We’ll be exploring Silver Fuming with fine silver, today… exactly how I do it!

 

I want to give a little “warning” before we start, about learning from YouTube. I explored YouTube for silver fuming videos and found 2 that I watched. The first one, I keep thinking… that’s not the way I do it and the 2nd one’s methods scared the beejeebers out of me. So… I wanted to just say… be careful who you watch and learn from!

After researching more of the first guy’s videos… I realized that he worked in borosilicate, though, he didn’t tell you in the demo video what glass he was using for his silver fuming. Technique processes will differ depending on the glass you are using.

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In the 2nd gal’s silver fuming demo, she was teaching to hold the silver in the candles with her torch in a vertical position. You would be guaranteed to get silver drips and splatters falling into the ports of your torch head and easily mess up your torch. (over 1000 people saw her video!)

TIP: Silver splatters when it gets molten and easily flows off the rod of glass, so be careful! I always go below the flame and move upwards into the flame.  And I try not to get too close to the candles because of the splattering. Experiment for the sweet spot!

 

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TIP: Watch for the silver to start fuming, then put your bead in the flame, so you don’t overheat your bead’s details.

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Now for my Silver Fuming demo video…

Experiment where you put your bead in the flame and how much of a reducing flame you need with your torch. Every torch is different.

AND WEAR A MASK!!!

2nd Silver Fuming Video

Below is the demo bead I did with the silver fuming. If it looks a little different, it’s because I reentered the bead in the flame to burn off some of the reduction. It exploded the ivory end of the bead because my bead had cooled too much.

 Sooo… I added more ivory, and fumed again. It now has 2 shades of silver reduction which I think looks cool. And it shows you cool silver fuming options.

Try the carrot red opaque glass… it really gets a beautiful pink shade with silver fuming that doesn’t show up with the camera. :(

EXTRA BONUS VIDEO…

I promised a lampworker, Gitte, that I would demo how I get bead release in the middle of the mandrel…so here’s that, below!

Please excuse my messing studio…One day I will clean up…(yeah…right, I’d rather torch!)

Patsy :)

 

How I use Silver Fuming & Silver Glass

glass lampwork bead with silver fuming starfish

Click Starfish for details!

glass lampwork bead with silver fumingThis starfish bead has a starfish on both sides! It’s like a having a piece of the ocean! :)

glass lampwork bead with silver fumingSilver fuming and Silver Glass! Inspired from the sand formations in the ocean.

 

What’s Available for Purchase!

 

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