Soldering

Flux

Howey — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:12:44 GMT

Hello

Im intrested in making ring solder fine silver, sterling silver cup onto ring, and to able solder copper. (sterling, fine silver and copper)

Im bit confued to what best flux for partilcer metal high and low temp (kitchen hand torch).

can you help to what type of solder wires best for jewerelly making espcailly rings

how many basic brands names was there for jewerelly making of solder and fluxes?

beginner

Gillian

Beginner needs help with tools

LittleChickadee — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:56:59 GMT

I am so confused by watching all the videos and reading about soldering. I guess what I am confused on is what is really needed. I bought some flux but unsure if it is the right one, it is this one: http://www.contenti.com/products/soldering/510-824.html. Is that the right flux? In one video the woman did not flux her sterling, she was using solder paste. In the other video the man used wire solder and dipped his sterling in a Boric Acid/denatured alcohol solution. I know that paste has flux already in it, but I am still confused on why she did not dip hers in the solution. And why did he use the boric acid/denatured alcohol solution and not flux? Why did they do it differently?

I already have copper wire and am thinking about getting sterling silver wire. I know that they do not make copper solder and the link will show but copper is alot cheaper to start with and I already have it. Is there anyway to get around seeing the solder on copper? I prefer the look of sterling, but like I said above copper is cheaper and I already have it.

I read that for jump rings, easy paste and easy wire solder is best. And for everything else hard is best. Is this correct?

Here is the list of supplies I have already got. Is this everything?

Torch

Pickle

Pickle Pot

Copper Tongs

Solder Tweezers

Self locking Tweezers

Quench Cup

Fire Block

Flux

Sorry for all the questions, I want to make sure I have everything correct before I start.

Thanks!

Jennifer

a solder that melts quicker than easy solder?

Aspin — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:55:57 GMT

I need a solder that melts at the lowest possible heat because I am trying to solder a thin sheet of gold to silver and don't want the gold to melt.

Soldering copper

Ajijico — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:27:07 GMT

I'm a rank beginner. In order to economize I've decided to try to work with copper and am making jump rings. I started out by ruining the blade that came with my Pepetools Jump Ring Maker, but have ordered another and plan to solve this problem on my own. My problem is soldering. I read that you use silver solder on copper. So I fluxed the whole copper jump ring and placed the pallion of solder as carefully as I could. The flux bubbled. Then I heated the ring until it all began to glow. The solder just sat there. The entire ring turned black and stuck to the soldering block. Then the solder disappeared and seemed to flow along the ring. The joint was stuck shut, but the result was anything but pleasant. What did I do wrong? Is it a mistake to try to learn on copper? I've read over and over that you have to heat the entire piece, but just now I saw someone say that you direct the flame above the ring. What works for you? Thanks in advance. ***

Unknown spill

BobR — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:41:00 GMT

Around ten years ago, I played around with doing some silver soldering and the materials have been sitting unused since them. When I was cleaning up and checking what I have, I found a spill in the back of a wooden cabinet, there was a pile of whiteish powder and chunk that looked like ash, that I vacumed up. In the pile were some steel bracket that were partly eaten away and a sold metal micrometer that was corroded and destroyed. The veneer on the cabinet underneath was eaten away and turned into dark brown fibers, and the underlying wood all darkened.

I assumed it was some kind of acid/pickle or flux but I'm not sure where it came from, since there is no evidence of any container - assuming it ate through whatever was holding it. The dust I removed is quite acrid smelling, so I assume its still active.

I don't want to throw the cabinet out is there any way to detect what the chemical was and to neutralize whatever is left absorbed in the wood.

Can you use Air /Acetylene inside home

AmarieB — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:02:52 GMT

Hi I just set up a small bench / work area in my garage and purchased the smith silversmith torch w/ air acetylene (B) for my soldering. Here is my question, my set up is preventing one the cars to be placed in our garage now and I am wondering if it is ok to move and use the torch in the house in a room that is 10X11. I thank you inadvance for your assistance.

Meco Midget torch w/ natural gas?

Grisby — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:19:51 GMT

Hello,

I'm trying to set up a new Meco Midget torch to city gas. I've got the natural gas connected and it will light, but the flame keeps going out.

My idea was to use natural gas with compressed air...somewhere I read that was possible with this torch.

When I do manage to get the pure natural gas flame going fairly strong, when I add any air, it goes out immediately.

I'm wondering if I need an oxygen tank instead of just air. I think this is what they use at Revere jewelry school in SF.

If anyone has experience with this setup, I'd really appreciate hearing about it.

