Avoid changing the orientation of the billet as you roll. If you must expand the billet 90 degrees to the initial orientation, do so only after annealing. Switching back and forth contributed to your cracks. When cracks begin to appear, file or cut the edges of the billet to remove them as they will otherwise only get worse. Start with your handle at 12 oclock as it is easier to start a past pushing down rather than pulling up on the handle
I do this with all my leftovers, even the "sawdust." It's so satisfying to take a bunch of useless odds and ends and turn it back into something useful :)
Oh it’s so much fun recycling the silver, especially when you have some casting grains on hand. It’s how I’m currently making an inlayed ring for my mom!
I need to try the grain too! I think it would be even easier than recycling silver scrap 😀 And as for the scrap, it's a great way to reuse perfectly fine pieces of silver, so I'm very excited to be doing this more often from now on 😀
Basia, I'm so excited to hear what you think when you try your new torch when you get it going! A comparative "before and after" video would be an excellent thing to see. 😍
God I love watching silver melt :P I've seen loads of videos regarding this topic, some flux the silver to help the melting, others will do it on a charcoal block and press it down with another block if you don't have a rolling mill. You can also burr holes into your charcoal block to create balls, or freeform circles. Such a fun way to make jewellery!
Thank you so much Alea! (I hope I didn't butcher pronouncing your name 😬 I'm sorry if I mispronounced it!) I'm so excited, I will be reusing my own scrap from now on. Thank you for the encouragement ❤️💕
Hiya Lady Stardust, Great video; thank you so much for this and for being honest and showing you do wear your protective equipment and not just talk about it. Thank you for showing the problems with using the mill; being worn out is easy to do. Thinning by small increments is one answer; a motorised mill is another, hehehe. Putting in the fine silver will help you with the quality of your melt; it will save you from having to use fine-casting grain. Not having any solder in with your scrap is essential for quality, as the solder has extra ingredients you do not want in your art pieces! Although it's time-consuming and challenging on your body, re-using off-cuts like this is better than always having to purchase 'new' from your supplier. It saves money, too, as the price you get for scrap is always so low compared with fresh supplies. But keeping the purity high is a pain. Stay safe, Steve xx
Exactly, I think that the scrap that comes from sawing especially and making bezels is perfect. It's only sterling and fine silver and no additional metals, so it's still great quality. And can help reuse some of that silver and save some money on new sheet too 😀 Thank you for watching! Take care Steve X
I do that but if I take to much my Handtorch isn’t hot enough it seems . I have a dremel versaflame. I wish I could melt bigger blobs but it takes ages. I found it works best on charcoal too.
Wouldn’t turning that handle so much make you cranky and that melting process used on the scrap silver made me see red. Surely there is a happier way to process scrap silver ?
Well, I'd be the happies just sending it off to the processed by an external company and just given money in return haha :) It's an option (for exmaple in the UK Cooksongold offers this service). But I wanted to make my own sheet that would be thick, like 1.5mm - 2mm (something I wasn't able to purchase) and making it myself totally solved the issue, which in turn made me happy. My shoulder had to work hard for it, though haha
In the US, Rio Grande has a recycling service for sterling silver, Argentium silver, and fine silver scrap, as well the dust generated from sawing and sanding these types of silver.
