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Hi Woof. Agree with the others re needing a more powerful torch - they do sound like chunky bits of metal. (but maybe you meant 0.5mm sheet rather than 5mm)

If you are worried the torch may be...

but always be careful about re-using silver that you have soldered. Obviously any solder will contaminate the melt and may bring it down below assay quality. hallmarked or not, you would be on...

it's water-based so not such a fire hazard as having alcohol around


the blurb says no flare-up - I assume that's small amounts of alcohol burn-off

doesnt' bubble up like borax

cleans...

Yes G. I'd mentioned Magic Boric before, and it seems pretty good - fluxes and prtoects. Never used firescoff, but I've seen Argotec(t?) and that look messy too.

bit of a swings-and-roundabouts debate, this. Yes, flux will help the solder flow, but it will also protect against firestain. Depends which you see as the greater problem.

Which is the...

No, the need for hallmarking is driven purely by the weight of precious metal in the piece.

Of course, you can use plated components and not have it hallmarked, but you can't describe it as silver...

No, Julie's right. You have to register each punch regardless: there's no cost for doing it ('cept postage).

But, like you, I've no idea why.

Caveat: I know its the case with Sheffield, and...

No, you really need to abrade it. Not usually necessary to resort to a file - emery will usually do it.

Hi Wendy.

My first conclusion is that it's firestain - a deeper form of the surface oxidation that you get when you heat the silver (sort of). I absolutely expert at getting it, so feel a bit...

Agree with the "why do you want to?" opinions.

But anyway, I think that the answer is no. Extract from here: Sheffield Assay Office: Mixed Metal Marking

"If an article includes base metal...

for the record, I asked Greg's permission to put his details on the forum.

Sorry, Nick. Ferric Chloride doesn't do for silver. You need ferric nitrate or nitric acid for that.

Ferric chloride is great for copper, and is much more widely available. Used a lot for...

Yes, Di, the standard of laser marking is no better than struck marks. I did some ear-rings shaped like windsurfing sails and got the laser marks put on the front to look like sail numbers. They...

Yes, as Peter says, you can apply the sponsors mark yourself. In fact, there are some benefits to be had from doing that:

- you don't have to pay the assay office to do it (though, for me, the...

I've bought ferric nitrate from www-megauk-com/pcb_chemicals.php (put your own dots in - can't post urls yet)

much safer than nitric acid. They also do ferric chloride is you want to etch copper,...

a bit less focus on the "Silver" bit please, Di.

I encourage more of the Kiss.

xx

Doh, my plan was to hold off for a few days, get all your appetites totally wetted and only then put my web site link up. Forgot that i put it in my sig. #-o

It's sad isn't it.

But, there's hope! My tutor at York School of Jewellery recommend me to get my punches from a guy called Greg Mason. Works in the jewellery Q in Brum - 22 Tenby St, B1 3EE.
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One of the things that you are going to have to put up with if you want to let me stay on this forum is my sense of humour. But my wife has had to do that for well over 30 years, so I don’t see why...