How to Make Silver Soft Again

Annealing is the term for softening metal so that information technology is malleable. The process involves heating the metal and and so cooling it. Cooling the metal tin be achieved through air cooling, quenching and sometimes both.

Sterling silver is heated to a wearisome cherry-red(900F). Let information technology lose its redness and then quench in absurd water. (Presto yous accept soft metal). There are a few steps earlier you can oestrus the baby up.

The metal should be coated in a protective substance called a "Barrier Flux". It is made upwardly of boric acrid and 91% isopropyl alcohol.

Many people use denatured alcohol. I discovered it'southward toxic and the homo body does not metabolize denatured alcohol.

This ways information technology doesn't leave your body very easily once y'all have absorbed it. Kind of scary. That is why I recommend 91% isopropyl alcohol because it's less dangerous.

The 91% isopropyl booze burns off virtually too as denatured booze. I exercise not recommend the lxx% isopropyl booze.

Yous can mix the boric and isopropyl solution 50/50 for a thicker solution. This will provide a nice thick coating for your metal. This is proficient for annealing. If you are soldering you lot tin can apply 25% boric and 75% isopropyl alcohol.

Use a glass jar with a lid. I use an old pickle jar or you could employ

a mason jar. The lid will proceed the alcohol from evaporating.

*Tip (If you lot endeavor to anneal later yous have soldered, your project may fall apart at the solder joints. Plan ahead and perform this step before you solder your piece together)

Stride one. Make sure all metal surfaces are free of dirt and grease.

Step ii. Gently milk shake upward your solution and dip your metal into the jar.

Pace 3. The metal piece must be coated with boric acid and isopropyl and fired.

Step four. Rut the metal to a slow cherry. Keep it at that temperature for a few seconds.

Step 5. You can quench it in water or allow it air cool on your solder pad or steel bench block.

Step half-dozen. After it has cooled yous need to remove the boric acrid that is on the metal. During the heating process, the boric turns into a glass-like substance. This glass protects the metal from fire scale. Fire scale is a coppery colour that appears on argent and gold if it has been overheated. (Y'all will discover out that fire calibration is a bummer) You tin soak your metallic in a pickle solution or warm soapy h2o.

Pickle solution is a potent acid that quickly removes boric. It is usually heated in a small pickle pot similar to a pocket-size crockpot.

The pickle solution should be used in a well-ventilated area. If you choose to use it read all of the safety instructions. It is a serious acid and shouldn't be taken lightly.

Many of the goldsmiths I know utilize an ultrasonic cleaner with soapy h2o. It works great and is very safe.

Here is one a good ane on Amazon. There are a few different sizes so pick the one that is right for you lot.

I commonly get one that is a piddling larger than I need so I can grow into it.

Step 7. Make clean the metallic with an one-time toothbrush and rinse nether water. Inspect the metallic for any boric glass that may still exist attached. If it looks proficient yous are set up to start making your masterpiece.

This is a bones look at annealing. For more data on annealing, here is another good article.

Mark Nelson's Tips: Mixing Boric Acid Barrier Flux

Here is another well-nigh fire scale that is helpful to know.

Dealing with Burn Calibration

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Source: https://gotcharocks.com/annealing-metal/how-to-anneal-sterling-silver-7-basic-steps/