Nickle (coin) silver vs sterling silver

[EnglishIvy]

'> I am new to silversmithing and want to start out small (cheap) and practise a lot before jumping in with both feet (and my checkbook).  If I buy the same gauge of sterling and nickle silver, would there be any big difference in the way I would cut, solder or just work with them?

Kathy

[Polly]

Solid nickel silver is very hard, but the nickel silver wire that we stock is a very soft alloy.  So it would cut and and in many ways handle similarly to sterling silver.  The melting and soldering temperatures, however, are completely different.  
There you get into the difference between "soft" solder (low melting temperatures, can be done with a soldering iron) and "hard" solder (with a torch).

Brief summary of the difference between soft and hard solder.  I think there is also some other similar info in this forum.

[EnglishIvy]

I am more used to the hard soldering of silver so using nickle silver might be a bit more of a cutting learning curve.  Thanks for the info.

[Metalman]

Using the nickel silver to 'practice ' up for silver is a great way to go. I double checked on the melting point for nickel silver, and at 1714°F you should not have trouble using your silver solder materials with the metal.
The one proviso there is that because there is a fair amount of zinc in this alloy, so you don't want it at high temperatures for long periods because the zinc can/ may burn out.  Basically - this alloy is a variety of the brass/bronze family- should handle and move like a bronze.

By the way - the term 'coin silver' refers to a silver alloy that is  90% silver and 10% copper. the name may come from the melting down of silver coins, which are generally of the 90% standard. This does allow for some variation in the silver content, depending on what coins were used to create the silver stock.


German silver (not to be confused with nickel silver, which is also referred to by this same term) has several silver percentages used in Germany. The most common % used for flatware and decorative silver objects is 80% silver). Hence, when the term German silver is used, it is usually referred to as the 800 standard.

Since we are at it,  Sterling Silver is 92.5% silver, the balance being copper.  The new Argentium alloy of sterling swaps out 1 to 2% of the copper with germanium which has the effect of limiting the tarnishing and firescaling of the metal. Argentium is still a sterling silver because the standard is related to the amount of silver [still 92.5%]

Around the world, these alloys are indicated by stamping:

999 = fine silver
925 = sterling silver
900 = coin silver
800 = German Silver

[fraulein]

This is great information, Metalman. I always thought Nicklel Silver and German Silver was the same. I have some nickel silver sheet and this helps me try to figure out how it behaves. I have not tried to solder it, just cold connections, so far.
Btw, this is my first post on this forum. I am still trying to find my way around and could not find a place to introduce myself.  '>
Thanks,

[Metalman]

Welcome to the forum.
These 2 metals do get called by the same name but if we use the German silver for the silver alloy and nickel silver for the nickel based, silver colored alloy - eventually everyone will unsnarl the confusions.

Be careful of your Nickel Silver stock - it is difficult to tell which is which between sterling and nickel silver visually - so you don't want to get them mixed in the studio

[fraulein]

(Metalman @ Mar. 28 2007,12:18)

QUOTE

Be careful of your Nickel Silver stock - it is difficult to tell which is which between sterling and nickel silver visually - so you don't want to get them mixed in the studio

I have  my nickel silver in a whole separate area from the Sterling for that very reason.  

Thanks for the reminder,

[Russ Nobbs]

A lot of people DO use "German Silver" to mean the white brass alloy Nickel silver.  "German Silver" is a very common name  for nickel silver in the US.