Argentium or Sterling Silver for Inlays

[Tim]

I getting ready to order the silver for the inlays on my Kibler SMR.
Been looking at the Argentium silver.
Anyone use Argentium silver for inlays and if
So how does it compare to Sterling?

Tim

[tallbear]

Tim

Argentium does'nt tarnish so if you're looking to have it age and look like original 18th century work I would stick with sterling silver.They work the same no difference!!!

Mitch

[Tim]

Mitch

What gauge sterling for a hunters star and a man in the moon inlay?
Will dead soft work ok for this purpose? Thanks for the help.


Tim

[tallbear]

Dead soft will work but half hard works better if you can get it.If you have'nt done it before I would go with 18 gauge.That leaves you extra to file off without getting too thin to engrave.If you have a lot pof experience you can go a little thinner.Most original work was pretty thin...

Mitch

[Hungry Horse]

If you feel have to doll up a fine graceful SMR with a lot of googaws I’d use either sterling or coin silver.

  Hungry Horse

[Tim]

This is my first kit to assemble. I will definitely get the 18 gauge.
My plan is to keep it simple as I’ve never engraved and will need
Some practice before engraving the inlays. I also need to get the
Type graver that I will need and a jeweler’s saw and blades.
Any advice will be appreciated.

Tim

[tallbear]

You can get all you need at https://www.riogrande.com/Home  .Almost all longrifle engraving can be done with a square graver.Should be some information on engraving and sharpening in the Tutorial section.

Mitch

[Tim]

You can get all you need at https://www.riogrande.com/Home  .Almost all longrifle engraving can be done with a square graver.Should be some information on engraving and sharpening in the Tutorial section.

Mitch

Mitch

Thanks for the help. This information is exactly what I needed.

Tim

[Tim]

What size Jewelers saw frame and type of blade would you guys recommend
I get? I see several frame sizes shown on the Rio Grande web site.
The graver I’m looking at is the item number 118670 GRS square graver.

[flehto]

I bought .062 thick sterling sheet  from Rio Gannde  and it's dead soft...very easy to form using the stock. I only use a center screw to hold down the star so the .062 thickness is stiff enough so the " points"  stay down.....also not much filing to level w/ the stock. This present build is not engraved as yet by Tim Adlam, but the bottom Star is.....Fred

[tallbear]

Tim
Any size frame will work,I use a 4" for most of my work.I use the Rio lazer gold blades.If you look at the Rio page for the blades they have a chart as to what bklade to use for a given material thickness.

Mitch

[Tim]

Tim
Any size frame will work,I use a 4" for most of my work.I use the Rio lazer gold blades.If you look at the Rio page for the blades they have a chart as to what bklade to use for a given material thickness.

Mitch

Mitch

You think that graver I mentioned in a previous post will suffice?
I’m gonna order my stuff from Rio Grande tonight.

[G_T]

Just wanted to post a correction to some info. Argentium does tarnish. It just does so quite a bit slower than the usual Sterling. When Argentium tarnishes, it gets a bit of a tinge which isn't nearly as attractive as regular Sterling. Because of that I went back to Sterling for most jewelry fabrication work. There are also some hardness differences, considerable differences in heat treating, differences in the solders for each, Argentium fuses beautifully but regular Sterling is too risky, etc.

Gerald

[tallbear]

Tim
That graver will work fine you will just need to make a handle for it.

Mitch

[Tim]

Tim
That graver will work fine you will just need to make a handle for it.

Mitch

I’ll need a handle and lots of practice...lol

[Tim]

Did I happen to mention I’ll needs LOTS of practice?