IDD Metalsmiths' Guild

CDA #: Copper Development Association's standards ID number. (ex. Nickel Silver: CDA #752 or CDA 752 or Alloy 752, etc.) The CDA number can be written in many different ways and yet mean the same thing.

Online Business for metals and/or jewelry supplies/tools:

Please see, 'Metal Alloy Table' on my A&S website, Gæira's Anvil.

Please NOTE: All of the information below was found on 27April2014 from the websites mentioned and are subject to change at any time without notice. You MUST varify the Alloys and Metals you purchase from any business to be 100% certain that it is the exact metal that you want. As you can see in the table I have compiled, businesses use different names for the exact same metal alloy which can lead to confusion.

Monsterslayer.com
--> Sterling Silver (I have heard they have some of the best price for sheet and wire)
- Fine Silver, Argentium Sterling Silver®, Gold, etc.
--> great prices for Copper, 2 Brasses (Red and Yellow) and Nickel Silver.

Copper: CDA #110, 99.9% copper (also)
Red Brass: CDA #230, is an alloy of 85% copper and 15% zinc Commonly called 'Jeweler's Bronze' or 'Craft Gold' due to its rich gold color.
Yellow Brass: CDA #260, is an alloy of 70% copper and 30% zinc. This brass alloy has a very bright yellow color compared Red Brass.
Nickel Silver: CDA #752, also known as 'German Silver' is an alloy consisting of 65% copper, 18% nickel & 17% zinc. It contains NO SILVER.

"Click here for a complete list of silver wire specifications. Click here for a printable wire size guide." (12-page, PDF)

Metalliferous.com Metals, Tools and Supplies (NY, NY)
- okay prices for Commercial Bronze, Brass, Nickel Silver, but at the moment Monsterslayer.com is lower for several items, compare prices for your needs.

Commercial Bronze: CDA #220 (90% copper, 10% zinc). Melting Point 1910°F
Rich Low Brass: CDA #230 (85% copper, 15% zinc). Melting Point 1877°F
Brass: is Yellow High Brass, CDA #260 (70% copper, 30% zinc). Melting Point 1706°F
Nickel Silver: also called 'German Silver', CDA #752 (65% copper, 17% zinc, 18% nickel). Melting Point 2030°F
Raw Silver: Sterling Silver, Reticulation, and Deoxidized

RioGrande.com [carry ALL jewelry supplies, stones and materials needed]
Silver (Fine, Sterling, and Argentium®),
Gold
Copper (also Copper Tubing) [all sheet and round wire is CDA #110],
Brass (also Jeweler's Brass** and Yellow Brass) [all sheet and round wire is CDA #230],
Bronze [all sheet and round wire is CDA #521],
Nickel Alloy*** [CDA #752, approx. 18% nickel],
Handmade Shibuichi, etc.
- Solder: Yellow Silver Strip Solder (for gold-filled); Brass, Bronze and Yellow Gold-Filled; Brass (yellow); Bronze; High-Copper Solder (self-fluxing, contains phosphorus); Copper.
- Metal Leaf: Copper Metal Leaf; Bronze Metal Leaf, 23K Yellow Gold Metal Leaf, 23.5K Yellow Gold Foil for Keum-Boo, Fine Silver Metal Leaf

ALSO:
* Cabochons and Gemstones - quality gems

* Sterling Pattern Wire - hard to find patterns, good selection

* Bezel Cup Settings - pre-made findings for setting cabochones; with good cup depth

* Thank you Kat for the great suggestions.

Rio Grande, Nickel Alloys & You (2-page, PDF) [info RE: Nickel Allergies]
by Kevin Whitmore, Product Manager, Rio Grande, Inc.