They can be used as a backplate for setting gemstones, as a plate for sawing out shapes, for making embellishments and many, many more things! 😀 It's just a new silver sheet
@@TheArtOfMetalsmithing Definitely don't use filings, they are usually contaminated with dust and other bits that will compromise the quality of your ingot. Also, you for SURE need to completely melt the scraps into a totally liquid state. using an inexpensive carbon rod (Amazon or hardware store) to stir the liquid many times will bring up most junk to the surface of the melted pool - that's what the borax is for: cleaning. The metal in this video was only half melted. There is no need to turn anything over if it is completely melted mixed, stirred and cleaned (the carbon rod will scoop up any debris, and it usually will stick to it a bit. If the metal is properly melted it will pool into a round or oval shape with only smooth sides/edges. it is best to add at least 10% (more is better) fresh casting grain. The cracked edges of the ingot are indication of poor metal amalgamation. resulting in very low quality sheet/wire for fabrication use. this process can be done easily and well if the technique is done correctly. Without getting too crazy in-depth about studying metallurgy (which I highly recommend if you want to recycle metals for jewelry fabrication use yourself), there is a good book (find it used; inexpensive) titled The Penland Book of Jewelry, a collection of techniques taught by 10 different expert in their field instructors at The Penland School of Crafts. One chapter is of Jaime Pelissier on alloying. this short and concise chapter will illuminate the how's and whys of beginner metalsmiths using metals properly; melting and reforming for recycled use. It is quick and painless, clear guidance. Recycling metals for fabrication use is a huge benefit for jewelers, in cost and in expanding knowledge. It is a travesty to be a leader (teacher) on RUclips especially, without having the correct knowledge and technique, inadvertent or otherwise. Basia is very good at teaching and sharing information in an approachable manner - that is a rare and beautiful thing! A few bits of additional info is all this video needs! The saying, "Many can do, few can teach", I find to be absolutely true. I enjoy learning from Basia and her whole channel is full of gorgeously filmed excellent content.
Avoid changing the orientation of the billet as you roll. If you must expand the billet 90 degrees to the initial orientation, do so only after annealing. Switching back and forth contributed to your cracks. When cracks begin to appear, file or cut the edges of the billet to remove them as they will otherwise only get worse. Start with your handle at 12 oclock as it is easier to start a past pushing down rather than pulling up on the handle
Thanks Malcolm. That was very useful to me, because I am about to use my Mill for the second time with exactly this situation.
I do this with all my leftovers, even the "sawdust." It's so satisfying to take a bunch of useless odds and ends and turn it back into something useful :)
Yes! Absolutely! I completely agree 😀 and the melting process is so satisfying
Indeed, es excellent.
I Love watching Silver flow, either melting scrap or soldering. Very enjoyable watching. Great fun.
Same! It's so satisfying to watch :) Thanks so much for watching!
Oh it’s so much fun recycling the silver, especially when you have some casting grains on hand. It’s how I’m currently making an inlayed ring for my mom!
I need to try the grain too! I think it would be even easier than recycling silver scrap 😀 And as for the scrap, it's a great way to reuse perfectly fine pieces of silver, so I'm very excited to be doing this more often from now on 😀
@@TheArtOfMetalsmithing I’ve found that adding some grain to the scrap (like just a tiny bit) helps with the little bit that’s lost in the crucible!
@@lucaspeclat-begin6063 I will have try that! Thanks so much for the advice 😀❤️
Very informative I plan on getting a smaller inexpensive rolling mill eventually.
Thanks
Basia, I'm so excited to hear what you think when you try your new torch when you get it going! A comparative "before and after" video would be an excellent thing to see. 😍
It may be a little longer before I can try it out, but hopefully not too long 😁
They are beautiful in your final raw-ish state. And the metaphor of saving and reclaimed beauty 👌🏼
God I love watching silver melt :P
I've seen loads of videos regarding this topic, some flux the silver to help the melting, others will do it on a charcoal block and press it down with another block if you don't have a rolling mill. You can also burr holes into your charcoal block to create balls, or freeform circles. Such a fun way to make jewellery!
💯👍👍 those pieces turn out quite nice and would make lovely pendants .
Thank you! I too think that rolled pieces could be used in their entirety in a design, they have their own charm and a very interesting look 😀
So glad you found it useful Basia ❤️ loved watching the video!!
Thank you so much Alea! (I hope I didn't butcher pronouncing your name 😬 I'm sorry if I mispronounced it!) I'm so excited, I will be reusing my own scrap from now on. Thank you for the encouragement ❤️💕
Hiya Lady Stardust,
Great video; thank you so much for this and for being honest and showing you do wear your protective equipment and not just talk about it. Thank you for showing the problems with using the mill; being worn out is easy to do. Thinning by small increments is one answer; a motorised mill is another, hehehe. Putting in the fine silver will help you with the quality of your melt; it will save you from having to use fine-casting grain. Not having any solder in with your scrap is essential for quality, as the solder has extra ingredients you do not want in your art pieces!
Although it's time-consuming and challenging on your body, re-using off-cuts like this is better than always having to purchase 'new' from your supplier. It saves money, too, as the price you get for scrap is always so low compared with fresh supplies. But keeping the purity high is a pain.
