Chris Burton
Member
Does anyone have a line on a person/company that'll make seamless sterling silver tubing in a specific (read: non-standard) size?
thanks,
Chris
thanks,
Chris
Metalliferous - Round Silver Tubes
I dont know that they will make non standard sizes but they have one of the best selections for sizes. I dont know of any one else making seamless tubing that isnt covered here. Thunderbird and RioGrande both sell silver tubing but its smaller sizes.
What specific size are you looking for?
Metalliferous - Round Silver Tubes
I dont know that they will make non standard sizes but they have one of the best selections for sizes. I dont know of any one else making seamless tubing that isnt covered here. Thunderbird and RioGrande both sell silver tubing but its smaller sizes.
Metalliferous - Round Silver Tubes
I dont know that they will make non standard sizes but they have one of the best selections for sizes. I dont know of any one else making seamless tubing that isnt covered here. Thunderbird and RioGrande both sell silver tubing but its smaller sizes.
Mike, I used to buy all my tubing from them but the last I spoke with them I was told that they would likely never have any of the medium wall silver tube in anything over 1/2" diameter since their supplier quit making it.
I did find one company who would fabricate ANY diameter silver tube you wanted, the only problem was the 80 ounce minimum order!
Chris, Several months ago I scoured the web trying to find some silver tubing to make my center bands with since my supply was dwindling fast. I had no luck. Bruce Robbins, a member here, recommended me buying a sheet of silver and rolling it into a tube then silver soldering the joint to make any size tube I wanted.
I bought a few sheets of silver from Thunderbird and made my own tubes by rolling the sheets around some home made mandrels then had a local silversmith silver solder the seams and after sanding and polishing you have a nice seamless tube in whatever diameter (and wall thickness) you want. Just a thought!
Not if your a good solderer. If by chance there are some, you can always fill them with more solder. And you really don't want the silver too thick. Its pretty heavy and can get pricey.Please pardon my ignorance, but once the silversmith has soldered the seam, and you turn it to the dimension that you need, there are no 'voids' or any traces of the original seam?
And THAT is why I let a professional solder the seams for me.Not if your a good solderer. If by chance there are some, you can always fill them with more solder. And you really don't want the silver too thick. Its pretty heavy and can get pricey.Please pardon my ignorance, but once the silversmith has soldered the seam, and you turn it to the dimension that you need, there are no 'voids' or any traces of the original seam?
I have also made some by lost wax casting. Turn a wax tube to the diameter you want and send it off for casting.
And THAT is why I let a professional solder the seams for me.Not if your a good solderer. If by chance there are some, you can always fill them with more solder. And you really don't want the silver too thick. Its pretty heavy and can get pricey.Please pardon my ignorance, but once the silversmith has soldered the seam, and you turn it to the dimension that you need, there are no 'voids' or any traces of the original seam?
I have also made some by lost wax casting. Turn a wax tube to the diameter you want and send it off for casting.
If I understood the silversmith correctly, the silver solder used was indeed silver wire so when you solder a joint you are soldering with silver, not some lead based material such as used with copper pipes, etc.
And THAT is why I let a professional solder the seams for me.Not if your a good solderer. If by chance there are some, you can always fill them with more solder. And you really don't want the silver too thick. Its pretty heavy and can get pricey.Please pardon my ignorance, but once the silversmith has soldered the seam, and you turn it to the dimension that you need, there are no 'voids' or any traces of the original seam?
I have also made some by lost wax casting. Turn a wax tube to the diameter you want and send it off for casting.
If I understood the silversmith correctly, the silver solder used was indeed silver wire so when you solder a joint you are soldering with silver, not some lead based material such as used with copper pipes, etc.
Thanks folks. That sounds like the way to go. 18ga (0.040") would be the exact size I'd need to get a 0.040" wall tube with a 0.540" od.
Do you use a 'local" silversmith, or is this something you send out? Recommendation?
thanks again,
Chris
If I understood the silversmith correctly, the silver solder used was indeed silver wire so when you solder a joint you are soldering with silver, not some lead based material such as used with copper pipes, etc.