Nickle Silver and the beginer

[woody]

As a novice and wanting to practice making bezel cups but coming to the conclusion that starting out using silver is just a bit too pricey for the novice to use. I have read that starting with copper or nickel silver is the best route to take. I've been looking into using nickel silver but have a few questions.

  1. I seem to be able to find nickel silver sheets only in soft. Can you get the metal in Med and Hard?

  2. Can  bezel wire be found in soft with various depths?

  3. What kind of solder, flux, and pickle do you use?

  4. Sources?

I can't seem to find consistent info on the web, so I thought with all the beautiful metal work being done by members here I am looking to find some answers that are geared to the novice.

[Enchantra]

Indian Jeweler's Supply Company is probably going to have your best Nickel Silver selection.  The Nickel only comes in Soft, and it will work harden as you use it, and then it can be a bit Springy once it hardens up.  You might have to anneal it on a frequent basis.  I work with the wire sometimes and it is not always the easiest wire to work with as it starts hardening.

https://eclient.ijsinc.com/eshop/default.aspx?ControlName=SubCategories&category_id=67456DE9-C3D5-4711-8E7A-0EC8AA82B7D9

[sealdaddy]

maybe:
http://www.jewelrysupply.com/Copper-Brass-Nickel-Sheet
http://www.thunderbirdsupply.com/metal.aspx
http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?id=904&step=2

[milto]

Work with N/S a great deal, truthfully enjoy it much more then silver.The secret for me was to get flux (black Flux)that is made for N/S. For Pickle I use Sparex and Hydrogen peroxide cold works great. The purist will discourage you but work in what ever your comfortable in.

milto

[Bentiron]

Just remember that there is an increasing number of folks that have allergic skin reactions to nickle so use it only as a learning tool and then make the majority of your jewelry in Sterling silver or one of the newer alloys to prevent skin reactions in your client base.

[woody]

Client base? I don't think I'll ever get good enough to be able to sell anything. That being said, I would still like to get good enough to give things away as gifts. This is a kind of therapy for me. It tends to relax me and I enjoy keeping my hands busy while losing all tract of time. As some of you can verify, being retired is a very stressful time in your life i.e, babysitting, taxi service and the all important HONEY-DO-LIST. 
  I will keep in mind what you said about skin allergy's. After all I don't want anyone to get a rash from something I gave them as a gift. Well maybe there are a few people I wouldn't mind giving a rash to, but I will try and control myself. 
   

[Helene]

Pewter is also an attractive metal alloy.