Recycling Silver In Your Jewelry Studio

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Recycling silver in your jewelry studio is an age-old practice and a marketable way to create sustainable practices in your business. Plus, recycling silver can save you money in addition to being environmentally friendly. If you have not recycled silver in your studio, you might be surprised by the new creative opportunities it presents!

How to Recycle Silver

Although there are services where you can send your silver away to be recycled, recycling silver is a fairly straightforward process that you can do in your jewelry studio. You can look at your silver scraps with fresh eyes and use them as-is, or you can melt them to be used in new configurations.

To melt your silver scraps, the first step is to collect all your scrap metal. Some jewelers use a bench apron, which catches shavings from your bench pin. Next, you will need to melt down the silver using a crucible and a torch. Be sure to follow the same safety protocols as for soldering, such as wearing protective clothing, eye covering, and working in a well-ventilated area.

Homage to Collage jewelry project by Debra Hoffmaster — Not all scraps need to be melted down. Fuse silver scraps to make eye-catching jewelry such as Debra Hoffmaster’s Homage to Collage pin.

Why Recycle Your Metal

There are many benefits to recycling silver in your jewelry studio. It is an ecological step you can take to help slow the extraction of natural resources from the planet. Mining for precious metals can have a significant impact on the environment, including deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution. Many well-known brands such as Pandora have committed to using recycled silver in all their products.

There is no reduction in purity between the silver you carefully recycle and new silver you purchase. Recycling silver saves you money on purchasing new metal and is part of a traditional cycle in many jewelry studios. And don’t forget, sustainable practices are powerful marketing tools. Jewelry customers want the whole story of your handmade design including environmental responsibility.

Splat Bracelet jewelry project by Noel Yovovich — Use a soldering block to strike molten silver to create the unusual shapes in the Splat Bracelet by Noël Yovovich.

Using Recycled Material

There are many ways to use scrap metal or recycled material in your jewelry designs. You can incorporate it into existing designs or create new design components. You can use them as-is or form them into workable pieces of wire or sheet with simple tools. If you have a rolling mill, you’ll be able to experiment with a lot of different techniques for preparing the metal. Or pour the melted metal in your favorite casting method.

Embellished Silver Ring jewelry project by Connie Fox — Use silver scraps to create this dynamic Embellished Silver Ring by Connie Fox.

Tips for Recycling Silver in Your Studio

Collect all your scrap metal.

Separate metal by type: fine silver, sterling silver.

Cut all scraps into small pieces.

Place scrap into a crucible or on a soldering brick.

Use a torch to melt the silver.

Go Eco-Friendly

In addition to being the right thing to do, recycling silver and gold provides creative possibilities, reduces waste, and saves money. Be sure to share your sustainability story with your customers—using recycled material in your designs is a great marketing tool.

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