Mixing sterling silver

I made some buttons out of PMC+ and PMC3. I used wire to make the
shanks. I was instructed by my PMC instructor to use fine silver
with the PMC+ but that I could probably use sterling with the PMC3.
She said firing temps were low enough with the PMC3 that the sterling
shouldn’t be bothered. It worked for me, I fired some with a torch
and the rest went in the kiln and they all turned out great. I placed
a small piece of clay through the ring and used slip and syringe PMC
to ‘set’ the shanks.

I would worry about firing temps and times were I to mix copper and
silver clays together. Too spendy for me to experiment with but I’d
love to hear if anyone else has tried this.

Sarah

It’s my understanding that that mixing copper and silver clays will
not work–they do not sinter together to form an alloy as you would
expect, but rather separate. I may be wrong, but that is how it was
explained to me.

I would worry about firing temps and times were I to mix copper
and silver clays together. Too spendy for me to experiment with but
I'd love to hear if anyone else has tried this. 

You have to fire one, then the other. See the blog of Hadar Jacobson
and an article by Noel in a magazine, not sure which one.

Elaine
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com

It's my understanding that that mixing copper and silver clays
will not work--they do not sinter together to form an alloy as you
would expect, but rather separate. 

Yes and no. You can alloy them up to a certain percentage, see the
blog of Mary Elin D’Agostino. She has done this and posted her
results.

The other way is fire one, then the other. See the blog or books of
Hadar Jacobson.

Elaine
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com

Hi

I’m wondering if I can alloy bright and sterling silver together in
approximately equal quantities, and what difference would the result
have, compared to the familiar sterling, or fine silver?

Any advice much appreciated,

Anna M Williams
www.annamwilliamsjewellery.com