Please Vote yes on the bottom if you find this guide useful

Below is a short guide on many of the characteristics of silver, followed by some of its uses.

1. What is the difference between dead soft and half hard silver?
• Dead soft & half hard refers to the hardness of a metal. 
• Dead soft silver is very easy to bend and work with for your projects.  It has not been hardened is extremely malleable.  The more this wire is manipulated the harder it will become.  To increase hardness it may be tempered by hitting it with a hammer, but htis is not recommend unless the piece is flat.  Soft silver is excellent for wire wrapping and similiar projects
• Half hard wire has already been hardened and is not as malleable.   It is very hard to bend, but once it has been shaped it will hold it's new form.  Half hard is mainly used for making jump rings. 
2. Gauge Conversions
• Gauge refers to the thickness of a metal.  Lower gauges are thicker then higher gauges.  For example 16 gauge is thicker then 18 gauge, which is thicker then 20 gauge. 

Below is a gauge conversion chart

1.  What is porosity in silver
1. Porosity is the measure of void spaces in Sterling silver.  Porosity occurs when silver is cast into a sterling silver product.  All fabricated sterling silver contains some porosity, but the less porosity the better.  Signs of high porosity include bubbles, and fractures in the metal.  Remember this is not a good sign and indicates that the silver was poorly casted.

Please Vote yes on the bottom if you find this guide useful