Annealing - Annealing is the technique used to soften silver and other precious metals to make then more malleable and easier to work. Malleable metal bends easily without damage to its molecular structure which weakens the piece. The more a piece is worked, the harder and more brittle it becomes, so repeat annealings are used to keep it malleable. Annealing is done with a torch, again in darkness. The work is heated until it glows a soft pinkish red, which is the point just before melting. The piece is then quenched rapidly in a tub of cold water, which freezes the molecules into the alignment they were in when almost molten, and thus makes it easier to work. However, any work with a torch leaves a fire stain on the silver which must be removed before further work is done, so the piece must be pickled.
Pickling - Pickling is the process of placing a fire stained piece of work in an acid bath to remove any oxidisation before working it. Sulphuric acid is most commonly used, although pickling salts which are safer solutions can be bought for the smaller silversmith. The pickling solution is kept warm to speed to process, and once a satisfactory result is obtained the piece is rinsed in running water, then cleaned with pumice powder to remove any last traces. ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 4:50 PM To: [email protected] Subject: CS>Canadian Maple leaf coins How long and to what temperature would you have to heat Canadian Maple Leaf coins to get the silver back to soft silver. My understanding it is hard from the stamping (working), silver gets hard from working it. If I melt it and pour into a flat sheet would it be soft. Maple Leaf coins are cheapest way to buy pure silver. I live across the border from our Canadian Neighbors. For my Canadian Neighbors where do you buy the coins at. I wonder if it would be worth my trouble to go over to buy some coins as E Bay seems high. How much are coins over in Canada. Do you get them in Bank or where. Too bad they do not have them at the Duty Free store as we stop there when we go over fishing. You are suppose to stay for 24 hours but if you get only a bottle per person and declare it we do not get taxed. More and we probably would get taxed. It would cost more for paper work than they would get in taxes every thing is about money. SICK LEAVE / Bob ________________________________ It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here <http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047> .
