[TheForge] silver wire questions

Tue Dec 17 18:37:00 2002

By the time you twist it up for rope and form it into a cross, the twisting
will have work hardened it.  If you heat it after twisting and forming into
a cross, then you will need to work harden it again.

There is a good book called "Textile Techniques in Metal" by Arline Fisch if
you are interested in other ways of using the wire.  30g is a great size for
textile effects with wire.
-Kirsten
----- Original Message -----
From: "James Binnion" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 4:42 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] silver wire questions

> >
> > To harden sterling silver, heat it to 600�F (316�C) for 30 to 50
> > minutes in a kiln or furnace. Air-cool the sterling silver before
> > pickling it. The hardness will then be equal to the hardness achieved
> > by cold-working it to a 50% reduction (or 3/4-hard).
> >
> > Pickle the sterling in Sparex (best) or go to a local store that sells
> > swimming pool supplies and get some PH Minus (sodium bisulfate).  This
> > will remove any fire scale if you do any silver soldering to it and
> > will remove any traces of tarnish.
> >
>
> Unfortunately this will not work unless the wire has been solution
> treated (heat to 1250�F and quench in water immediately ) before you
> try to precipitation treat it by heating to 600�F and you will not
> achieve the hardness you quote unless this process is done under strict
> lab type conditions. Most silver stock is not put into a solution state
> before being shipped as it is tricky to do it without excessive grain
> growth which is detrimental to the mechanical properties of the stock.
> Most sterling is annealed down closer to 1100�F  where grain growth is
> not as big a problem.
>
> FWIW
>
> Jim
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