Quenching

by Judy Larson

To quench and when or not to quench - jewelers and metalsmiths around the world all have very strong and varied opinions on the subject. There is a science to annealing/heating and quenching metal, so research in relation to the metal you are using is a must. Grain structure in the metal can change in the way that it is cooled. Some metals should be quenched instead of air cooled or they will become hard and brittle. Some metals can be quenched immediately and some should not.

Instructions

Quenching, or quick cooling, copper, brass, and silver is done by immersing a piece in water after heating it so it can be dried and then worked with again quickly. Because metals cool at different rates, how do you know when they are ready to quench? Generally, when the red glow is gone from a piece of metal, around 10 seconds or so, it is ready to be quenched.

NEVER quench in a pickling solution. Even though you may be using the least caustic pickling solution, it can still cause problems if the droplets from the solution get into the air, into your lungs, on you, your clothing, or work surface and tools. Stick with water for quenching.

Argentium is my precious metal of choice and I use it in a lot of my mixed metal pieces as well. These are some things I have found through research and a lot of trial and error.

Argentium, a silver alloy, needs to be treated differently than sterling silver. It should not be moved and quenched immediately after heating and/or soldering as it can crack apart and/or warp beyond saving. Many Argentium pieces could be ruined learning when to quench so I found it is easier (and cheaper, too, because there are no mistakes made in haste to quench) to let the piece cool naturally for 30 seconds or so before quenching. What is a few seconds before quenching or moving the piece to a bench block to cool compared to losing all your hard work?

Judy Larson's Quenching - , General Education, , quenching

I make a lot of multi-metal projects. When combining different metals, do not quench them immediately after soldering the pieces together. The metals cool at different rates and the piece may distort, or worse, the soldered pieces may separate. It is better to let the piece air cool for a bit before quenching. I usually just move the soldered piece to a steel bench block after 30 seconds or so, which pulls excess heat from it with no damage. For me, the extra time it takes to air cool a piece is worth my piece of mind.

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Jumbo Max Flame Butane Torch

SOL-310.00

SOL-310.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
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Price: $49.95
Gold Club Price: $37.46

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Pickle Pot, 16 Ounces

CLN-584.00

CLN-584.00
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Price: $31.95
Gold Club Price: $23.96

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Sparex Number 2 Pickling Compound

SOL-802.10

SOL-802.10
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Price: $6.95
Gold Club Price: $5.21

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Straight Copper Tongs

TWZ-958.00

TWZ-958.00
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Gold Club Price: $7.93

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Category: General Education
Technique(s): General Education

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Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!

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