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Argentium: Fusing and Torch Fire Enameling
Session 1: Fusing
Argentium is a new metal that offers the soldering capabilities of silver, mixed with the fusing capabilities of gold. It allows for many additions of wire and granulation work to flat pieces with ease because there is no solder required!
Part one of this course focuses on the basics that you need to know when working with Argentium - how flat it needs to be, how much flux to use, and how to fuse it all - usually in one shot! Spend Day 1 in this hands-on virtual course immersed in all the techniques of fusing, focusing on wire work and what hot and fast really means to get this material to adhere without solder. Basic wire working will be shown during this course, but the emphasis will be on torch work.
Session 2: Enameling
Argentium has some peculiar idiosyncrasies when it comes to enameling, similar to some of the oddities it presents in fusing when compared to silver. This course focuses on what works, what doesn't, and what is still left up to exploration with an understanding of the science behind expansion/contraction and why certain enamels have reactions to metal and the oxides they present. This course will focus on torch firing of these enamels (as they are usually best for the metal) and the wet packing process for applying to individual cells.
Meet the instructor
Deanna Pastel was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2010 she received her BFA in Jewelry/Metals from Kent State University. Upon graduating, she was offered a position as a bench jeweler and trainer at Heather B. Moore Inc. in Cleveland, OH. This is where she began fine-tuning her skills in soldering gold, setting stones and hand stamping on silver and high end gold jewelry works.
In 2012 she landed in Austin, TX, and began her career as one of the main teachers and as the studio director/coordinator at Creative Side Jewelry Academy. She spent 2012-2017 developing the school’s core curriculum, while working closely with other master artists and her students.
In 2018 she was granted an apprenticeship to spend two months working alongside artist Victoria Lansford doing macro chasing and repousse, and became a presence both artistically and professionally for the Society of North American Goldsmiths. For the past three years, she has expanded to teaching at multiple schools and colleges around the Austin and San Antonio area providing eclectic and diverse course offerings at all levels of experience. She also continues to work at her bench in her home studio doing commissions, custom and repair work, as well as her personal artworks.
Materials & Tools
The following supplies will be used for course demonstrations and objectives. A suggested item and/or vendor has been provided below for reference. Click the vendor name to be redirected to a page where you can view the item. The quantities needed for each item are listed first. If ordering, please be aware that some items may come in larger quantities than needed for this class. We recommend not opening an item's packaging until the day of the workshop. Student participation during or in-between class sessions is not required - observers are welcome.
Metal/raw materials:
- 1”x6” x 22g dead soft Argentium Silver Sheet (Rio)
- 1' x 18g dead soft round wire (Rio Grande)
- 1' x 20g dead soft round wire (Rio Grande)
- 1 x round nose pliers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x chain nose pliers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x snips / flush cutters (Rio Grande)
- 1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)
- 1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 (Rio Grande)
- 1 x bench pin (Rio Grande)
- 1 x half round hand file - #2 cut (Rio Grande)
- 1 x rotary tool - flex shaft, micro motor, etc. (Rio Grande)
- 1 x Snap-on wheels mandrel (Rio Grande)
- 1 x Snap on Fine Sandpaper Wheels (Rio Grande)
- 1 x rawhide / plastic mallet (Rio Grande)
- 1 x 4"x4" min. steel block (Rio Grande)
- 1 x small steel ruler (Rio Grande)
- Pre-Fused Argentim (please keep the metal flat with fused components, 3D is more tricky)
- 1 x Enameling screen (Rio Grande)
- 1 x Ceramic Brick for soldering (can be purchased in ceramic supply stores) or a vermiculite block (Rio Grande)
- Enamels of choice (opaques never have any problems- so any colors you like will work great!)
- 2oz - Transparent enamels- *there are little issues with blues and greens* Purple- the best color is (Concord Purple) Yellow- (Egg Yellow) Red- (Woodrow) Orange (Sunset) Pink- (Raspberry)
- 2oz - Thompson Lead-Free Transparent Enamel, 2020 Clear for Silver (Rio Grande)
- 2oz - Thompson Lead-Free Transparent Enamel, 2040 Hard Fusing Clear (Rio Grande)
- 1 x Diamond bit set (Harbor Freight) *Optional
- 1 x Ultra fine sable brush for applying enamel (Amazon)
Torch fire setup
- 1 x fireproof area - steel sheet, tiles, etc. (Amazon or Home Depot)
- 1 x Steel Heating Screen (Rio Grande)
- 1 x Charcoal Block 3” or larger (Rio Grande)
- 1 x torch - Smith mini, Silversmith, or butane (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
- 1 x #0 or #1 torch tip - if getting Silversmith (Rio Grande)
- 1 x striker or lighter - Silversmith system has one (Rio Grande)
- 1 x soldering tweezers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x 3rd arm (Rio Grande)
- 1 x liquid My-T flux (Rio Grande)
- 1 x copper tongs - for pickle (Rio Grande)
- 6" x medium argentium solder (Rio Grande)
- 6" x silver solder - medium (Rio Grande)
- 3lb x pickle - sodium bisulfate or citric acid (Rio Grande or Amazon)
- 1 x brass bristle brush (Rio Grande)
- 1 x crock pot or lidded glass container (Rio Grande or Amazon)
- 1 x tempered glass container or sink - for quenching and rinsing
- 1 x small brush - for flux
- 1 x liquid hand soap - for cleaning metal
Other/miscellaneous items
- 1 pack x sand paper strips (Amazon)
- Sharpie marker(s)
- Isopropyl alcohol (for removing sharpie lines)
- Distilled water
- Eye dropper
- Small spoon
- Small cups with lids
- Kleenex