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Hello, Is it possible to use the Saw and solder Champleve technique witth copper? Has anyone tried it here? I would like to attempt it on copper before I try with fine silver
Yes, Widad, it is possible as you are sweat soldering two different gauges of metal together - There will be a lot more clean up and firescale with copper. But experimenting is always a teachable moment.
Thank you, I am ging to try this out.
You don't necessarily have to "sweat" soldering the sawed-out pattern. You also can apply flux onto the bottom plate. Then place the sawed-out design on top of the flux-shift and burn both together. Do not forget to counter-enamel the base plate. After firing, place the workpiece hot on a flat surface and complain it with a heavy object. Clean the workpiece from the scale and apply the colour enamels and fire it. Follow-up treatment as usual.
The cock was manufactured in this technique.
Edmund
Very interesting Edmund - I use 18 g and 22 g sterling silver - are you sure the two pieces would hold together well enough to be worn? plus I usually solder a tube on the back after all the firings.
The rooster has been hanging completely undamaged in my office for more than 30 years. The base plate consists of 0.8 mm copper, the design has been sawed out of 0.7 mm thick sheet of Tombak 85/15. If you want to solder a fastener on the back, you have to make it before enameling with silver solder extra hard. The alternative to soldering would be to glue the fastener with 2 component glue.
For Champlevé-Silver jewellery I also prefer however' sweat soldering '. This Brooch was sweat soldered.
Here are two other roosters made in the same manner. They were custom- made for a store with the name "Hahn und Hahn" = "Rooster and Rooster" made. Each rooster is about 30cm in hight. Both was made in sections, ( Head, throat pouch , body, feets) because my kiln ist not so deep. Them hang also since more than 30 years in the store.
Here an other question, dear Trish. Do you think it is wise to complement my forum input " Setting enamels.... " . If I look into the gallery there are nearly only perfect enamelled works with perfect settings. And some of my proposals are realy not "Goldsmith-like". Many of them are very primitive and arised in my Enamelling courses, because some people had problems with Goldsmiths work.
Edmund