Granulation

Hi !
I would also be interested in granulation techniques please.

Have Fun
Brandeil
geoboundary

RE: Brandeil and Lloyd, caught your questions on granulation. Have a seminar
this weekend, but will send you info when I get back on Mon. Have been doing
granulation for a couple of years, and yes! do have secret for getting the
little *&%!!!s to stick!

Talk to you soon,

Elizabeth Jean

That will be great. Lloyd

I am looking for any good books on granulation. Found a few that
have a couple of pages on it but not much more. I want something
more extensive.

Tim McCright edited a book titled, “Metals Technic” Among other
topics covered is sterling silver granulation. If you have any
specific questions about granulation, perhaps I can be of some
help.

Eddie

I would like to do some granulation using fine silver (I have
experience in 18K granulation). I understanding I can use the same
binder, but can I use the same copper solution (cupric carbonate)
for fine silver, or do I need another fusing solution?? Are there
any tricks of fine silver granulation I should know, and if so,
what material is avialable for education?

I use 2 drops of hide glue, 2 drops of Battern’s flux, and 12
drops distilled water for a binder, and I don’t copper plate the
grans. I also use a tabletop Granulatin kiln and a torch. I can
email you a handout I use for demos if that would be helpful. I
learned this tech. in Italy last year and have been sharing it.

Eddie

Hi Nina–You do not need to use any binding solution for fine
silver granulation. Just be sure to ochre the bottom of the
backsheet before granulating, as it gets too hot otherwise(if you
are using a small ‘trinket’ kiln). The rest is pretty much the
same as with gold, except that the point at which the granules fuse
can be a little confusing. Watch for the metal around the granules
to go all silvery ,do a few passes over the granules and withdraw
the heat promptly. Hope this helps! Sandra

Hi Eddie, my name is Lloyd Butterfield, whould you please E mail
me one of your handouts? Lloyd

Dear Eddie, Could you please send me the paper you pass out for
the classes… I would be interested to see what else you do… I
learned from Jean Stark and Bob Kulick in NYC… thanks again
calgang PS do you have the little trinket kiln???

Hi Ed I also use this mix of hide glue, batterns flux and water. I
don’t use distilled water - is there a reason why they taught you to
use distilled rather than tap water? I do copper plate my granules
and also use a beehive kiln.

Linda
@Red1Eagle
sunny today and getting warmer, at long last, in New Jersey (north east usa)

Nina,

I don’t know what material is available for education, but from my
experience, granulation with fine silver is identical to 18ct,
right down to the copper carbonate. (I quite often use old
copper-laden pickle and gum arabic, though.)

I am sure that you will have no problems.

All the best.

Yours aye,
Dauvit Alexander,
Glasgow, Scotland.

Hi, I’m pretty sure there is an article in Tim McCreight’s (hope I
spelled that right) book Metals Technic on silver granulation which
should contain all the info you need. Lori Colina-Lee

The article in Metals Technic is on Sterling Siulver granulation.
By the way, with Fine Silver, the granules do not need to be copper
coated. And yes, you do need something to hold them down
temporarily–the Hide Glue mixture that was described in another
post is the standard for that–10-12 drops of water, 2 drops of
hide glue and about 3 drops of liquid flux. Use it sparingly,
however. Sandra

Any port in a storm! I once took a quickie workshop in
granulation, and nobody remembered to bring any hide
glue…including the instructor. What to do? The problem was
solved by substituting plain old saliva in place of the hide-glue
mixture. Not exactly de regueur,. but it worked !

John Cogswell recommends saliva for Sterling Silver granulation!!
Sandra

Dear Felicity,

The alloy formula I was given at a Mendocino granulation workshop is as
follows:

75% fine gold, 19% fine silver, and 6% electrolytic copper.

The glue solution is as follows:

Mix a teaspoon of gum of tragacanth powder with a quart of distilled water
and let sit for a day. It will get thick. In a gallon jug, mix one part of
the above solution with one part Battern’s flux and three parts distilled
water. There you have it.

(I got this from Dennis J. Arsenis’ workshop, to give
credit where credit is due…)

Also, thanks to everyone for the many silver texturing tips, and the info.
on how to restore my mill.

Chris in hot and humid Waynesville, NC.