Thank you

Soldering Larger Brass Jewelry

kaysjewels — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:55:03 GMT

I have larger pieces (approx 40mm round, some larger) of 24 gauge brass sheet that I have tried numerous times to solder a brass bezel on with no luck, using past solder. I tried brass paste solder (grainier than silver paste) from Rio and easy silver paste- neither work-just doesn't flow or I have over heated it to a cement! Would additional flux help while using paste or would chip solder work better on larger pieces? I don't care if I use silver or brass solder. The paste worked fine on the bezel, but I can't seem to join it to the larger back plate. Knowing my problem is joining two metals of different thickness and size, I hope someone with more experience can help. Practice, practice, practice? Yes, clean, slowly heated the back plate... maybe not hot enough? Is the size the real issue? My torch- larger than Micro torch- still butane but can get a nice soft flame. Time to invest in Little Smith? I would love to finish my pieces! Thanks... anyone's opinion would greatly be appreciated! Kat

Little Smith for Disposable Tanks

Angela-Nem — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:48:44 GMT

I am a beginner at jewellery making and I was thinking of buying the "Little Smith" for disposable tanks. I have been looking on the internet for reviews on this product, and wanted to get more opinons on it.

I live in an apartment, so I'm unable to get large tanks. But I would really like a torch that I can do projects with with a size of 3 inch by 5 inch rectangular, and Mokume.

I would really like your reviews on this product!!!

Thanks Angela

Can't connect? Smith Little torch

kekoe — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:21:05 GMT

I have a little torch with oxy/propane. I am trying to solder 18 gage silver cuff bracelet and a irregular shaped stone bezel. I am having trouble getting the solder to connect to the cuff.

I am heating the bottom side of the bracelet and have sweat soldered pieces to the bezel, but no connection.

Is there a torch tip that would work better (I'm using 5) or is propane not hot enough?

I just bought this smith little torch, so any suggestions of what tips work better for each application would be helpful.

Thanks.

Sea glass and soldering question

Maille_Fantasy — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 07:14:31 GMT

Hi, I pick up pieces of sea glass from down at the beach and drill holes in them, which is fine, but I want to attach a couple together with Sterling silver wire, then solder the wire to make a strong link.

My question is, can I solder the wire with the glass already attached? How much heat can the glass take before it shatters, or cracks? The glass varies in size and thickness from about 1/2" square and 2mm thick, to 3-4" at the widest part and 3-4mm thick.

The wire I want to use to make the links will be 20G Sterling Silver.

Thanks, in anticipation of some help.

Drawbacks to paste solder?

dressagewoman — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:09:44 GMT

Is there any downside to using self-pickleing self-fluxing solder paste? I can imagine the join might not be as hard, but I recently used some on a wire form and it was so much easier and less messy! I was able to "hit and run" without damaging some embellishment I'd placed.

Is it available in copper and brass colors? This piece was copper and I used a paste labeled for copper and brass, but the color was silver.

Torch Cleaning

Mame — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:54:53 GMT

Can anyone tell me how to clean the nozzles in a torch? I bought an EZ torch from Otto Frei that uses propane. I don't know if cleaning a torch that uses propane is any different from cleaning one that uses acetylene . Actually, I don't know anything about cleaning a torch, but it's obvious that the tip is clogged. Help!

Mame

Soot and acetylene torch

linda june — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:23:07 GMT

I have a Little Smith oxy/acetylene set up and I make huge mess in my studio. Everything is covered in soot. I have a very small space and would like to know how to avoid this. Would the oxy/propane make such a mess? I also seem to burn my silver before my solder will flow most times. Is this because the oxy/acetylene is to hot? Does this problem go away with experience or is it the nature of the beast?

Thank you

linda june

Hotter torch than mini butane

solycielo — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:45:22 GMT

Hello,

I live in an apartment and I use a Blazer ES-1000 micro torch. It certainly gets hot enough for melting easy solder but, medium solder takes quite some time, and the hard solder just sits there laughing at me. Is there a small torch, that I can use in my apartment that will get hot enough to work with hard solder?

Glueign irregular gemstone to a bezel. Help Please!

Starter — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:54:37 GMT

Hi, my first poject soldering was to bezel an irregular gemstone. Though it was challenging, it was a great experience.

When we were setting the stone, the teacher added a drop of glue to make sure some irregularities were tight. He didn't give me the type of glue or brand. can anyone recomend one, since I might be working with more irregular gemstones?

Thank you so much!

Materials for Bezels. Help Please

Starter — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:38:44 GMT

Hi, I'm just starting in the wonderful jewelry making art, I took a couple of classes and at the moment I'm buying the materials necesary for soldering. Now, I want to bezel some stones and cabuchon. My question is what type of bezel silver should I use? What type of gauge? I was told to use sterling silver 1B, but I don't find that at sites like Rio.

