Post by artworkplayer on May 12, 2007 21:42:45 GMT -5
Martha and I are trying to figure this stuff out.
Funny thing, it seems like we can almost always spot argentium right away, so it's like there's a lot more of a difference than there really is between it and regular sterling, but we can't figure out why, exactly. True it definitely seems whiter--and this will sound weird, but it sort of looks more "opaque" (now what d'ya suppose we mean by that, anyway? Got me, but whatever we do mean, we seem to agree on it!). Anybody else feel anything like that?
Anyway a couple of things we've been wondering all evening:
1. Has anybody found any argentium DS that feels like DS, and not like HH?
2. About keeping everything separate for the argentium (tumble polishing/hardening media and bowls and such), echoing a question Kim raised last week, anybody know what happens if you don't?
I'd guess the separateness thing would have something to do with possibly diluting or disrupting the tarnish-resistance chemistry somehow, but you wonder how big a deal it really is (IOW will that make it tarnish at, say, 30% of the rate of regular sterling rather than 10%, or will it make it turn green and purple as soon as somebody breathes on it?).
So far we've bought argentium only from Monsterslayer, but Martha's going to call Rio on Monday and talk to them about the hardness and workability (it's supposed to be more ductile, too--sure doesn't feel like it). Anybody ordered soft argentium wire from Rio (or Rings and Things or Fire Mountain...), or from more than one place? How was it, about the same from one place as another, or...?
Any other argentium thoughts or experiences or rants? Love to hear.
Funny thing, it seems like we can almost always spot argentium right away, so it's like there's a lot more of a difference than there really is between it and regular sterling, but we can't figure out why, exactly. True it definitely seems whiter--and this will sound weird, but it sort of looks more "opaque" (now what d'ya suppose we mean by that, anyway? Got me, but whatever we do mean, we seem to agree on it!). Anybody else feel anything like that?
Anyway a couple of things we've been wondering all evening:
1. Has anybody found any argentium DS that feels like DS, and not like HH?
2. About keeping everything separate for the argentium (tumble polishing/hardening media and bowls and such), echoing a question Kim raised last week, anybody know what happens if you don't?
I'd guess the separateness thing would have something to do with possibly diluting or disrupting the tarnish-resistance chemistry somehow, but you wonder how big a deal it really is (IOW will that make it tarnish at, say, 30% of the rate of regular sterling rather than 10%, or will it make it turn green and purple as soon as somebody breathes on it?).
So far we've bought argentium only from Monsterslayer, but Martha's going to call Rio on Monday and talk to them about the hardness and workability (it's supposed to be more ductile, too--sure doesn't feel like it). Anybody ordered soft argentium wire from Rio (or Rings and Things or Fire Mountain...), or from more than one place? How was it, about the same from one place as another, or...?
Any other argentium thoughts or experiences or rants? Love to hear.
