-
Melting scrap silver.
I have got my hands on a 3ins scorifier with handle and an ingot with slots on both sides. All second hand but look serviceable except the scorifier has a small crack in it. Please what type of blow-lamp or heat source should I look for man enough to melt a good “hunk” of silver scraps that I have accumulated? Any books / articles that would help me? A Rolling mill is on my want list and I have made this known throughout the family as a birthday and Christmas is near!!!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
-
Hi David, a 3in scorifier is quite large, you are going to need a hefty torch to get it up to temperature regardless of how much silver is in it, an oxygen and propane mixed set up is best however a sievert style torch running on red bottle propane would work well as long as it has a large nozzle…. They are normally sized by consumption …. Kw… or kgs per hour. Sometimes by nozzle diameter … The largest nozzle I have for my torch is 28mm diameter….. on full bore this would just about get my 3 inch Crucible up to temperature. I’m not sure about map gas I don’t use it much I find it expensive if using a lot of it.
Hope this helps … Nick
-
Hi David, As Nick has already said, you will need a really large torch, because you not only have to melt the silver, but get it hot enough to appear to be spinning so that it will pour.
The most popular brand for this is the Sievert and you can shop around for the best price.
You will also need a sturdy soldering hearth to guard against spills and splashes, flame resistant flooring, shoes and apron, and a fire blanket. Dennis.
-
Thank you both for your advice.we have a really good unit near me that stocks the most vicious looking gear! I get my red bottle propane from them so will visit them armed with your advice. Yes, the safety measures are all important and I do have some but not all those pieces. The biggest problem is going to be where to do this. My garage also houses ……not our cars but my Velosolex bike and special fuel plus all my wood working machinery. Not the choicest of environments……! May have to be out doors….that should impress the neighbours if they can see in!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
-
The largest burner on the sievert will probably do it, I’ve only ever used it for soldering cuffs and the first time the noise scared the bejesus out of me!
-
Aha! I may have my answer! I have just found a sievert 3941P 2 Bar-240 g/h. DG 2238 burner. 2cms diameter. I remember buying it for plumbing a few years ago and , yes Caroline it sounds like a Tornado taking off. I have never used it for silver work.
If it stops raining a bit of experimentation will be in order…….I will report back!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
-
Mine is so old that it’s numbered 294 but that’ll be the one!
-
And yet another question! Borax powder….could one use a liquid flux instead when melting down scrap? Weather too blustery and rain showers not best to experiment today!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
-
Ah, looks as if you need a car port (or a bus shelter).
You can add liquid borax before you start applying heat with a smallish flame, but it will froth and bubble. However, you might wish to add more later, in which case anhydrous borax powder is the way to go, or it will spit back. Dennis.
-
A standard Sievert burner will happily melt several ounces of silver, even unconfined. However... A bit concerned by the crack in the scorifier; they have a habit of growing catastrophically at the worst possible moment.
I wouldn't advocate a liquid flux - just use powdered borax. It'll foam up as the water boils off, but it's not a problem.
-
Thanks all of you for your advices. This is a next big step for me!
I blame Dennis who said over a couple of years ago that he thought I was on the slippery slope to addiction!……….Rolling mill very soon now! Any advice on texturing strips….leaves etc to emboss silver sheet ?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
-
I like lace - gives a very pretty pattern. The plastic netting from fruit bags will give a snakeskin like effect.
I'm busy collection things I think will work and those are my favourites at the moment
-
Don't put green leaves through a rolling mill, you'll just give yourself a lot of work to clean the rolls of squidged greenery. Leaf skeletons, or better still artificial leaf skeletons if you can find them.
ISTR there are people using Cricut-type plotters to cut thin card for embossing?
-
I buy laser cut patterns on Etsy and they come from Canada. Curtain tape is quite good and even packaging paper. You just have to try different things on copper
-
Does anyone know the maximum thickness of silver you can start rolling progressively down from an ingot to produce a thin sheet. This is with the entry level mill. The write up is a bit vague…..they mention 4 mm but it isn’t clear (to me) if this is the max figure.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
-
I think we've been here before David.
The problems are that very thick silver needs annealing and drying at every pass, which makes it very slow to begin with.
I prefer to pickle and rinse, out of habit, but this might be unnecessary.
Secondly, too heavy a load on your basic mill could cause a cog to break, so it is best to reduce the gap a small amount at a time.
All this has made me suggest 4.0mm as a good starting point, but there is nothing to stop you reducing the thickness with a large hammer to begin with. Dennis.
-
Yes Dennis I remember that post but couldn’t remember if I had decided which mill! I suppose initial thinning can be by use of a hammer…..with annealing of course.. anyhow thanks to you all for your encouragement and advices.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
-
Melting scrap silver.
Just got the mill from cooksons……40kilos! Now well bolted down on my garage workshop bench and put together. Itching to experiment first with textures and leaf skeletons. A new journey of discovery awaits!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
-
Congratulations. Don't forget to stop for meals. Dennis.