A sheet of silver, repeatedly annealed and cleaned up in acid pickle to remove oxidation; having been prepared the day before while positioning the small triangular silver pieces in an abstract in pattern, and coating them in borax which acts as a catalyst to promote the fusing process during the use of the application of the gas torch.
Working in dim light allows for the delicate 'fusing' process to be more visible to the eye. 'Over cooking' it will leave you with an impersonation of burnt toast! The aim is to reach a melting point sufficient to meld the silver pieces in to one, without pushing the metal beyond the Goldilocks zone!
When it gets to that magic state, the surface of the semi molten silver, ripples and sweats with a pulsing current - the trick is to sustain the heat sufficiently and not a second beyond!
Bits and pieces
What's anyone done today