Using Silver Leaf

[Ilona]

Hi,

I have been trying to use silver leaf and I would like to keep it silver coloured. Is there a way to apply it?

I am using a hot head, and even if I try to turn the gas down it still turns brown.

Any tips would be grateful.

[Billie]

Are you quite high up in the flame? Too low and you'll just burn it... and don't hold it in the flame too long.  I found with my HH silver foil was better... although it's pricier...

[BeadyBugs]

Hi Lopo,

Are you encasing it, or leaving it in the surface?  If you are encasing it in certain colours - red, yellows and quite a few others, it goes almost bronze/dark brown colour, I don't know if this is what you mean?  Clear and blue cover it well without it discolouring, have a play and see what happens. Vetrofond clear can make it go greeny yellow or gold though sometimes.

As Billie says - if it's a heat issue, try foil instead, it's more resilient.

good luck!

HP x

[Ilona]

Hi,
I have just been applying it then adding frit, then leaving it on the surface. I think I have been getting it too hot. I think I am just too impatient and trying to get it to heat up to fast.

I also think I am running low on gas, so the pressure isn't as good, so I am having to work lower in the flame.

Where do you get the silver foil from?

[One Key Beads]

Hello Luppo,

Try Martin Tuffnell for silver foil and other supplies.

Jeanette

[BeadyBugs]

Hi Lopo,

Depending what glass you are using as a base, you can melt the silver leaf or foil fully into the bead and still bring it out later.

On these beads I posted in Beadysam's frit thread, I made a base bead in plain old white moretti, rolled it in silver leaf/foil, rubbed the silver flat with my marver, then returned the bead to the flame til the silver had melted in (looked like it had burnt off).  Then whilst the bead was still hot, I rolled it in frit and melted that in too.  None of these stages were handled particularly delicately, it's the next stage that brings the silver back out.  

Make sure your bead is the final shape you want it to be after melting in the frit, then higher (further from the torch)  in a neutral flame (your normal melting flame) waft the bead in an out, and you will see the silver come back to the surface, and start to appear around the edges of the frit.  This is how I did the beads below, it also works particularly well over black, cobalt blue and pale ivory.  Certain colours react strongly with silver, and will make it go black or brown, have a play with white to start with, and if you get that to work, move on to other colours.

Have fun though - and don't forget to show us some piccies.  Good luck.

HP x

[Trudi]

Wow - just saw this thread - and this looks like a great tip - think I'll be giving this a go!

Thanks Helen!

[turnedlight]

Wow! they look great- I will be trying it too. Did you have to reduce the raku? It's still a bit of a mystery to me!

[♥♥Tan♥♥]

Raku needs to get white soupy hot I usually

Make my bead and shape it

Heat it enough to pick up the frit and roll it

Melt the frit in and shape the bead

Melt the whole lot to white soupy hot

Then quickly shape on a cool as possible surface.



OR.....

Make and shape a bead

Roll in frit and melt the frit in

Just blow on it

That usually brings the colours out too



If you get a very dark brown patch in the middle of the frit that is the areas that are going to show colour,,,,keep heating and cooling

[*rowanberry*]

heat the snot out of it! thats what I do :-)

if you reduce raku it goes all silvery.

Raku likes being encased as well, it makes lovely bubble dots and raised flowers.

[Ilona]

Thanks for the brilliant replys, I will be going and playing later.

My gas was empty, so I hope that I get some better results today.

I have also ordered my oxycon and minor burner from Q so roll on next week!!!!! D

[glassworks]

busy running the oxycon in right now... purring like a cheshire cat kitten...

[Trudi]

Helen - just wondered - I know that if you blow on raku - it brings out the metals & colours - would the same be true of the silver - or am I takling rubbish!

[BeadyBugs]

Ooo - don't know, I haven't tried that?   The blowing silver thing, not the talking rubbish thing, do that all the time. LOL!

S'pose you could give it a go and see what happens.   I know when you use silver glasses (ie Rocio etc) you get better results if you let the glass cool between striking and reducing.  Don't forget to show us some piccies.  I'd love to see what you're making.

And good luck with the new torch Lopo.

HP x

[Ilona]

I have just posted on the other thread about blowing on beads, Yes it works! and yes it brings out the silver really lovely.

But please be careful, I have burnt my top lip when I went to blow on a bead, so please please please be safe!!!!