Reticulating brass
C. M. Fox
I reticulated some brass last year made two wonderful pins out of it and
thought I was so clever. Now I need to repeat that feat and my brass won't
reticualte. I took good notes I'm doing the same thing, I think. Any hints
out there in Reccrafts Jewelryland? As always they will be much
appreciated.
I'm also continuing my research on the impatient sawer vs the saw blades.
I'm getting better. I will be reporting back on my discoveries. I am
trying out all the hints you've sent me (THANK YOU!) and for the most part
you guys are sooooo smart. I am sooo glad I ask these questions.
Later.
Carla
Denise M. Maier
depends on the flame (ace or prop). The heat is most important. If you
want to do only the outer edges try ochreing the part you want untouched.
Also, make sure the brass is the same as the previous you used. I have
several supply houses for brass and bronze and the content of the metal
varies.
OscarCatz
bitch.... try washing your metal in beer before doing it and use TWO
torches to keep the heat up.. good luck.. and please tell me if this works
Dave Sebaste
guess it makes sense. I have only seen sterling reticulated. I
imagine you would go through the same preparation steps of heating
and pickling the sheet several times?
Dave
Marion Margoshes
Heating brass to the reticulating or melting stage is Toxic. Be careful! mbm
FOXON C
What do you mean by melting brass is toxic? How toxic, what kind of
toxic? Please e-mail me at my Internet address: fo...@hevanet.com
My provider only gives me some of the postings to this group. So until I
change providers I get partial bits of information.
Thanks.
Carla
Dave Sebaste
Dave
darylb
>
> Melting brass toxic? Copper and zinc toxic? Yeah, I'd like to know
> what you mean by this as well.
When the brass is liquid the zinc comes off as fumes which are toxic (heavy
metals). This causes the brass to zinc poor if it is not replenished. Safer
to stick to bronze...more humane to avoid ivory 8^)
Daryl
Brett Radcliff McFarland
: Wow! I've never heard of such a thing! Now that I think about it, I
: imagine you would go through the same preparation steps of heating
: and pickling the sheet several times?
- Reticulation of brass works very similar to that for Ag.
NOTE: Fumes can be dangerous and anything that is heated (especially any
metals), should be done with ventilation.(other additives are likely to
be in the brass besides Cu & Zn which become toxic upon heating and release)
I find that the texture is often quite nice and you can get a good selection
by using varying thickness and using "large" sheets (15x15 mm). Cu tends
to migrate to the surface, but pickling in Sparex, carefully wire
brushing, and then cleaned with dishwashing liquid and a toothbrush work
quite well. Also the metal doesn't tend to flow as well as sterling
because of the high Cu content, so some experimentation works best and
the brass is a lot cheaper than Au. (Cu sheet works ok too, and the heat
patination that you get are often spectacular)
Sometimes I have even Au plated the brass to get a richer look,
that works well when combined with other elements of a piece (such as
sand blasting or patination.)
Brett McFarland
Northern Arizona University
br...@dana.ucc.nau.edu
Mike Schechter
writes:
>When the brass is liquid the zinc comes off as fumes which are toxic (heavy
>metals). This causes the brass to zinc poor if it is not replenished. Safer
>
breath for
about 2-3 days. I don't about repeated exposure, etc. Once was enough, and
that
was doing it OUTSIDE for just that reason. (it was about 3 pounds of brass,
however)
darylb
<Mike_sc...@isr.syr.edu> wrote:
Word of mouth has it that simple respiratory filters are no good to protect
you either. This is why there are quite a few bronze casters and not many
brass casters (I mean people don't want to play with it as opposed to a
Darwinian thing).
Marion Margoshes
Thanx for justifying my brass toxicity warning. mbm