Chasing and Repousse on shibuichi

Jewelry Discussion
1

Greetings…

Has anyone tried chasing and repousse on shibuichi (50-50 silver and
copper)? If successful how thick was the material? On a red pitch or
black pitch? Shakudo 4%?

Wanted to deep raise some material today out of 14g stock and cannot
move the metal even with a 8 ounce hammer. It’s tough. Want to make
a small, complex ornament.

Bill in Vista

2

Hi Bill,

I only had experience with copper and brass layers but that works
fine on a 18 gauge (1mm) sheet. Both copper and silver are easy to
chase if you heat/quench them after each chasing run, so I don’t see
any problems.

If you don’t restore the molecules order through heating/quenching
it will get tougher and tougher to work with.

Alain

3 
Has anyone tried chasing and repousse on shibuichi (50-50 silver
and copper)?

I’d use 50/50 sil copper as pin wire, it’s a great springy metal. Try
with a more classic shibuichi alloy of 15% or 25% sil.

Brian

Brian Adam
Auckland NEW ZEALAND
www.adam.co.nz

4 
Has anyone tried chasing and repousse on shibuichi (50-50 silver
and copper)? If successful how thick was the material? On a red
pitch or black pitch? Shakudo 4%?

Shibuichi of any formulation is very tough stuff to move but you
will have better luck with 25% silver than the 50% silver version but
it is still going to be difficult to work with. However Shakudo is a
dream to work with.

James Binnion
@James_Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts

360-756-6550

5

Hi All,

Thanks for all of the responses on the shibuichi repousse.

Since I cast a half dozen various shibuichi combinations and four
shakudo 4% ingots at the same time, I’ll forge out some shibuichi
sheet. Any suggestions on a maximum thickness.

Bill in Vista