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Post by roundwheel8 on Apr 4, 2024 2:22:09 GMT -6
Hi,
I have been struggling with my sheet metal cracking while rolling for a long time now, and I can’t seem to find a solution that works for me. I have tried different annealing temperatures, rolling while reducing the pressure only slightly, quenching in water and alcohol.
Once I melt it, I roll it down without any issues until I anneal it for the first time. The cracks form in the sheet after this (when I pass it through the roller). This seems to happen almost every time with 18 karat gold, with not much luck. Sometimes randomly it works without any issues but I don’t know what I am doing differently. And quite often if I get through the first anneal and subsequent rolling without it cracking, it doesn’t seem to crack later on. The cracks form perpendicular to the direction of rolling in between the sheet, and they don’t really go deep, but they always remain all the way through. Would love any advice on this matter.
Thank you
Aman
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Post by caeterle on Apr 4, 2024 3:26:13 GMT -6
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Post by brad on Apr 4, 2024 7:23:05 GMT -6
May I ask for some clarification.
"I have been struggling with my sheet metal cracking while rolling", Are you referring to running a piece of sheet metal through a rolling mill?
"Once I melt it", Are you taking gold scraps or ingot etc and melting it and pouring your own sheets?
I only work with silver and copper presently. I have had a heavy sterling silver piece crack while forming a cuff. I assumed it was due to difficulty in adequately annealing the thick sterling. Hmmm, perhaps this silver alloy was not blended well???
So, I am wondering, if not getting a good anneal, is the 18k gold alloy is not melting and mixing well?
As I do a lot of metal smithing, please keep us posted on your progress. Brad
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Post by brad on Apr 4, 2024 7:23:30 GMT -6
BTW, welcome! brad
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Post by roundwheel8 on Apr 4, 2024 21:03:49 GMT -6
May I ask for some clarification. "I have been struggling with my sheet metal cracking while rolling", Are you referring to running a piece of sheet metal through a rolling mill? "Once I melt it", Are you taking gold scraps or ingot etc and melting it and pouring your own sheets? I only work with silver and copper presently. I have had a heavy sterling silver piece crack while forming a cuff. I assumed it was due to difficulty in adequately annealing the thick sterling. Hmmm, perhaps this silver alloy was not blended well??? So, I am wondering, if not getting a good anneal, is the 18k gold alloy is not melting and mixing well? As I do a lot of metal smithing, please keep us posted on your progress. Brad Are you referring to running a piece of sheet metal through a rolling mill? Yes Are you taking gold scraps or ingot etc and melting it and pouring your own sheets? I am using around half pure gold and alloying it, and half scrap gold. is the 18k gold alloy is not melting and mixing well? Thing is ive tried different alloy mixes and even pure copper and pure silver to mix with the gold with similar results. I just got a couple tips from an experienced goldsmith: "Very simple, from what I read in your message 1) cool down rapidly your gold when you melt it. Be ready to get it out quickly from the mould and quench it immediately in water 2) work it down to more than 50% before the first annealing (50 to 75% of thickness reduction) 3) don’t anneal too hot (a uniform dark red is sufficient) and quench immediately after annealing. This should give you a uniform metal, maybe a few cracks on the edges but those have a different cause and can be trimmed off. This procedure is important at the beginning, later you don’t have to worry too much." Hope it helps me and you  |
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Post by brad on Apr 5, 2024 8:08:08 GMT -6
Roundwheel8, Thank you, for sharing the information from the goldsmith. Keep us posted on results...with pics, please. Brad
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Post by Irith-Rita on Apr 7, 2024 15:08:51 GMT -6
Welcome roundwheel8
Thank you for the advice from the experienced goldsmith. I took note and copied.
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