Fine Metals: First Project

For our first project in Fine Metals (Jewelry), we created a series of personalized, small copper, silver and brass tiles.

We began by choosing from either copper, silver or brass, depending on the method of adding textures to each.

For example, when using silver it is easy to make a mistake, an expensive mistake. Therefore, we were advised to use copper when attempting to create a more intricate pattern, along with the fact that copper is more resilient and is almost impossible to melt which became useful information once we found that holding fire directly against our tiles within such a close proximity was a part of the routine.

Once the tiles had been held in cold water and returned to a safe temperature, we then selected our own texture (whether it be a leaf or heart patterned piece of material) and laid it upon our tile, and ran it through the rolling machine so that the texture successfully imprinted onto our tiles, clearly and successfully. 

Another method of impringting our own unique patterns/designs into the metals was by covering one side of the piece of metal with duct tape (to protect the plain side from corroding in the acid), then to paint the side of the tile not covered by duct tape with black paint specifically designed to create a layer between the metal and the acid it was about to be placed in. 

By using a scribe, we were able to personalize our tiles by inscribing them with patterns of our choice by using the scribe to scratch off the paint in certain areas, to form attractive looking, interesting patterns/details that made each one unique. 

-Bronte