On Apr 19, 10
Still, I'm curious. Can you explain how Ronda does it?

thanks.

Peter Rowe

Hi, Peter --

I've take both of Rhonda's classes in granulation, and she teaches
slightly different techniques for fine silver and for gold. For
silver, no copper or other metallic salts are involved. I believe
it's just finely controlled fusion. She uses a fine silver base and
fine silver granules. The "glue" is a mixture of green flux, hide
glue, and water. Granules are placed wet with a fine brush, the piece
then dried on top of the beehive kiln until the glue carbonizes, then
it is fused in the kiln with a delicate application of direct torch
heat from above. It's normal for students to partially or completely
melt the first couple of pieces -- I think it's her way of teaching
fine control of the torch heat. Once you can consistently fuse the
silver pieces, gold becomes easy.

For 22 kt gold granulation, she DOES copper-plate the granules, and
also brings up a 24 kt surface on the substrate by repeated heating
and pickling until no oxides form. Granules are placed and fired as
described above, and the copper plating disappears during firing.

Regards,

Bob Edwards