Introduction
These Silver Earrings used Metal that could have Ended Up in the Scrap Pile
One thing that every metal worker has in common from the high-end goldsmith to the steel worker is what to do with left over scrap metal. The first thing is never throw away scrap! Ok, maybe copper scrap can be tossed but for silver and most certainly gold keep every possible piece, fleck or particle of dust.
I may be a bit extreme because I even try to save my dust by sawing over a garbage bin that I only use for that purpose. What to do with the larger bits of scrap is always a tough question. Many metal workers believe they should just save all their scrap and send it to Rio Grande for credit. I on the other hand go through many steps before I consider sending anything to Rio, and to this day I have sent nothing.
Reuse in New Pieces
The first thing I do with my scrap is look for reuse possibilities. What do I mean by reuse possibilities, because if you send something into Rio to get more sheet, isn’t that reusing? What I mean by reusing is reusing that metal in a new piece and not letting it become scrap.
Many people toss scrap without looking at it for the possibility of using it in new work. With bigger pieces of scrap it might even be possible to set a small stone in a ring or pendant. This is nice because you get two pieces from the same amount of silver sheet.
I always look over any 24 gauge or 22 gauge silver for the possibility of ear rings. This possibility means using metal sheers to cut similar looking scrap into pieces that look the same. For some pieces if you add a little bit of texture it can give the earrings a great affect. Other metal smiths have even made bracelets out of scrap.
Another possibility for thicker scrap or scrap wire is to use it for bails on pendants. Many of my hollow form pendants have bails made from scrap. Once again this saves money and allows the scrap to be used.
Casting
This Small Cuttlebone Cast Pendant was made by using Scrap Silver
Scrap is ideal for casting. I try to use as much of my scrap as possible in silver casting. I presently do not have access to a vacuum caster so I mainly use it for cuttlebone casts. Cuttlebone casting is easy to set up in a small studio and doesn’t require lots of new equipment. If doing cuttlebone casting is too much, you can always do drop casts into buckets of water and use the abstract designs in pieces.
If you do have access to a larger studio with more equipment, making your own sheet is an option. First, you will need a very powerful torch that can melt a large amount a metal. Second, you will need a sheet mold, which should be properly lubed. Third, you will need a rolling mill. Although making your own sheet is good way to save money buying the required equipment will run you an additional 2 grand at least and take up lots of space.
To make sheet metal, you will have to take the metal and melt it. Then pour it into the mold. Let it cool then run it through the mill until it is at the gauge you want it to be. Remember to anneal the metal, which is heating the metal with a torch to the point to when it turns purple, every third time you run it through the mill.
After you anneal the metal make sure to change the direction of each end as you put it into the mill. This procedure will help to minimize the cracks that will start to form around the edges of the silver sheet. This process is long and takes lots of resources. If you really want more sheet from your scrap the best thing to do is send it to Rio.
Send Scrap Into Rio Grande Credit
If you send your scrap to Rio you can either get Rio credit or a refund check. If you get credit it is usually a better rate then getting a check. For sterling silver, without cadmium, you get 75% of the market value of silver as credit and only 65% for a check.
Remember this is for raw silver prices and doesn’t include fabrication charge. If you don’t do any casting sending small scarp to Rio makes sense. Just make sure you have lots of scrap before you do send it because it is a waste of time to only send in a small amount.
Conclusion
This Bracelet is made mainly from Scrap Silver
Scrap is something that all metal smiths have to deal with. The best thing is to make sure you have used your metal in every possible way before it ends up in the scrap pile. Then it is up to you what you want to do with it. Personally I would use it in your own casting before I would send an ounce to Rio.
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