It also hits home how laborious the process is. It's not as quick as the 3 minute textured silver bracelet video I featured some time ago but the result is just as lovely.
The process takes longer because the metal has to be melted down and reformed into a long strip of metal. The strip of metal is eventually twisted, shaped, filed, and soldered.
Although I have no means of melting down any scrap silver and copper I have, I do collect all the bits I do not use for future recycling. With the rising cost of both metals, these are worth something in the future if traded in to a jewelry supplier/recycler who will in turn sell it to a smelter.
Before You Go
- Sharply Rising Cost of Silver and What to Do About It
- Copper is Not Just for Jewelry
- The Incredible Gold Ornaments of the Staffordshire Hoard
- Extreme Beauty Treatments - 24K Gold Facials and Facelifts
- Gold pan jewelry
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips
That was fascinating. I wish there had been a narration explaining each step and why he did what he did. But the process was clear and very labor intensive! I love that bangle, too! I don't really have much in the way of scrap metal since I mostly do seed bead things.
ReplyDeleteEvery bit that you don't collect is money down the drain, or rather, money taken from your jewelry business.
ReplyDelete(Via poll comments)
So far, it looks like most of you are saving every last scrap!
ReplyDeleteNot only do I keep all my scrap, I sort the sterling silver into two containers: the "too tiny to use" one, and the "long enough to maybe be useful some day" one. Makes finding the useful bits much easier.
ReplyDeleteNow that is what I call organized! I'm afraid I just toss everything into a jar!
ReplyDeleteSome of the poll commentators were wondering which supplier accepted scraps. One suggestion is Rio Grande.
ReplyDeleteMelting down precious metals is way out of my league but I do save it, even the copper bits and pieces. Haven't turned any of it in yet but have noticed that there's been a proliferation of places around that advertize "We will buy your scrap silver and gold". I've been meaning to check them out and see if they offer a fair price or not. Well maybe next year ... which is only 8 days away. Heavens ! Where has this year gone ?
ReplyDelete