overlay metals

Are there any other alloys for overlays that can be used in place of copper and brass that won't tarnish?

Specify what you mean a little better... For what uses? With which metals as a base?

Using what methods? Mechanical, fusing, soldering, laser welding?

Are you referring correctly to overlays or do you actually mean "inlays"? There is quite a difference...


You can easily "overlay" certain metals by soldering for example, that would be a PITA to inlay.

And depending on the item/usage - there are metals that probably shouldn't be overlaid - due to abrasive exposure.



Brian

I'm thinking overlays of yellow or copper color which may be silver soldered onto sterling silver. Something cheaper than gold.

What used to be euphemistically called "Jewelers Bronze" - red brass by another name, 'Nu-Gold" by yet another - is the standard for Western style soldered on overlays.

Take a look at Rio Grande red brass sheet and test a sample... it does tarnish eventually, but still looks fairly good even then.


However, 10K gold filled sheet is not all that expensive and definitely keeps its color.

We used to have it made for us in various colors and karats with a solder flush on the backside.

This does get expensive, because although you can roughly specify how many ounces you want - there is a minimum run.

And if the the mill run is over by a few ounces - you pay the extra. Luck of the draw, so to speak.


Brian


You do NOT want "yellow" brass... for most overlay purposes. Or even for engraving, if you can avoid it.

Which reminds me of the time that we sent one of the new apprentices to a San Francisco refinery to pick up an order. (a refinery long since closed)

We made sure to have him place an order for 10 ounces of 14K yellow gold filled casting shot...


He was pretty annoyed when he returned to the shop. Of course the rest of us kept bringing up that day for many many years...


Brian


And no, sadly... it wan't Leonard. Leonard came into Vics shop much later - when he moved down to AZ - or we'da got him!

brian: i'm shocked you would do such a thing. whilst a sailor aboard a us navy ship, when officers would come aboard, straight from annapolis,
they would be sent everywhere by the captain. they were to get him a can of relative bearing grease ! seems they always came up empty handed.

That's as bad as sending the new boy to the shop to get a tin of tartan paint