Has anyone made red gold with 25% copper? What are the working properties? Nice color? It will be for a piece with white gold and yellow gold, so I thought 25% Cu would give the best color contrast. Is this a common alloy for a red gold?
Also interested in working props of 14K with only gold and copper. Any reason to add silver if I am looking for good color contrast?
Echoing Tom Arnold…
If you don’t quench it immediately then as it cools you will hear, ping, ping, ping sounds coming from the metal. That will be the sound of cracks forming. Hundreds of them, though they will be hard to see through the tears in your eyes!
HiJanet,
I’ve been messing with an alloy compound from Precious Metals West…
I use 50% 18K Yellow & 50% 18K Red (I think they call it "Russian Red"
It comes out with the most beautiful , gentle red, distinct from anything else I’ve used (tried the same in 14 K, Same result but maybe a bit redder…).
Fabricates easy, no cracks, no deep oxides. It also doesn’t do the rose gold “Slump” if too much heat is applied.
It may not be your solution but It’s worked well for me.
Best,
Jim