| Author |
 Replies: 34 / Views: 3,012 |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
 Well......it kinda sounds like this idea is "feasible" .......sort of......... but maybe not too practical in reality.....  Sean1011.... Still be interested to see what ya decide to do...  |
|
Moderator
 United States
188440 Posts |
Quote:
My grandfather had my grandmother's first wedding band melted into an ingot for her that she always wore around her neck on a chain. For my wedding band, I had my parents' wedding bands melted.  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
"For my wedding band, I had my parents' wedding bands melted." I can appreciate the symbolism...very nice idea!  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
If you have the work done by a goldsmith you can have anything you want melted down and made into something else .
I think its prudent to remove any stones you may have in the old settings before taking the metal to be re worked .
I used to work with a gold smith when I was doing alot of panning and He would trade me finished jewelry for nuggets and dust .
or for work done on my own designs and setting stones for me .
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Very cool...I tried panning a few times up near Sutter's mill.
Never found anything, but I'd like to try again someday.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
Eaglefoot thinks he may have to steal some ideas here !!......  However, both of my parents have been married and divorced TWICE !!......but still thinkin' ........ |
|
Moderator
United States
188440 Posts |
Quote:
I can appreciate the symbolism...very nice idea! Thank you! It makes it very special. Did I mention that the engraving on my ring is my wedding date... in binary?  (I am such the nerd!) |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
Quote:
Very cool...I tried panning a few times up near Sutter's mill.
Never found anything, but I'd like to try again someday. I have done some panning in that area ,, just about anywhere that is not already claimed along the American river has the potential to produce gold . If you get the chance head on over to the Sacramento River My brother and I did some good over there also when He was stationed at Mather Air force base. Most of my panning was in oregon along the Rogue River well below the end of the road agness to Gold beach trail in the Rogue wilderness. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Quote:
Did I mention that the engraving on my ring is my wedding date... in binary? Cool...yeah, a little nerdy! Did you exchange marriage vows in hexadecimal? j/k Knowing me, if I ever marry I'll slip in some Sartre quote...it will be fun, lol. |
|
Moderator
United States
188440 Posts |
Quote:
Did you exchange marriage vows in hexadecimal? j/k I wanted to, but... |
|
Valued Member
United States
429 Posts |
I just remembered that my local shop will take junk silver and rounds and ship them off each year to make special 1 oz. silver coins that people can give as Holiday gifts. I saw one last year I was going to get for my wife and asked about it, they said that they send them off to a company that does all the work in house and keeps the price down. They also said that they have a certain number of premade designs or that you can create your own where price depended on the design. Maybe I will have to ask them again about it, the only downfall was that there was a minimum number and I can not remember what it was.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Thanks Metalman for the tip! It would be fun to find even a few Au flakes--if just for the experience. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1208 Posts |
Since some of the posts are getting somewhat technical,
what is the melting temp of lead? I have a small iron
pot with a wood handle, and an electric element, that
is used to melt and pour lead. Probably doesn't get hot
enough... Dunno?
Also, does anyone know about electrical connections that
are made of silver? I have a box of what appear to be
cable lugs (?) that are definitely silver. They were
purchased in a lot of general industrial construction
surplus. VERY CHEAPLY... which is always nice. Each of
these electrical cable ends weighs roughly 1/2 ounce or
better. They caught my eye because they began to tarnish
after sitting in my shop for a while. Anyway, what I want
to know is: How to determine how pure this silver is?
There are no markings, and no 'original' packaging, even
though they are 'new old stock'. Ideas?
Then, on the subject of making your own coin... I sorta
like the image that came to mind reading the original
post. I thought of medieval hammer and die strikes.
Kinda crude, but certainly unique.
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Quote:
what is the melting temp of lead? 327.5 °C, 621.5 °F Quote:
How to determine how pure this silver is? Assay or specific gravity, which would be expensive or difficult. First thing I'd do is file a notch into one and dump some nitric acid on it. If you can see copper or it bubbles up green, they're just plated. Otherwise they're prolly 80-99% pure. We've got pounds of silver contacts. One of our customers used to work for the state, and would spend his lunch hours chiseling these quarter size discs off relays in retired traffic signals (remember when you'd hear them go "clunk" when the lights changed?) |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
327.5 °C, 621.5 °F
True that that is the melting point of Lead but that's for pure Lead. Note that most people acquire Lead from miscellaneous places and the consistancy is varied massively. For example the Lead from bullets after firing may contain traces of Carbon, Sulfur and just about anything they have passed through. Lead from tire balancing lugs is just full of garbage of all sorts. Lead sinkers from fishing equipment is also full of just various materials. I've been into making so called Lead Soldiers for about 50 years and I melt all my Lead over a gas stove. The Lead I get from shooting ranges really smells when melting for the first time. But as to melting points of Lead, it all depends on what it is mixed with. Although the lead is usually the first material to melt in a cast iron pot, other materials soon join that and therefore still ends up with a mixture. Some soldiers are shinny and some are dull due to this. And as to your Silver contacts. No one makes pure Silver contacts. I've worked with many electrical supply companies and none use PURE SILVER contacts. Those are just plated to increase current flow and eleminate rusting. Note that even tarnished Silver carries a current. Very large electrical equipment seldom uses Silver though since during an arcing, the Silver would simply melt. I've tried Silver/Lead solder for soldier moulds and it really takes a lot of heat compared to Lead mixed with Tin or Zinc. Anyone curious to make Lead Soldiers there is a web site that still sells the moulds called Prince August. |
| |
Replies: 34 / Views: 3,012 |
First Page
Posted 08/28/2008 1:50 pm
