About Dr. Ari Roark Expertise Metalsmithing, Goldsmithing,Jewelry Making, Gemology,Metallurgy,Art Jewelry,Jewelry Appraising,Metal Mill Work,Jewelry Education,Group Projects Adaptable to Special Populations as well as ordinary groups,Ethnobotany,Metal Clays, International Jewellery Law,Trade Law,Rock hounding,Industrial Health and Safety Assessment and Education as it pertains to Jewelry Studios (of all sizes and manufacturing concerns relative to the Trade, Jewellery Trade Organisations,Objective US Jewelry School critical Analysis,Applied Anthropology,goldssmithing,lapidary,metals,refining
Experience More than 35 years experience in the Jewelry Industry, Juris doctorates, PhD's in Anthropology, Cultural History, Cultural Geography, Mining Locations Assessments, Industrial Health and Safety Inspector to the Jewelry Industry, Montessori Educator, Occupational Therapy, Natural Historian, Scholar of Jewelry Evolution, PhD in Creativity ( the analysis of the divergent genres of thought on the process and impetus of the essence of creativity as a state of being expressed tangibly),Extensive Fieldwork with populations of Traditional craftsmen worldwide, former Peace Corps volunteer, Former VISTA volunteer, Etc.
Organizations too numerous to list
Publications prefer not to answer for reasons related to plagiarism
Education/Credentials PhD Anthropology( Applied(1), Cultural(2)Ethnobotany(1),PhD -Physics (Metallurgy 1)( Wave and Particle Dynamics 1),,JD,MD,MFA-Metals/Jewelry,,MFA-Printmaking, MFA-Sculpture, Extensive undergraduate degrees, extensive post doctoral work, Montessori Educator Certification (Primary and Secondary)..many, many Degrees, Grants, and Awards in my past as an Academic turned Jeweler, OSHA Certifications
Awards and Honors too numerous to list including 3 Honorary Doctorates, Two Humanitarian Related Awards, and Service on Many Boards of Directors
Question I have Sterling silver bracelet with stress cracks on the band. Can I repair these with PMC silver metal clay, or do I have to take it to a jeweler?
Answer Hello Susan,
PMC and art clay are fine silver they will not be as strong as the sterling , as it is an alloy ( .999 silver and Cu- copper).However if you buy a butane torch and get some silver sheet, and sterling hard solder you could probably do the job yourself if you have a background in jewelry making or at least soldering. If you will read Tim McCreight's, THE COMPLETE METALSMITH,it is the absolute best introductory book on all the techniques and principles you will need to make, repair and pursue jewelry designing and creation without attending schools or paying for the "PMC Tiered Classes" - a multi-level marketing scheme in my opinion.
But without seeing what the stress cracks are or where they are on your piece, and knowing the properties and applications of metal clays ( art clay brand is superior to PMC) I hat to say , but it will not work. you will most probably melt the sterling and the fine silver will fail. On the other hand you should also be aware that solder is not a gap filler or metal "spackle" of sorts- so don't think you can just go to radio shack buy some easy melt silver bearing solder and fill in the cracks, it will not work and you'll have no way to pickle the piece after the half-baked ( literally) repair. You need to fill the cracks in with splinters of actual sterling silver sheet or flattened wire either fused or soldered to the original.Then refine or with a cratex, mizzy, 3m radial bristle disc or other rubber or silicone wheel grind down the excess until the surface is smooth again and completely repaired to last longer than your first swim or immersion into chlorinated or heavily detergent water- the cheap solder will turn gray or fall out and the cracks wil be more evident. But metal clays being fine silver are softer than sterling as the bottom line and therefore unsuitable for repair work..but a jeweler isn't necessary if you have flux, a soldering board, a torc and some sterling stock..
I hope this helps,
Best Regards, Ari
