Fusing fine silver scrap: a recycling option?

Fusing fine silver scrap: when

When a piece has been unsold for years. Not only Etsy algorithms hate it, but you don’t like it yourself either. And even re-creating does not help.

 

Fusing fine silver scrap: what

The best candidate for recycling should preferably

• be clean, without solder on it
• consist of pure silver-clay based 999 silver (no sterling mix)
• not reusable as a component in other pieces
• previous texture does not matter as it will be gone during fusing

Fusing fine silver scrap: why and how

It is known that silverclay-based fine silver is:

a) not very strong, but

b) the more times it is (kiln) fired the stronger it gets, and

c) does not become brittle at near-melting point, like sterling does

So fusing can be a nice way of recycling, especially, since it is a fast, cheap and controlled process. You only need to reinforce some parts if your fine silver element is not strong enough (like in this medallion)

After dismantling the medallion I pierced the desired shape, then I “reinforced” it by fusing pieces of fine silver to make those leaves strong enough.

 

The result was a rough surfaced piece, which needed quite a lot of filing and polishing. The structure remained rough even after that and there were also small pitches visible. For this particular design OK, but don’t have an illusion that you can mirror-polish it. The reason for the pitches is the inherent porosity of silverclay-based fine silver. The air bubbles are difficult to get rid of during recycling. One needs either chemical treatment and/or rolling out by a mill.

 

 

 

The result

 

I like the total piece and its vibe.The leaves are strong enough, shining and decorative. The thistle bud has been fused from scrap too, not from fine silver but from a sterling mix. Recycled, yet new piece of jewelry.

Fusing fine silver scrap: any other recycling options?

Conclusion: fusing is fast, economical, eye-controlled technique as I wrote before.

It does not produce strong nor 100% flawless end result.

But next time I might do it using a different recycling technique like Delft sand casting. This technique produces really strong metal. Though the air bubbles might remain too. But I don’t have a mill to make the cast piece 100% flat and smooth. So I will need to chose an appropriate design.