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| Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips |
2012-11-19, 1:12pm
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Member
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Join Date: Jul 01, 2012
Location: Hartford, AL
Posts: 41
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Type of metal for Skeleton Keys
Is there a preferred metal for skeleton keys used in lampworking? I would like to make some for gifts but not sure what metals will survive in the flame and in the kiln.
I found some decorative skeleton keys on Etsy that would be beautiful but not sure if they are usable for what I want to do.
Any help would be appreciated.
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2012-11-19, 1:26pm
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honorary bead lady
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Join Date: Jan 14, 2008
Location: Mostly the doghouse
Posts: 5,180
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Steel!!!
You will find some zinc and brass, the zinc will act like sparklers in the flame and the fumes are NOT good to breathe! The brass if you work real cool will work but you have to keep them out of the flame as they will just go molten at the drop of a hat if you are not careful.
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David
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2012-11-19, 1:40pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 28, 2008
Location: South Australia, Australia
Posts: 492
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I have found that if they stick to a magnet they work. ?
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2012-11-19, 2:10pm
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offically down under
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Join Date: Dec 22, 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 3,131
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^^^^^^^^^^
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Tammy
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2012-11-19, 6:57pm
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Sheila Davis Designs
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Join Date: May 23, 2009
Location: Olympia
Posts: 3,351
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Ya...most of those decorative or reproduction ones are not suitable.
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2012-11-19, 7:38pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 09, 2010
Location: Lowell Michigan
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I do the magnet test. It's a must.
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Nance
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"Whether you believe that you can or believe that you can't, you're probably right." Henry Ford
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2012-11-19, 7:41pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 22, 2011
Posts: 410
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Cast iron ones work too...you have to purchase REAL ones.
I melt the Brass ones...perhaps its a boro vs soft glass thing.
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2012-11-19, 9:00pm
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Member
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Join Date: Jul 01, 2012
Location: Hartford, AL
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Thanks to everyone for your responses. I have some old real ones but they are not decorative. I found some iron ones but then I thought of rust. LOL I guess I could paint them after they came out of the kiln. Thanks again.
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2012-11-19, 9:03pm
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honorary bead lady
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Join Date: Jan 14, 2008
Location: Mostly the doghouse
Posts: 5,180
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Clean them up after and wax them or spray with some poly
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David
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2012-11-19, 9:26pm
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Sheila Davis Designs
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Join Date: May 23, 2009
Location: Olympia
Posts: 3,351
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I use Renaissance wax. You can buy a small amount from this Etsy seller for only $5.00
http://www.etsy.com/listing/78730750...l-preservation
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2012-11-20, 10:54am
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Member
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Join Date: Jul 01, 2012
Location: Hartford, AL
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Thank you Sheila for the link. I ordered this morning. And thank you houptdavid for your suggestions. I ordered the iron ones after asking if they would stick to a magnet.
Thanks to everyone.
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2012-11-20, 11:54am
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I'm meeeeelting
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Join Date: May 27, 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 2,236
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I've always bought mine on ebay. Look for listings for antique keys, not reproductions. I sand the barrel of the key to remove the rust from the area where I'll make the bead, because I find the rust can cause bubbles to form in the beads. I like the key to look old and rusty, so I leave the parts of the keys that will be exposed alone. I like the Renaissance wax idea, though. I'll have to try that.
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2012-11-20, 12:15pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 17, 2009
Location: Alberta, Canada
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I like the Renaissance Wax idea too. I am going to give it a try. Thanks - Di
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2012-11-20, 2:55pm
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offically down under
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Join Date: Dec 22, 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 3,131
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I give my keys a good scrubbing to take off the rust and then let them dry before dipping them. I like to dip them twice so I'm certain the beads will spin. A bead that won't spin is like a Happy Meal without the toy. After I get them out of the kiln, I clean off the bead release and then put them into my rock polisher for about 15 minutes. You have to be careful with this as I have found that if you leave them in too long, the surface decoration can get polished off. There must be something with the rust and bead release acting as a polisher. After they dry, I give them a good rub with the Renaissance wax so they don't start to rust and potentially get rust on anyone's clothing.
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Tammy
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2012-11-20, 3:30pm
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honorary bead lady
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Join Date: Jan 14, 2008
Location: Mostly the doghouse
Posts: 5,180
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tammydownunder
A bead that won't spin is like a Happy Meal without the toy.
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BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! 
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David
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