bronze sheet and rolling mill

[joella]

Hi, I've had a look on the forum for suppliers of bronze sheet, but the one place that has come up, phills doesn't seem to exist anymore. Anyway, Ive found it at kernowcraft but they only sell it at 0.9 thickness, as I was looking for about 0.5, I was wondering if it is suitable to put through a rolling mill or not, I don't want to cause damage to the rolling mill - which isnt my own, but I have use of one at lessons that will start again towards the end of September. Has anyone used sheet bronze much, how have you got along with it? Also, is there a difference between bronze used in jewellery making and bronze that is labelled phoros bronze? Sorry if this is a dumb question, but its probably been a little while since my last one - Don't hate me please!

[Petal]

Hi Joella,

I get some of my copper sheet from here http://www.mkmetals.co.uk/catalogue/182 they do bronze but its hugely expensive! Here are some others http://www.aalco.co.uk/products/copper-brass-bronze.aspx and this one - they do sample sizes, so worth ringing to find out whether they have what you are looking for. http://www.metalsheets.co.uk/bronze-sheets/. I haven't put any through my mill, so can't answer that part of your question, but good luck with the search Joella. Its not a dumb question, I learn something from the forum every day!

[Dennis]

As bronze contains tin, I would worry about contaminating my work space and tools. I would vacuum well afterwards and keep files separate. Dennis.

[joella]

Thanks Jules, its good to know where to go for metals - especially if the prices are good, that's a real help.
Goodness Dennis, thanks for the info - I didn't realise that some metals contaminate others. I was only going to use it for another bit of variety with copper and brass on silver - but I think maybe I wont bother now, I don't have enough tools to have separate ones for different metals.