First Experiments with Reflections Alloy

**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.

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.