I’ve seen the suppliers comparison chart at
http://www.silversmithing.com/1compare.htm#Argentium but it’s a year
and a half old now.
Can anyone suggest an updated suppliers list for the new Argentium
alloy? Any and all suppliers are of interest but European suppliers
would be particularly noteworthy.
Cheers,
Trevor F
Can anyone suggest an updated suppliers list for the new Argentium alloy? Any and all suppliers are of interest but European suppliers would be particularly noteworthy.
Hi Trevor,
Though that chart on the SAS site is out of date, Thessco in England
is still the best source in Europe, and I think the contact info for
them is correct.
In the U.S., Stern Leach is now making it, and, as far as I know,
Stuller is the provider for orders of the size most Orchid folks
would make.
Here is a link to the web site, which has some cool graphics:
http://www.argentiumsilver.com/intro.htm You might try contacting
them and asking for help locating a supplier near you.
In Australia, Tony Eccles makes some sterling that is not Argentium,
but sounds similar. I have not had the opportunity to try it,
myself, but have met Tony, who is a great guy, so if I lived down
under, I’d certainly check it out.
I hope this helps!
Cindy
I checked with Jeff Herman, the director of the Society of American
Silversmiths. Silver Repair, Restoration, Silver Conservation, Preservation, and Silver Polishing He offers this
Stern Leach is the primary producer/supplier in the U.S. They
distribute to retailers who can sell smaller quantities. Give them a
ring.
Stern Leach Company
49 Pearl St.
Attleboro, MA 02703
Phone: 508/222-7400
Fax: 508/699-4030
Happy New Year to all!
Cindy
Hello–
An e-mail was forwarded to me regarding the problems you’ve been
having in getting a response from Thessco on this alloy. Stern-Leach
is making this alloy and is the exclusive manufacturer of it in North
America. We can’t sell to you direct at this time because of the
geographical limitations, but I wanted to let you know about it.
Please go to www.argentiumsilver.com for more
regards,
Mike
Merolla
Please go to www.argentiumsilver.com for more
Hello Mike,
Thank you for the ArgentiumSilver.com is a nice looking
site but they are not responding to queries on availablility in
Europe. I’ve written them twice outlining my interest to purchase and
received no response whatsoever.
So, the quest continues. Where, if anywhere, can Argentium be
purchased in Europe? At this point no one is answering that
question.
Cheers,
Trevor F.
My name is Peter Johns and I am the inventor of Argentium Sterling
Silver. I am new to the Ganoksin web site and after filtering
through the site today I have been surprised by the number of
messages relating to Argentium Sterling Silver.
Recent questions posted on Orchid relate to the supply of Argentium.
Stern-Leach manufacture the alloy in the US and they supply to
larger manufactures. Stern-Leach can be contacted by Tel No: 508 222
7400. Stuller Inc. supply smaller quantities of Argentium (minimum
quantity 1-2 oz). Stuller Inc. can be contacted by a toll free Tel
No. 800 877 7777. For regarding supply of Argentium
Sterling Silver outside of the US and for other queries that you may
have, please feel free to contact me via e-mail:
@Peter_G_Johns
For general and a technical guide for using Argentium,
please visit www.argentiumsilver.com
Peter
Hi Peter,
I filled out an email request for at the Stern Leach
website yesterday and Jeff Ford contacted me by phone within hours
(and I live in Canada!). He was very helpful. He said that so far
their only customer is Stuller. So I will be contacting them for
sheet, wire etc.
Donna Hiebert
I have recently purchased A silver from Stueller… nice product…
Understand that it ‘Resist’ tarnishing… that’s why I used it!..
Question is…'for how long? what can I expect from a finished
product??
Jimc
Is the alloy invented by peter g johns available in Australia? if so
could we find out from whom, any thing to get rid of fire scale has
got to be a big step forward, so hopefully Mr johns could let us know
Russell W
McColough Sydney
I have recently purchased A silver from Stueller... nice product... Understand that it 'Resist' tarnishing.... that's why I used it!... Question is...'for how long? what can I expect from a finished product??
