Oil Paste: Use and Discussion

[lwilson]

I have noticed that oil base is recomended for joining two fired pieces or a fine silver piece to a fired piece but I have never seen why.
Why not just use paste made from say 650 scrap?

When you are doing multiple firings like you discussed in one of the posts are you adding unfired to fired? Are you using paste or oil base to join the new work?
Thanks.  Linda

[Metalman]

I have noticed that oil base is recomended for joining two fired pieces or a fine silver piece to a fired piece but I have never seen why.
Why not just use paste made from say 650 scrap?
WHEN YOU HAVE WORKED ON YOUR PIECES ALREADY, PERHAPS BURNISHED OR TUMBELED THEM. THEY SEEM TO JOIN BETTER IF YOU USE THE OIL PASTE. IT SEEMS TO HAVE BETTER 'GRAB'.  THIS ALSO APPLIES WHEN YOU WANT TO JOIN A SILVER FINDING ONTO ART CLAY.  WHEN I AM DOING MULTIPLE FIRINGS, I DON'T BURNISH, WIRE BRUSH OR SAND MY PIECES UNTIL I AM DONE ADDING CLAY - I MIGHT DO A LITTLE FILING IF NECCESSARY.  IN THESE SITUATIONS I AM ADDING PASTE TO FIRED PIECES. MANY TIMES, I WILL ONLY USE FRESH PASTE - THE RECYCLED DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK AS WELL FOR THIS APPLICATION ALTHOUGH IT WORKS GREAT FOR OTHER USES.  THE 650 OVERLAY PASTE IS GREAT FOR THESE APPLICATIONS - IT HAS BETTER 'GRAB' THEN REGULAR PASTE.
When you are doing multiple firings like you discussed in one of the posts are you adding unfired to fired? Are you using paste or oil base to join the new work?
MOST OF THE TIME I ONLE USE OIL PASTE FOR METAL TO METAL REPAIRS - BUT I ALWAYS HAVE SOME IN MY STUDIO, JUST IN CASE!

[Metalman]

From jOdiO
Can I use the ACS 650 to mend a sterling item (a ring for example)? I've heard that you can, but I'm not sure what I'd have to do to make sure that I don't ruin my ring. Ideas?
Silverghost replies
Jodi,
How do you want your ring to be mended? Filling a crack or total reform of your ring shape? or adding accent on your ring? You can add ACS 650 to your sterling silver ring to do whatever, but you need to know that ACS will be pure silver after firing and its color will differ from your ring color since your ring is sterling. A sterling silver is usually SV950 (95% pure silver) or SV925 (92.5% pure silver) and higher the quality of silver contents get close to a pure silver color. Did I answer your question?
Metalman replies
I had a look at this ring since it is here in the office.  It is of Mexican origin with a number of soldered pieces.  I would be loath to do torch work on this unless you were a real Torch Master.  If you used the Art Clay 650, and only fired to 1200F, you might be okay - the real concern then is whether the solder in the piece is high enough temperature to stand a 1200F degree firing in a kiln.
Another way to go would be to use Art Clay materials to make a piece with fine silver posts and then cold attach it using a riveting method.
Any one have thoughts?
Silverghost replies
You can mend it in 2 ways.
Use oil paste: clean your pieces with a baking soda and water. Apply enough amount of oil paste to cover the attaching area. Attach them together and dry completely. Fire the piece at 1560F and hold for 10 min. After the firing your piece will have a black film (layer) due to firing the copper within the sterling silver. You can remove the black film by using tumbler and silver polish. Just remember that removing the black film will be a very sweating hard work.
With epoxy adhesive: Yep! Simplest way. Clean your pieces with baking soda and water, then simply attach them together.

this reply edited from an old thread