Fusing Argentium Silver...Take 2

Fusing Argentium Take #2 in the studio of Sonne Creations.
Project tools:
Torch (mini torch like butane or a dual gas torch like Oxy-Propane, Oxy-Acetylene)
Argentium sterling silver pieces or components
Charcoal block
Copper soldering props (copper washers or sheet) optional
I am an unconventional metalsmith. Because I am self taught I tend to question everything and learn from trial and error. I am not a professional metalsmith, I am a hobbyist and spend sporadic amounts of time in the studio.

[@ValerieOrris-h2l]

Thank you so much for teaching outside the box. I’ve been looking for someone with this kind of teaching! Thank you so much!

[@SonneCreations]

Thank you! Rules are only there as a guideline, LOL and most should be discarded. There’s only one rule with Argentium and that is “Don’t touch or move it when it’s orange-red hot! Enjoy!

[@WhatTheEffIsReallyGoingOn]

I taught myself on Argentium. I tried sterling and was frustrated with flux and solder and all the rest. I read about Argentium and that day ordered some and never looked at SS again. . ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️Argentium

[@SonneCreations]

@gkelley2383 Fantastic! Argentium is so user friendly it’s hard to believe. As long as you have enough heat, whether you have enough solder, flux or mojo it doesn’t matter. It’ll either fuse or solder. Welcome to the Argentium fan club!

[@WhatTheEffIsReallyGoingOn]

The tip about the torch being full ! You are so right . I never noticed it before. I was struggling to fuse a bezel , I filled my torch and wouldnt ya know ! It fused almost immediately . thank you thank you thank you .. . That was one of little tips that turns out to be a game changer. Serioulsy. Thanks again Gina

[@SonneCreations]

G Kelley You’re welcome! The butane torches only hold a very little fuel, but even so a lot can be accomplished with them. I have a small electric beehive kiln that I use for metal clay and enameling and soldering large bracelets and bangles, the kiln heats up the entire piece and then I come in with the torch and solder the join.

[@WhatTheEffIsReallyGoingOn]

Hi ! Love your techniques with Argentium. I too am self taught . when I was finally brave enough to start working with metals Argentium caught my attention. I could not grasp why anyone would go through all the steps of soldering if you could use Argentium and just fuse it !! Sooooooo much easier. And it doesn't make me want to pull my hair out with frustration. I am currently working on a Argentium back with a fine silver bezel tape. I'm having a bit of trouble though. From watching your video I'm thinking I'm not going hot enough. Fear of melting !! Thanks for the video. Im happy I found someone with a similar background . .. B

[@SonneCreations]

G Kelley I probably have most jewelry instructors rolling their eyes, but sometimes a lack of formal education gives you the freedom to push boundaries and make new discoveries and sometimes it just feels good to challenge things. If we all followed the American Food Guide we’d be an overweight nation......oh wait...., lol. A butane torch does have limits, if you have access to a small Beehive Kiln used for metal clay, it really helps to get the piece up to temperature, otherwise it might be time to upgrade. I might have to make a video on that.

[@WhatTheEffIsReallyGoingOn]

SonneCreations I definitely need to upgrade my torches. I have 2 butane " chef " torches. Which have worked well for me so far. I have to use both when doing a larger piece or if I have any heat sinks. In struggling with a ring shank right now. I cut 2 pieces of 14g round argentium that I am wanting to fuse into a v and the bezel would then sit in top of the v. I've done this a lot but I always soldered. I know it will fuse but my torch isn't hot enough. Should I pickle before I try fusing again?

[@Robbievigil]

G Kelley, do you have a place where you show your work? new to jewelery and would like to follow as many people as possible to learn from

[@WhatTheEffIsReallyGoingOn]

Robbie Vigil I don't right now although I could send you some pictures.. I would need am email address , Facebook link or something similar . email is best for me.

[@tammygurl64]

I couldn't agree more! I've been studying/researching off and on for about 8 months and finally made my first ring yesterday. 👍😊 I bought supplies (Fine and Argentium silver as well as Sterling) and chose to hold off on soldering Sterling because fusing made a lot more sense. Of course I'm just starting out so I won't have a bajillion components to add to any of my jewelry just yet. I haven't had formal training so I share your fear of melting everything. I had a hard time today getting a ring to fuse for that very reason. Anyway, it's nice to know there are others who are self taught. Cheers! 🙂

[@samcee8659]

yr awesome 😍 funny and informative thanks heaps i love yr techniques 😊

[@margaretbohrer9859]

Love, love your tutorials. Learned a lot about Argentiu, Will stay tuned. Keep them coming

[@tammygurl64]

Thanks for sharing this. I'm starting out working with Argentium and Fine Silver (without flux - LOL!) because I read it's possible not to mention confused by about Borax. Also, based on my research I just thought Argentium would be easier to work with and would make prettier jewelry.