Hi Jim, I think you’ll be amazed to find that you may not see
tarnish for years—especially if you follow the advice that Peter
Johns gives: Be sure to keep your buffs (or “mops” if you live in
England) separate from buffs used on sterling or other metals that
tarnish, to avoid contamination----smearing the regular silver onto
the Argentium. Another tip that Peter Johns gave me is to use
Goddard’s Long Shine polishing cloth as a final wipe down. Something
in the cloth chemically bonds with the metal, and makes it even more
tarnish resistant. Peter showed me samples that had been rubbed with
the Goddard Long Shine polishing cloth, and then scrubbed with a
cotton rag, to see if the effect would rub off. Incredibly, when the
sample was exposed to tarnish-producing conditions, it did not
tarnish any more than the un-abraded Argentium that had the
Goddard’s on it. Both samples were more tarnish-free than the
un-treated Argentium. The un-treated Argentium was only slightly
tarnished. The regular sterling was nearly black. Personally, I
have not needed to re-clean anything made of Argentium yet.
Argentium sterling is one of those things that I was skeptical about
at first—it sounds too good to be true! Incredibly, it is true.
The only “down” sides that I can think of is that it has a lower
melting point, so one needs to be very careful with hard solder, and
it can “sag” a bit, if you are doing silver-soldered/brazed work with
flat sheet, and aren’t careful to pre-harden it, and set it up
carefully.
I could go on and on—I just love the stuff!
Cindy
Cynthia Eid
Is the alloy invented by peter g johns available in Australia?
Hello Russell, don’t know about Mr Johns alloy, but check out
apecs.com.au for their anti-firescale silver sheet, wire,and
castings. I’ve just started using them,and am impressed. They are in
Victoria. Also very friendly to deal with. Christine in SA.
http//:www.christinepyman.com.au
Is the alloy invented by Peter Johns available in Australia?
Hi, I have been told that we have been mistaken in thinking that one
needs an account with Stuller to order. Stuller says that any one,
any where in the world, may order metal from Stuller using their
credit card, and the order can be as small as $10. Supposedly, the
necessity for an account is if you are buying finished jewelry (for
stores). So, if you have trouble ordering with your credit card, I
suggest that you ask to speak to a supervisor.
However, if I lived in Australia, I would also contact Tony Eccles
about his Bright Silver, and avoid transcontinental shipping costs.
Cindy
Cynthia Eid
Hi Cynthia,
Argentium sterling is one of those things that I was skeptical about at first---it sounds too good to be true! Incredibly, it is true. The only "down" sides that I can think of is that it has a lower melting point, so one needs to be very careful with hard solder, and it can "sag" a bit,
I think there’s another down side, availability!
As far as I’ve been able to find, Stuller is the only source in the
US for Argentium & the selection of shapes & sizes is quite limited.
Dave
don't know about Mr Johns alloy, but check out apecs.com.au for their anti-firescale silver sheet, wire,and castings.
Thank you Christine I have an account with APEC but have never bought
any silver from them thanks for the tip,
have a good year
regards Russ Mac
I concur with Cynthia Eid on Argentium silver “—it sounds too good
to be true! Incredibly, it is true.” No firescale & little if any
tarnish! I’m SOOoooo glad it’s available from Stullers!! Now, I
would love to see chain manufacturers use it so the rhodium-plating
could disappear. At this point the only down side is when making head
pins. I’ve found that the little melted ball wants to fall off, so it
limits the size and wire gauge. I suspect any melting operation will
be an opportunity to experiment. Wonder if anyone has tried to
reticulate it??? Cynthia?
Thanks for sharing the bit about using Goddard’s cloth for a final
wipe-down; it was news to me.
Judy in Kansas, where it’s a spitty day with below freezing temps.
Caution is necessary when walking around!