My Tortoise Ring Brings in the New Year!






Last time you read about the tortoise project, the silver clay was ready to fire.  After programming the kiln and waiting the required time, I held my breath and opened the door.  There it was!  Of course I had to try it on to see if it fit before I did anything else.  Success!


When silver clay gets fired, the organic part of the clay burns up and the heat fuses the micro filaments of silver to become 99% fine silver.  After the firing the silver looks white.  Once I brush it with a brass brush, the color turns to the silver color one expects.   

Now comes the sanding and polishing. 






I want to be able to see the pattern of the tortoise better and that requires a patina of liver of sulphur.  The water is warm when I put a small amount of the liver of sulphur gel, mix it, and put in the silver pieces. 


After the silver pieces start to darken to the color I want, they will go into a separate dish of water with baking soda to stop the color change.



 
The final polishing leaves the dark patina in the crevices.  And my ring is ready for the New Year!
Happy New Year Everyone!!
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