February 12, 2010 6:00 PM EST
The question many artists ask is "Is all copper the same?" The answer is "No".
Most jewelry suppliers sell C110 copper - which is actually "Electrolytic Tough Pitch" copper and is 99.9% pure. Don't think the copper sold at plumbing and roofing companies is the same pure copper, although some artists have had success with it. Thompson Enamel sells C101 copper, which is "Oxygen Free Electrolytic" (OFE) copper, and is 99.99% pure. Both of these copper types are manufactured to limit contaminants, which can interfere with the adhesion and transparency of enamels, but don't mix up the numbers. Oxygen Free Electrolytic (C101)is very hard to find outside of Thompson Enamels. C110 which most suppliers sell is ok for opaque enamel and transparents. However, when using transparents,  the oxides may not completely absorb into the enamel by chemical reaction and will reduce the transparent look.
Beryllium
This is used as an alloy with copper. The addition of 2-3% beryllium makes a copper alloy which is "hard, corrosion resistant...and has greater tensile strength" (Waldron 270). Beryllium and beryllium nickel alloy are used be some jewelers as an addition to gold alloy castings to increase strength and hardness, even improving scratch resistance. This should not be done without excellent local ventilation, a good understanding of the materials and laboratory grade precautions. The ventilation exhaust position must be carefully considered. Using unknown copper alloys from the scrap yard, and heating them or alloying them is a considerable hazard. Eating beryllium is not too bad, but breathing its fumes or dusts is very dangerous, in immediate effects and as a significant carcinogen (Waldron 27-30). It causes acute and chronic lung disease as well as lung ulcerations (Waller 47).
The question many artists ask is "Is all copper the same?" The answer is "No".
Most jewelry suppliers sell C110 copper - which is actually "Electrolytic Tough Pitch" copper and is 99.9% pure. Don't think the copper sold at plumbing and roofing companies is the same pure copper, although some artists have had success with it. Thompson Enamel sells C101 copper, which is "Oxygen Free Electrolytic" (OFE) copper, and is 99.99% pure. Both of these copper types are manufactured to limit contaminants, which can interfere with the adhesion and transparency of enamels, but don't mix up the numbers. Oxygen Free Electrolytic (C101)is very hard to find outside of Thompson Enamels. C110 which most suppliers sell is ok for opaque enamel and transparents. However, when using transparents,  the oxides may not completely absorb into the enamel by chemical reaction and will reduce the transparent look.
Beryllium
This is used as an alloy with copper. The addition of 2-3% beryllium makes a copper alloy which is "hard, corrosion resistant...and has greater tensile strength" (Waldron 270). Beryllium and beryllium nickel alloy are used be some jewelers as an addition to gold alloy castings to increase strength and hardness, even improving scratch resistance. This should not be done without excellent local ventilation, a good understanding of the materials and laboratory grade precautions. The ventilation exhaust position must be carefully considered. Using unknown copper alloys from the scrap yard, and heating them or alloying them is a considerable hazard. Eating beryllium is not too bad, but breathing its fumes or dusts is very dangerous, in immediate effects and as a significant carcinogen (Waldron 27-30). It causes acute and chronic lung disease as well as lung ulcerations (Waller 47).
