[TheForge] New silver alloy

[James Binnion]

As Andy says it is more than a decade old. It is promoted as if it is better than standard sterling in virtually every application but, it's only real advantage is the lack of firescale when soldering(brazing). It also fuses nicely however, it does tarnish, it is just that the tarnish is initially yellow so harder to see. It is hot short to an extreme degree, if you touch or move it while at soldering temperature it will break. You also need to use a special version with a slightly higher silver content (935) for successful casting. It has a lower melting point so it is easier to melt unintentionally. None of these issues is so bad as to render it not useable but it is not the wonder alloy it is promoted to be.

James Binnion
jbin at well.com