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Denise Peck is the editor of Step by Step Wire Jewelry and the
senior editor of Lapidary Journal
Jewelry Artist.
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You Don't Need a Whole Studio
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Fine silver fuses to itself like magic, without solder. |
Even if you're dying for one, not everyone has the room in their home for a full jewelry studio. But you can still do some metalsmithing, right on your kitchen table. Handheld butane torches are an easy, inexpensive way to do some simple metalwork. Cover your table with something fireproof, like a piece of sheet metal from Home Depot, and use a charcoal block to help retain and reflect heat back onto your piece, and you're good to go. And even if you have a full oxygen/acetylene setup, a butane torch can be a quick tool for some small, fast jobs.
The Magic of Fine Silver
I learned about fusing fine silver in a class with Kate Richbourg, of Beaducation, a number of years ago. It was like magic the way those joins just flowed into each other. Fine silver will fuse to itself when heated with a torch, unlike sterling. No solder needed, and no oxidation or fire scale that needs pickling. Very easy, very clean. I've even fused fine silver decorative balls onto fine silver rings, like a granulation technique.
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Lots of options with just a butane torch.
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Cassie Donlen's Whimsical Silver Bezels.
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Make Your Own BezelsBut that's not all you can do with a butane torch. You can
almost solder like the pros! Artist Cassie Donlen makes all of her bezels with a butane torch and solder chips. There's a limitation to how heavy a gauge sheet and wire you can use, and how large your pieces can be, because butane torches don't get much hotter than 2500 degrees Fahrenheit. Larger pieces require a lot more heat. But if you're itching to expand your repertoire into making bezels for cabs or resin, you can definitely get that going with a handheld butane torch.
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Cassie Donlen's Rockin Lampwork Bezel Rings.
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Playing Safe
Some safety tips to keep in mind:
* Always work on a fireproof surface.
* Wear safety goggles made for filtering flame flare.
* Never touch your pieces right out of the flame.
* Have a quenching bowl of water to cool your pieces.
* Dedicate some cheap pliers for your flamework so you don't ruin your good tools.
* Remember the end of the torch remains very hot even after you turn it off.
Butane torches come in a variety of styles and price points. I've had success with many of them, including one designated a kitchen torch, and one that was only around $10.
Have fun!
Filed under: resin, stone setting, silver jewelry making, metalsmithing, soldering, micro torch, jewelry tools, lapidary, Wire Jewelry Making, Jewelry Making Supplies, Glass Jewelry