fusing)
switched to my PT200 for subsequent work.

Carole glad you tried with Auflux too, shame it didn't help (so it looks like definately a non fusing metal).
Re the heat - might (like argentium) be better with easy solder.....
Nic x

caroleallen
15-07-2010, 03:19 PM
Well I'm going out now to have another go. See you later.

MuranoSilver
15-07-2010, 03:26 PM
Didn't flux before balling if thet helps too :)

caroleallen
15-07-2010, 03:28 PM
No better I'm afraid. See if you can spot the difference.

MuranoSilver
15-07-2010, 03:36 PM
Eeeeeew mine turned out like the one on the bottom only rounder....how odd!
I know the vid isn't the best (it was taken with my i-phone) but I think you can
see that it's a good result (as Alice would say, curiouser and curiouser)

caroleallen
15-07-2010, 03:42 PM
Mine was 1.2mm wire. I used a small flame with no flux and I moved it away from the flame slowly. It went into a nice round shape but pitted. How weird. We really need a third opinion.

mizgeorge
15-07-2010, 03:59 PM
I guess I'll be to offer one in the morning ;)

Di Sandland
15-07-2010, 04:34 PM
I tried with my sample too. Balled quickly but pitted, both with and without flux. Couldn't get it to make a strong enough join with fusing - far too weak to be usable. I used it on a charcoal block and it didn't go the grey colour that Argentium does but, to be honest, I can't say I'm overly impressed.

Sorry Cooksons :(

by the way, mine was 1.2mm - perhaps it's the different diameter that causes the different results?

mizgeorge
15-07-2010, 04:39 PM
Well I've got 1.5mm and 0.8mm coming (and possibly going straight back.....)

caroleallen
15-07-2010, 05:02 PM
Most of my head pins are 0.8, so I'd be interested in that.

orestruck
15-07-2010, 05:43 PM
I'd be interested too. I'm after some for earwires. I've bought Argentium from Argex, but to be honest it would be easier to get it all in one place (and I spend a small fortune at cookies....)

lesley
15-07-2010, 05:51 PM
I'm still going to try some but it's interesting to see the different results.

ps_bond
15-07-2010, 06:06 PM
Any chance anyone else could video the balling up procedure too?
I'm curious to see if there's differences in technique. About all I can think of is rate of heating.

caroleallen
15-07-2010, 06:07 PM
I've clocked off for the day. It's a wild night out there.

ps_bond
15-07-2010, 06:13 PM
Here too. I shall go lurk in the workshop imminently and hope the tiles stay put.

mizgeorge
16-07-2010, 10:40 AM
Well I think my results were a lot better than some.

Here's 1.5 and 0.8 shown side by side with argentium. The reflections is on the left in each case. Pickled but not polished.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/mizgeorge/DSC01516.jpg

The 1.5 is just about acceptable - a lot less pitted than sterling, though not as smooth as argentium by a long way. The 0.8 is less good - I suspect it needs even less heat than I was using.

On the plus side, the balls stay very central (unlike sterling). For the difference in price, it may be a just about bearable compromise. The smaller one would be OK to use as a fairly concealed headpin, but not good enough for, say, an earwire.

I couldn't get it to fuse at all, with or without flux, so no good for that. It's slightly harder than standard, fully annealed wire, but not impossibly so.

I'll see how it polishes up.

orestruck
16-07-2010, 07:37 PM
Cheers George Guess I'll have to stick with Argex!.

Sarah

caroleallen
16-07-2010, 08:40 PM
You did better than me George. Maybe I did use too much heat but when you've got loads to do, you can't always hang around with a tiddly flame - life's too short.

Ominicci
17-07-2010, 06:37 PM
Watching with interest.....
I love Argentium for 0.8 earwires and have just about run out, so want to know which way to jump (Argex or Reflections).

caroleallen
17-07-2010, 06:50 PM
I know which way I've gone. Sorry Adam.

Di Sandland
17-07-2010, 09:08 PM
I know which way I've gone. Sorry Adam.

ditto. Truly sorry, Adam

lesley
17-07-2010, 09:45 PM
Is it going to be sold online?

Rob Taylor
19-07-2010, 08:16 AM
It is, should be available online at the start of September along with comprehensive datasheets. In the meantime please call the contact centre on 08451001122 to order or for tech info.


Is it going to be sold online?