Thread: Sterling Silver Round Rod, Washers and Domes

Will the little bit of conductivity between the metals cause that much corrosion? I know with jewelry they use silver, bronze, and copper together many times with no real issues.

I think as long as it stays dry it shouldn't be a problem but I'm not really certain as I've never really thought about it much before or had anything where I could really see it at work. I guess in those cases the jeweler's could also be protecting the metals where they meet with some type of coating, I had thought about that too. Lots of different things could be done, like plating to reduce the potential between any two metals by using an intermediate metal as plating or in my case I just want to keep them apart with something non-conductive. Most people that reinforce steel with CF paint the surface prior to to prevent the corrosion problem.

I suppose eventually when I get the stuff I could throw some silver with some brass washers together and leave it aside just to sort of experiment and see if the brass corrodes at the junction with the silver. It does also depend on the environment where its stored from what I read, so if its kept well it may not be a problem, I just thought rather be safe since I'll be spending some time on it and don't want to have to do any re-work later on down the road or potentially have a hidden problem. Figured better to be safe, since with a razor getting wet while shaving could potentially get some in the pivot, get it moist or humid and allow the reaction to take place corroding the steel.

Sounds interesting.
You might also find Silver wire at a Jewelry supply or a bead store locally. Its usually sold by the ounce.
To keep them seperated what about a small piece of heat shrink tubing?
If the pivot hole is smooth there shouldn't be much wear.
You might want to look at half hard silver, that way it will be a little harder but shouldn't loosen up nearly as easy, it also should be easier to peen without bending in the middle.


Bob

Originally Posted by bevansmw

I guess in those cases the jeweler's could also be protecting the metals where they meet with some type of coating, I had thought about that too.

IN many cases they are just soldered or riveted together. I am a jeweler in training i guess you could say and from what I have read and been taught it is mainly solder or rivet. Wouldnt the oil in the hinge protect everything?

Don't know, I'm not that familiar with this really just from what I've read about it on the web so far as far as the dissimilar metals in jewelry. With oil in the pivot I suppose if you kept them oiled that may work, it could also work as an electrolyte itself if it were conductive though which is what you'd want to avoid.

The heat shrink sounds like a good idea, I ordered some small tube that I figured I'd use not sure what the friction will be like assembled yet though so I may have to try something different I do have some small heat shrink tubing from my RC cars, but that may be a little big maybe it'll work not sure it'll shrink down that far.

It may not really be a problem if they're properly cared for and not allowed to get wet and what-not but it could also end up being a problem. I'm not sure how much corrosion will really show up. The guys with CF scales may know as I think I saw some with brass spacers, if the CF didn't have a clear coat or something on it it would be like graphite being in contact with the brass which should cause corrosion to the brass at the joint. If it were coated with something to prevent contact of the two materials that wouldn't be the case though.