** Jeweler's Brass: color match to 14K yellow gold. CDA #230 alloy (85% copper/15% zinc); also known as red brass, NuGold, Jeweler’s Bronze or Merlin’s Gold"
*** Nickel Alloy: 'nickel silver' or 'German silver.' CDA #752 alloy (65% copper, 17% zinc, 18% nickel)"

American Jewelry Supply for tools

Fire Mountain Gems and Beads for cabochon stones (cabs)

Contenti Jewelry Making Supplies
Copper: 99.9% copper. CDA no. 110
Brass: Lead-free brass, 70% copper, 30% zinc. CDA no. 260.
Nu Gold: A copper-based alloy that mimics the look of gold. Often referred to as Merlin's Gold. 85% copper, 15% zinc, CDA no. 230.
Nickel Silver: 65% copper, 17% zinc, 18% nickel
Pewter Wire

Stachura Wholesale Gemstones - Rose Cuts

Metalassociates.net

McMaster-Carr

Cas-Ker Jewelers Supplies

Indian Jewelers Supply Co. (IJS)

Thompson Enamel

FDJ On Time

Online Metals

Texas Knifemaker's Supply The Complete Source of Knife Making Supplies
- Copper, Nickel Silver, Brass (all in sheet, rod and bar stock; Brass Thong Hole Tubing), Damascus and Mokume Barstock.
- Deburring tool for steel and brass.

Knife and Gun Finishing Supplies

Copper Development Association (CDA) "is part of the Copper Alliance, a global network of Copper Centres, with headquarters in New York (International Copper Association, Ltd) and a regional office in Brussels (European Copper Institute). (...) resource for technical and professional information regarding copper and copper alloys.":
Canadian Copper and Brass Development Association
Copper Development Association Inc. – USA
European Copper Institute (Local Offices: United Kingdom; Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, etc.) [for more links]

Information pages and Publications from the CDA:

Alloys on Copperalliance.org.uk *****

"There are more than 400 copper alloys (Brass, Bronze, Nickel Silver, Gunmetals, etc.), each with a unique combination of properties, to suit many applications, manufacturing processes and environments." SOURCE

Copper is a Family of Alloys: "For many applications, properties of copper can be readily customized. This is achieved by alloying: making a new metal out of two or more different metals. The most well-known copper alloy families are brass (copper-zinc), bronze (copper-tin) and copper-nickel. These actually represent families of alloys, all made by varying the amount of specific alloying elements. Alloys can be made to achieve certain colors, improve strength or corrosion resistance, improve forming or joining properties, or achieve any number of specific demands that the individual elements can't achieve on their own. By combining copper with other metals and adjusting the percentages, alloys are made to fit almost any application."

The Copper Alloys Tree (graphic)

Copper Alloys Color Chart & Copper Alloy Table

Copper Education (also Copper Facts)*****

Publications: List Properties / Standards & Special Publications *****

Resource Library at Copperalliance.org.uk

DIY: Do It Proper With Copper Video Series
Subscribe to DIY YouTube playlists: All, Architecture and Plumbing.

Copper Is... (also a 24-page, PDF)

Copper - The Vital Metal (CDA Publication 121) [80-page, PDF]

The Copper Advantage-A Guide to Working With Copper and Copper Alloys (A1360) [28-page, PDF]

The Brasses: Properties and Applications (CDA Publication 117) [66-page, PDF]

Copper and Copper Alloys: Compositions, Properties and Applications (CDA Publication 120) [31-page, PDF]

Copper & Copper Alloy Castings Properties & Applications Publication TN42, 1991 [62-page, PDF]

Design in Brass (CDA Publication 133) [16-page, PDF]

Brass in Focus (CDA Publication 177) [ 4-page, PDF]

Copper Key: "Design and manufacture alloys, coppers, standards
Online software giving chemical composition of copper alloys worldwide, their material designation and national standard. Automatically gives equivalent materials from international, European and other national standards and enables chemical compositions to be compared (on the German Copper Centre site)."

All the links below are to Wikipedia.org:

Base Metals: Iron, Nickel, Lead and Zinc. Copper "is also considered a base metal because it oxidizes relatively easily, although it does not react with HCl."

Precious Metals: Silver (Fine, Sterling, and Argentium®), Gold, and the Platinum group.

Also see Noble Metals & List of copper alloys

Ag-Au-Cu Colors chart

Silversmith and Goldsmith

Other

Alloy information and their Alloy Specification Chart
on Scottbrass.com*****

- Double-Sided Brass Scratch Brush for cleaning needle files

Contenti Jewelry Making Supplies - Resources *****

Permalink to convo on Facebook group 'Artisans of the Society for Creative Anachronism' that inspired this page and the Alloy Table. (also convo)

Updated 2May2014