Butane torch question

[Luann Udell]

Please don't run screaming from the room--I really do feel I'm closing in on this! '>

Okay, if all I want to do for the time being is create melted "balls" on the ends of sterling silver wire (to use in earwires, connecting pieces, etc.) and to make my own rough-looking soldered jump rings, is a butane torch the way to go?

(Rough-looking is good.  My jewelry is not "polished and precise" looking, but much more mixed-media/rough and tumble in appearance.  I LIKE pitted and patina-ed!  As long as the finished product is sturdy and durable.)

Are butane best ordered from a kitchen supply catalog?  Does R&T sell them?

Where do I buy butane?

Or is it still better to invest in those little tank torches we were talking about a few months ago but I can't find the discussion anymore?

And for which would be better--exactly what to I ask for at the hardware store again??  (I promise to print out the official answer this time and staple it to my forehead....)

Luann
(Do I hear people weeping gently in the background?)

[Luann Udell]

P.S. You DO carry the little butane torches!
Luann

[Todd]

I think you can buy Butane anywhere, your local Walmart, K-mart or any hardware store.

And yes, we do carry Butane Torches!

[Metalman]

Hey Luann,
For what you describe, the butane should work fine.  We worked on getting a good torch at a reasonable price so I do vote for ours [R&T# 69-180; $25.00 - pgA23 in the Spring Supplement/05]
Butane is available in smoke shops around the country, Todd has it right on his list as well.
I like the butanes - small, easy to use, take 'em to the demo, etc.  The propanes are bulkier; and the fuel is not as clean.
Have you searched for torch discussions on the forums?, especially the ACS forum - there is info there.

[George]

(Todd @ Sep. 22 2005,13:36)

QUOTE

I think you can buy Butane anywhere, your local Walmart, K-mart or any hardware store.

And yes, we do carry Butane Torches!

Todd:  Can the butane torch melt siver to be poured into a cast.  If not do you have a recommendation of a torch that does that.  Thanks

[Metalman]

George, please see the answer on your other thread regarding torches.
The short answer is probably an acetylene/air torch
and some type of larger torch using pressurized oxygen on the high er end

[Luann Udell]

I just realized I never responded to this thread on my little butane torch.

I haven't used it for any soldering yet--mostly just haven't had the space to set up a soldering station (son has taken over the little tool room for doing odd things to his bicycle...)

But I HAVE been using it to create my own little "ball" headpins with sterling silver wire.  It works like a charm!   '>

I'd been stuck on making larger pendants, because none of my headpins were long enough or heavy enough.  But now I cut lengths of SS wire, melt one end into a little ball with the torch, and within seconds, I have an extra long ball-end headpin to whip up a pendant.  

I even like the look of the darkened silver--fits in well with my "neolithic" jewelry look!

Thanks for alerting me to this wonderful little tool!

P.S.  If I want to remove the dark patina from the silver, is this what I'd use my pickle pot for?  I actually bought a very tiny stock pot from a local CVS store.  It's for making chocolate fondue, but I thought it would work great as a very tiny pickle pot.

[Metalman]

as they say - YES and no
That dark look on sterling is a combination of 2 copper oxides - One is removed in your pickle and one is not. THe one that is not is called Firescale - you could search up further details and chemistry on firescale.
Argentium® sterling does not oxidize as readily so you will get significantly less firescale if you use this new metal alloy.  If you use fine silver wire, you will get little of no darkening. But - -  remember that the finesilver is a much softer metal then the sterling series alloys.
Hey Luann - quick tech answer here

[Russ Nobbs]

Folks over in the Bead and Button forums speak highly of making ball end head pins with Argentium® sterling. They say it balls up more uniformly and, of course, no fire scale or blackening.

B&B post about Argentium head pins