The beginning of the week, with all the broken pieces. I gave the candelabra a strengthening bar inside.
It broke at the weakest point. So made strong with a large brass rod inside.
Removed all of the old lead solder and soldered with stay-brite.
Stay-brite has become my favorite for these old silver plated lead and copper internal parts.
I prefer it to any tin solder that my contemporaries use.
I do not use the flux that comes with it. I found it to be too corrosive and too acid. If you do not get all of their flux off it makes the piece corrode in time. I use a paste flux that is easy to clean. Either with soap and water or brasso when you polish.
Yes, brasso. I often use brasso to polish silver. You cannot leave it on for long, but rub on and then rub off.
This is a trick I learned from a retired restoration expert.
Ok, now all of the secrets are coming out.
Do not forget to wear gloves and be careful when working with the old lead parts.
I clean up after each job, vacuum, wash area, etc. Most of all , do not mix tools with gold and lead, or silver and lead.
Files especially. Keep separate files for each metal, if possible work in separate areas.
I use different soldering blocks for each different metal.

Farmers market on this Saturday in Berkley.
The best bread, Morell's bread, my favorite is the sesame loaves. The baker uses a brick oven and all organic ingredients. Completely Handcrafted. Which is rare today. You can taste the special care put into the bread.

And
Spring has started in Emeryville near the tracks.

Sea meets sky.
38 inches by 80 inches
Hung in the studio.

Cleaned up the studio.
Could not seem to get anything of substance done today.
But did paint. And filed some on the base of the new silver sculpture.

In Sonoma visiting with Janine and her dogs.
Viewed the new house plans for the remodel of "space, flow, light."
I showed my new silver sculpture which we tried to name.
So far not successful at naming.

Lunch at Della Santina on the Square. Janine tried the rabbit for the first time.
I was not as adventurous.

The sky returning home was incredible.
Grey lights and shadows.
Link to Janines Website

Janine Canan is a Poet and Writer

This morning light in the studio played across one of my painting.

Today was an adventure selling in the antique world.
Worked at Argentumwww.argentum-theleopard.com
selling today.
Met some interesting people from all over the map who were visiting SF Ca.
Sold an Egg Set to a couple from Boston.
Now what is an Sterling Silver Egg Set?
It is four cups for soft boiled eggs with four spoons and a small bowl for who knows..
The whole thing has structured silver design that all of the parts fit into and you then can carry like a little basket with a handle.
The Set was made in 1800's by Henry Green an English Silversmith.
You could tell he put care into his work. Beautifully crafted and designed.
The cup parts and spoon bowls were all gilded gold.
My second introduction to selling antiques was fun.
Except I could not get their ancient credit card machine to work.
They have one of those old plastic press and slide versions.

Today was a day off in the Napa Valley.
Spring is beginning to show.
Lots of Green from the rain.
Visited the hotspring in Calastoga for my Hammering Arm.

The bracelet was made when I had a migraine. I could not hammer hard or loud or my head would explode.
I turned one small light on in the studio and sat focused on each small blow of the hammer.
The marks began to take on a motion and I began to follow the dance of the tap, tap , tap.

Its a sunny day at the studio.
Customer to pick up Coffee Pot and two spoons.
Restored last week.

The first post and now more to come.
All about the day in the life of a metalsmith.