Stay safe, Steve xx
Exactly, I think that the scrap that comes from sawing especially and making bezels is perfect. It's only sterling and fine silver and no additional metals, so it's still great quality. And can help reuse some of that silver and save some money on new sheet too 😀 Thank you for watching! Take care Steve X
Hey Basia, thanks for encouraging me to melt my own scrapes. Where did you get that charcoal crucible? Can you just just a regular charcoal block?
Hi what do u use to pickle it ?
Thank you in advance
Hello, please tell me, when you mix fine silver with sterling silver, how do you hallmark your jewelry pieces? I mean, for example, 925 or...?
I do that but if I take to much my Handtorch isn’t hot enough it seems . I have a dremel versaflame. I wish I could melt bigger blobs but it takes ages. I found it works best on charcoal too.
Yes, I've noticed the same. Sadly, only small amounts work with this type of torch, but at least it's something 😀
Wouldn’t turning that handle so much make you cranky and that melting process used on the scrap silver made me see red. Surely there is a happier way to process scrap silver ?
She doesn't seem unhappy about it, so maybe it's a meditative process? Or at least could be?
Well, I'd be the happies just sending it off to the processed by an external company and just given money in return haha :) It's an option (for exmaple in the UK Cooksongold offers this service). But I wanted to make my own sheet that would be thick, like 1.5mm - 2mm (something I wasn't able to purchase) and making it myself totally solved the issue, which in turn made me happy. My shoulder had to work hard for it, though haha
In the US, Rio Grande has a recycling service for sterling silver, Argentium silver, and fine silver scrap, as well the dust generated from sawing and sanding these types of silver.
What will you make from them? Do they become a piece of jewelry you will be designing?
They can be used as a backplate for setting gemstones, as a plate for sawing out shapes, for making embellishments and many, many more things! 😀 It's just a new silver sheet
What do you use your rolling mill for besides recycling your scrap?
I made a video about how I use my rolling mill: ruclips.net/video/MwOH5Q_NLX8/видео.htmlsi=psETuZCYdwK1YxA6 I hope it will be helpful! 😀
hello beautiful also what comes out of filing can also be recycled or not 🤔
It can, but I haven't been recycling the dust myself, I usually add it to the bag I send it to be recycled
@@TheArtOfMetalsmithing Ok pretty thank you very much 💕🥰💖❤️
@@TheArtOfMetalsmithing Definitely don't use filings, they are usually contaminated with dust and other bits that will compromise the quality of your ingot. Also, you for SURE need to completely melt the scraps into a totally liquid state. using an inexpensive carbon rod (Amazon or hardware store) to stir the liquid many times will bring up most junk to the surface of the melted pool - that's what the borax is for: cleaning. The metal in this video was only half melted. There is no need to turn anything over if it is completely melted mixed, stirred and cleaned (the carbon rod will scoop up any debris, and it usually will stick to it a bit. If the metal is properly melted it will pool into a round or oval shape with only smooth sides/edges. it is best to add at least 10% (more is better) fresh casting grain. The cracked edges of the ingot are indication of poor metal amalgamation. resulting in very low quality sheet/wire for fabrication use. this process can be done easily and well if the technique is done correctly. Without getting too crazy in-depth about studying metallurgy (which I highly recommend if you want to recycle metals for jewelry fabrication use yourself), there is a good book (find it used; inexpensive) titled The Penland Book of Jewelry, a collection of techniques taught by 10 different expert in their field instructors at The Penland School of Crafts. One chapter is of Jaime Pelissier on alloying. this short and concise chapter will illuminate the how's and whys of beginner metalsmiths using metals properly; melting and reforming for recycled use. It is quick and painless, clear guidance. Recycling metals for fabrication use is a huge benefit for jewelers, in cost and in expanding knowledge. It is a travesty to be a leader (teacher) on RUclips especially, without having the correct knowledge and technique, inadvertent or otherwise. Basia is very good at teaching and sharing information in an approachable manner - that is a rare and beautiful thing! A few bits of additional info is all this video needs! The saying, "Many can do, few can teach", I find to be absolutely true. I enjoy learning from Basia and her whole channel is full of gorgeously filmed excellent content.