[@besthobbit]

It is surprisingly hard to find vids of folks using Argentium. Maybe it's just KZbin and its algorithm 🙄 thanks!

[@SonneCreations]

@SecondBreakfast That is very weird indeed. Probably KZbin and its algorithm, when I was posting multiple videos weekly on my other KZbin channel I would be first in a KZbin or Google Search. Maybe because Ronda Coryell isn’t posting much lately I float back to the top with my Argentium videos. It’s a fabulous metal to work with. Thank you for the comment!

[@101mosioatunya]

I am so pleased to have found your videos which are so clear and informative :-) Can I saw argentium in the same way as I would saw fine or sterling silver?

[@SonneCreations]

@Hilary Minor. Sorry for the delay, I’ve been away doing other things. Yes, absolutely Argentium silver saws just the same as with any other silver. The important key point here is to use the right blade for the thickness of the metal.

[@roe4353]

Hi, thank you for the wonderfully clear demo. I would like to fuse Argentium to a copper bangle - do you think this would be possible???

[@SonneCreations]

@roe4353 Sorry for the delay in answering, I haven’t been active on this channel for a long time. No, Argentium will only fuse to itself. But you can solder Argentium or sterling silver to copper with flux and solder.

[@lucholabyrinth]

Thank you for this. I was wondering about my creme brule torch but I will make sure that it is full before I start. When I have soldered 2 flat pieces of silver, I have noticed that the top piece wants to bend up when it gets hot. Do you think I would see the same with Argentium fusing?

[@SonneCreations]

Anne Carpenter Argentium is known more for it’s deforming (slumping or crumbling) when unsupported. It the two pieces are well supported you shouldn’t see any bending up.... or bending down, lol.

[@theflamingpearl]

why do you not use the my-t-flux? i am just about to purchase argentium.....i having been using sterling for about 10 years now.... i am so excited by the possibilities!

[@WhatTheEffIsReallyGoingOn]

Pamela Pollock I've fused always without flux. But I'm wanting to try using flux in some larger stuff. But you don't need it.

[@SonneCreations]

@Pamela Pollock. Sorry for the delay I’ve been off doing other things. I prefer the gel flux or no flux at all. I have used my-t-flux and it works perfectly well, it’s just my preference to use the gel flux or no flux at all with the Argentium.

[@tammygurl64]

UPDATE: 😭😭😭😭 My attempt to fuse another ring exactly as I did yesterday absolutely will do NOT fuse. 😢 After a half dozen attempts, I refilled my butane torch and even put the ring back on a ring mandrel, gently work hardened/hammered, reshaped, and filed the ends so there was no gap whatsoever... not even a tiny speck of light was getting through. The ends matched perfectly because I sandwiched the file between the 2 ends when I filed them. It just refuses to fuse! 😭 Now, it all black and yucky (it will buff out though). Is it possible that I over heated and ruined the metal? It didn't melt and I got it to the orange glow several times and then glowing bright red after it kept failing. It worked so well with the first ring I made even with a gap. If you happen to see my comment would you please give me a hint as to what the problem is with my Argentium (or me - LOL!). Thanks for your help! 🙂

[@SonneCreations]

tammygurl64 Hi! When it gets to the glow orange stage, you’re not quite done. It needs to go one step beyond that to the almost melted stage. When it gets there, hit the seam directly with the torch until you actually see it fuse, it will get there. I made A LOT of chains when I first started, meaning a lot of jump rings, which are when you think about it, tiny rings. Practice with a handful of those in different sizes.

[@rexplorer.official]

So you cant do anything that has depth or it will flatten out while heating it up?

[@SonneCreations]

It would need to be supported, like in a pan of pumice of soldering sand.

[@heathermeadows85]

What does "sounding like a rain man" mean?

[@SonneCreations]

@Heather Meadows I think speaking in a repetitive garble-de-guk “language”.

[@flyingcheff]

oxidization? did you mean oxidation?

[@SonneCreations]

@Gabidunn www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/oxidization