Yesterday I alloyed and milled out my own metal for the first time. One of the luxuries of living in Phoenix is having a handful of local jewelry suppliers. If I ever need a shape or gauge of wire or sheet I don't have, all I have to do is go to my local supplier, Lonnies Inc. So, I had never before tried to make my own. Well, I have always wanted to make the Japanese alloy shibuichi, so I decided to finally do it yesterday! Shibuichi is a copper/sterling alloy.
Carbon coating the ingot mold, so the metal comes out more easily.
Melting the metal!!
Pouring.
Ouch, that is hot!
I made two small ingots for wire and a larger one for sheet.
All cleaned and ready for rolling out!
I got my workout rolling down the wire!
Now that I have it made, I need to decide what to do with it. When I make something with it, I'll be sure to let you know.
Now that I have it made, I need to decide what to do with it. When I make something with it, I'll be sure to let you know.
