Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The burner to end all burners... and mokume twists




I haven't been to the workshop for about a month now. Those of you who have been reading international news know that Greece is under turmoil, and that is an understatement...
Over here it feels a bit like being caught in the downward spiral that drives the shit down the toilet.
Anyway, about a month ago I spotted a professional welders' supply store and had them make me a really powerful, proper burner. It runs off  a propane tank (at around 2 bar) and an air compressor (at around 7 bar), so it's a cheaper and safer alternative to a propane-oxygen torch. Really controllable too.


I, or rather we, got our first order for a pair of silver-copper mokume wedding rings, so here are a couple of pics from the twisting process.


Remember to anneal often. When in doubt anneal. Anneal till you get dead bored of it. This way you can make sure no harm comes to your mokume (and no, that is not a fissure in the right hand side of the picture above).


Lastly, remember to forge only after the silver mokume has dropped down to black heat, and you are set.

Until next time, or until this country implodes...

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2 comments:

  1. ΜακιςJune 29, 2011 at 1:43 PM

    Are the silver-copper rings durable to weather conditions such as humidity and/or househeld chemicals (chlorine,amonia[azax]) ??
    And what is their price tag ??

    PS: Havn't seen you in the iaido classes lately.
    Maybe bad timing.I hope everything is ok.
    Cheers
    Thomas

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  2. athanazJuly 7, 2011 at 12:05 PM

    Hello Thomas, I haven't been to iaido due to a knee injury a few months ago. We'll see if I continue next year.

    As for the mokume, the price tag for a ring is around 100 Euros. Now, for the important question; any copper or copper based (shibuichi, shakudo) mokume will oxidize, as copper is very reactive to household chemicals, and also to each person's sweat. Depending on the pH of each person's skin, copper might just develop a brown patina, or oxidize wildly and form green crystals, or anything in between. One should experiment with a piece of copper next to one's skin for a day or two. Otherwise, the ring can be fitted with an inner silver lining, so no copper touches the skin.

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