Scrap Melt

by Judy Larson
At least once a year during the early fall, I get together with some friends to melt down my scrap silver. They each end up taking home some unique water, salt, and broom cast pieces to work with during the winter. This year, even though we worked for several hours, I still had quite a bit of scrap left. Yes, I could have kept adding to it for another year, but I thought it might be easier to store as well as be more usable if I melted it down.
Instructions
Before the weather turned too cold for me to work comfortably in the garage, I knew I needed to get busy. I decided to fill a large can half full with cold water. When the metal was molten enough to pour, the water in the can was swirled (like a water tornado) with a paint stick and the silver was poured, not dumped, into the water.

At this point in the past, I could never contain myself and had to pick through the treasures. I kept telling myself I was just making the metal easier to store. I was not going to look. I did not even break down and take photos until I was almost done.

Several ice cubes were added to the can. The crucible was loaded again with silver and melted. The water was again swirled and the molten metal poured.
Judy Larson's Scrap Melt - , General Education, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, scrap melt
This process was kept up until all my scrap was water cast. When I finally looked in the can, I could hardly contain myself. I am pretty sure that keeping the water cold and swirling it before the pour were the reasons I now had so many smaller cups, which I always wanted but never ended up with more than a few. Note: Since I work mostly with Argentium silver, the metal pieces are usually bright white.
Judy Larson's Scrap Melt - , General Education, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, scrap melt
Every time I pick up a handful of pieces from this pour my mind is swimming with possibilities for all these little organic looking pieces. In each handful, I found more pieces to use alone or marry together-first and second photos. I couldn't help myself the morning after the melt. After pulling out two old straw cast pieces, it only took a few hours to put together eleven small pendants. I love recycling silver this way and am going to have so much fun this winter creating with all the rest of the bits and pieces!
Judy Larson's Scrap Melt - , General Education, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, scrap melt
Judy Larson's Scrap Melt - , General Education, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, scrap melt
Judy Larson's Scrap Melt - , General Education, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, scrap melt

Materials

No materials listed

Tools

Handy Flame II Propane Torch
SOL-330.00
  • SOL-330.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $74.95
  • Gold Club Price: $56.21
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Whip, Wire Handled Instrument for Pouring, Large with 2 Crucibles
CAS-250.20
  • CAS-250.20
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $24.95
  • Gold Club Price: $18.71
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  • Category: General Education
  • Technique(s): Butane Torch Techniques