Forums » General Discussions

Back To Topics

silver forniture and copper

  • Trish White
    • Moderator
    • 114 posts
    November 11, 2012 7:52 PM EST
    Hi Mamen,
    First, if I understand you right, you are trying to attach an earring post to the back of a counter-enameled piece of copper? if that is correct, let me tell you this; you cannot attach an earring back to counter enamel and expect it to stay - you must solder the post to the copper at the beginning with IT solder and then sift enamel around the post before you place it in the kiln. You can also set the copper enameled piece in a small silver bezel with a post . But, Metal must be attached to metal with solder and it must be IT solder which will stand the high temperature of the kiln.
  • Rudolf Molnar
    • 15 posts
    November 12, 2012 1:18 PM EST

    Is this true?:

    Both IT and Eutectic Solder are used to solder onto enameling metals before enameling. Their relative high melting and flowing points keep the solder from flowing when the enamel is fired. IT contains silver, copper and zinc and can cause enamel to bubble if they come in contact. Eutectic contains only silver and copper and can be depletion gilded and enameled over.

  • Edmund Massow
    • 77 posts
    November 13, 2012 5:45 AM EST

    If you don't like soldering, you can fasten the earring with such small commercial ear stud.

     Before enameling, drill a little hole at a suited place. I think this is a very easy way to fasten an enameled earing.

    You can buy such studs here, in piercing-studios or by other goldsmith-tool supplier.

     ( http://www.ottofrei.com/Earring-Posts-Nuts-Ball-and-Pearl-Posts/ )

    Edmund

  • mamen roncero
    • 0 posts
    November 11, 2012 11:37 AM EST

    Hello everyone,

    I have been trying for the past few days to put at the back of a piece of copper the back of an earring in silver .925, i put counterenamel first on the back of the copper, on top the earring and ond top of it a bit more of counterenamel to hold it all together, but after firing the silver piece come off. I have cleaned both very well, i have also tried fire the counterenamel of the copper by itself and the put the earring and some counterenamel and fire it again but it still comes off. I don´t really like how it looks when you glue an earring to the back of a copper piece, and i would like it to be totally integrated. Any ideas?

    Thank you