Beginning Silver Fusing: Free Video on Making Headpins

re: Beginning Silver Fusing: Free Video on Making Headpins

jojo921 — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:51:06 GMT

How long does it take the "ball" to harden? Does it happen rapidly when removed from the flame. Curious if laying down the newly created head pin woudl cause it to flatten.

re: Beginning Silver Fusing: Free Video on Making Headpins

Yvonne — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:45:18 GMT

This was very slick. It makes me want to start using a torch again. However, I want to stay away from chemicals such as pickle that is used to remove firescale. Is there firescale when she uses this wire? Thanks. Mina in BC.

re: Beginning Silver Fusing: Free Video on Making Headpins

Ann M — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:43:53 GMT

Thank you so much! I have a torch, but have only used it in class because I didn't feel completely comfortable with it. This gives me the confidence to start using it at home to fuse silver wire. Ann

re: Beginning Silver Fusing: Free Video on Making Headpins

Lampwork — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:17:20 GMT

Hiya Cassie. People keep telling me how easy working with a torch is but until seeing the video making my own headpins seemed unlikely. You've made me realize I can do it too. And for that, I thank you. Helen in Toronto

re: Beginning Silver Fusing: Free Video on Making Headpins

Susylee — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:31:23 GMT

Hi Cassie,

Susy from South Australia(Australia)

Thanks for another clear, simple detailed video.

Im using the beads you made me and now will start making my own head pins.

All the way from Down under I thank you. You are the best

Cheers Susy

re: Beginning Silver Fusing: Free Video on Making Headpins

Cassie — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:01:08 GMT

Hi Karen,

Hmmm.. I've never known fine silver to have tempers like the sterling silver does. It is all basically all a bit softer than dead soft. That is just because it is .999 pure.

You can work harden it though by using a hammer like a rawhide hammer if you don't want any marks or a chasing hammer to make the round silver wire flat.

Yes, this same method with using a butane torch can be used to make silver rings too. I have a step by step article showing exactly this process and how to texture the rings with steel stamps and a chasing hammer in the Summer 2008 Preview Issue of Step By Step Wire. If you can't find this edition on the store shelves, I'm sure you can buy a back issue from the publisher on the website.

If you have other questions, post it here and I'll pop in and answer or feel free to email me at cassie@glassbeadle.com

Thanks!

Cassie

re: Beginning Silver Fusing: Free Video on Making Headpins

ladysmilealot — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:56:08 GMT

You can use fine silver to make silver rings. You will need to either work harden or put it in a polishing machine to harden the silver.

I learned fusing using fine silver so the idea of having to pickle something intimidated me. I was given the tip of using a simple pool chemical (pH decreaser) to pickle with and I now use sterling with no problems. I still use fine silver if I am only fusing the silver to itself.

I also recommend the book by Liz Jones. I own this book and have also had the pleasure of taking classes from Liz. If you want to explore more fusing, Liz's book takes you through it step by step. Soon you will be fusing with total confidence!

Paula

re: Beginning Silver Fusing: Free Video on Making Headpins

KarenK — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 21:08:36 GMT

Hi Cassie,

The video was great and made using the torch so less intimidating. I do have a question about fine silver. Does it come in different tempers? I was going to order some but it has half hard and soft as options and I was confused about that. I can't seem to find any info on fine silver that refers to a specific temper.

Thanks for holding our hands and giving us such great guidance.

Karen

re: Beginning Silver Fusing: Free Video on Making Headpins

Tnowotny — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:07:33 GMT

I too am really interested in doing things with a torch but have be afraid of all that seem to go into, pickling etc - using the fine silver seem so much easier. Can it also be using the make fused silver rings?

I'd love to see more videos from Cassie on the subject.

Teresa

re: Beginning Silver Fusing: Free Video on Making Headpins

Cassie — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 03:06:57 GMT

Hi Lynda,

You can find fine silver in lots of places. Just do a Google search for "fine silver" and you will find all sorts of on-line stores that sell it.

Fine silver is just a more pure form of silver. Sterling silver is .925 pure and fine silver is .999. This makes it much softer to work with than even dead soft silver but is perfect for doing silver fusing and the silver head pins.

You can make the head pins with sterling silver but it will turn black with fire scale and then it will have to be put in a pickle solution to remove the firescale.That is why fine silver is such a great option because it won't turn black in the flame.

Hope that info helps. And thanks Cindy for the scoop on fiv format. I'm going to check on that for sure!

Cassie

re: Beginning Silver Fusing: Free Video on Making Headpins

LyndaD — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 02:27:31 GMT

where do I buy fine silver I have no idea what fine silver is

thanks lynda

re: Beginning Silver Fusing: Free Video on Making Headpins

Cindy Lietz, Polymer Clay Tutor — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:35:56 GMT

Hi Cassie. I teach how to make polymer clay beads in video online. Although my husband does the filming and I am not too up on the technical stuff, I do believe he converts the files to flv format which is flash video. The videos turn out really great and don't have that fuzziness that happened in yours. Hope that helps. ~Cindy Lietz, Polymer Clay Tutor

re: Beginning Silver Fusing: Free Video on Making Headpins

Cassie — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:07:52 GMT

Hi guys! Cassie here...just wanted to say thank you for all the kind comments. I'm glad to see the video is useful. I hope it entices you to feel more comfortable using a butane torch.

I want to apologize for the fuzzy video quality. We tried so hard to make it better. Since the video is around 7 min. long, YouTube did some major compressing of the file which resulted in a poor picture quality. When the camera zooms in like it did for the actual making of the head pins, the picture is a bit more crisp.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to work YouTube and make video quality improved, I'm all ears!!

Cassie

re: Beginning Silver Fusing: Free Video on Making Headpins

Jsmaz — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 05:57:51 GMT

Good grief, who knew making headpins was so easy?? Now, if my husband will only let me buy a torch...

re: Beginning Silver Fusing: Free Video on Making Headpins

S.L.B — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 05:36:39 GMT

Thank you! This was interesting and made me feel like I could make my own head pins. The step by step instructions, especially about the butane torch!