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How to fuse gold on silver

Jewelry Discussion
#1

I have 14ky and 18ky scrap and filings (dust), and I was curious to
know if it is possible to fuse gold filings onto a silver surface,
and how to do it. It would be economical if I can use the filings
from previous fabricated pieces, but if not, I could file clean
metal. I use TruSilver Plus sterling silver from Hoover, as well as
traditional sterling silver, if that makes any difference.

I have seen on the internet, jewelry that looks like gold dust fused
onto silver and then the silver is oxidized. This is the look that I
am going for.

All suggestions and help is appreciated.

#2

18kt gold filings fuse readily to Argentium, which might be what you
see most commonly out there. I’ve heard that 14kt doesn’t work the
same. The technique I’ve used is: clean the surface as you would for
soldering, flux only the area you want the fusing to happen on,
sprinkle filings, fuse down, let air cool for 1 minute, quench. If
you want a thicker layer at this point, reapply flux and repeat the
process from there; when you’re satisfied, pickle.

Good luck!
Matthew Klahn

#3

I would think something like granulation. Eutectic welding. Heat,
pickle, heat, pickle, and so on till the surface is coppery. Put on
the shavings and heat with a brushy flame from under or in a kiln
(better) till surface glistens, then stop and see what happens. Look
up eutectic welding. SD