Reticulation Silver contains 20% Copper, in contrast to approximately 8% copper in Sterling Silver. Reticulation is a multi-step process. Step one involves heating the flat piece of silver with my torch to glowing soft orange, which raises some copper to the surface. The piece is then quenched in water, and placed in a mild acid to clean the surface. I will repeat this step four or five times, until there is no more pink showing on the surface after heating. Now the fun begins! I heat the silver again to a glowing orange, watching the surface for ripples and other interesting surface distortions begin. As I move the torch, the patterns will “follow” the flame, or flow wherever there’s a path. The resulting reticulated surface can take on various textures and patterns – looking like an ocean scape or a moonscape, even mountains.