Thank you for your help and any sugestion you give.

Going to be buying a new Torch

Bentiron — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:42:43 GMT

I have been trying to solder up this one piece of jewelery for some time now without much success. I have an air/acetylene torch. The old, forty plus years, torch is handy and adequate for most things but after the last failed attempt to get my piece together without solder going everywhere, even with the use of yellow ocher. With the old a/a torch of mine almost the whole piece gets hot so sloder tends to flow at all of the joins no matter what. Today I visited a friend of mine who is professional. He was gracious enough to let me use his propane/oxygen torch, an ancient Hoke, and show me how to solder small thin pieces to thick heavy pieces. Using that torch was wonderful. I just heated the area that need soldered. All of my frustration melted as easily as easy solder. Now all I need is money! Sounds so simple doesn't it?

Pickle Recipe

aglaranna — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 16:21:05 GMT

What is the recipe to make your own pickle? I know it uses ph down, but I don't know anything about the ratios and if there's anything other than water in addition to the ph down.

Best tools for cutting and manipulating chips of solder? And what does firescale LOOK like?

dressagewoman — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:15:55 GMT

OK, I've had my first soldering experience. Wheeeee! I did find that trying to cut small chips of solder using a jewelers saw and an old flush cutter didn't, well, cut it. I guess I should get some shears or snips. Any recommendations? Also, manipulating the chip of solder with my "hot pliers" didn't go so well either, and I wound up using the flux brush to get the solder where I wanted it. This sorta worked, but didn't seem ideal. Placing the solder seemed the hardest part of the process.

I was initially puffed with beginners luck as the very first test piece I tried came out perfect! I subsequently ruined two jump rings and got so-so results on a piece I actually hoped to use. Oh well! C'est la guerre.

Also, I thought I'd know firescale when I saw it, having read so many accounts, but... on the one piece, the surface near the solder join came up roughened and lighter in color than the original sterling wire. It largely polished off using rouge, but not completely. Is this firescale, or a partially melted surface? I did notice a coppery tinge under the flux after soldering which disappeared after pickleing.

For the record I used easy solder (sheet), Rio Ready flux, butane torch, homemade citrus pickle (2 TBL sour salt to a cup of water) used "little dipper" hot.

OH, other dumb question... how do you know when you have pickled long enough?

Thanks

linda june — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:34:03 GMT

A big thank you to Addie and Bentiron for the information. This is great.

If I do change to propane/oxy can I use any of my Little Smith acetylene/oxy set up or do I need to get the whole kit again? Also do I have to wear tinted glasses with the propane? I have a hard time seeing the solder flow with the glasses?

Thanks again for your help!!

linda june

Silver solder problem (still)

deloid101 — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 19:37:48 GMT

I had a question in the past about difficulty soldering my silver wire with silver solder (easy~65%).

I took a course that included silver soldering, used recommendations from this forum and from a metalsmith locally. I was actually easily able to solder by balling up the silver solder with an appropriate paste flux (after cleaning). I heat the silver solder to a ball and stab it with the pick then heat the silver slowly and work my way in on the reverse side with the heat then touch the ball and voila...the solder flows. At home this doesn't work.

I have worked pieces but without solder. I heat until the silver just hits that glassy stage, bring in the flame just a sec to get a slight color change then back off...the piece is braised without deformation.

Today I tried to use my Lonnie's (Arizona) easy solder again...it failed to flow.

Just out of curiosity I took three samples of nearly the same diameter silver solder and silver wire.

I did three sets of comparisons with easy, med & hard solder. I directed the flame over the two pieces and heated slowly, making certain that the heat was evenly covering both pieces. All three tests revealed that the melting point was reached at the same time (when the strip would ball up).

I called Lonnie's and I was told that the couldn't explain that issue. I understand because it doesn't make sense to me.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

solder round wire to sheet

metalworker — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 03:32:40 GMT

Help! I'm a newbie at soldering and any kind of help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'm having trouble soldering round, 14 kt goldfilled wire to sterling sheet. I can't seem to get the round wire flat enough to rest entirely on the sterling sheet shape. Should I sweat solder the goldfilled wire? if so, how do I get the solder only on the bottom of the wire? Should I be heating the sterling from the bottom? Please help!

flux recipe

wfdebicki — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:13:47 GMT

I am a newbie and can't find a recipe for making flux! I purchased a soldering kit that includes boracic powder and methanol. I know I need to mix these to make a flux but there are no instructions as to proportions or method for doing this. Can anyone help? Thank you so much!

Too long in LOS?

metalworker — Thu, 28 May 2009 20:47:44 GMT

I accidentally left a sterling disc in my liver-of-sulphur for a couple of hours and am now having trouble removing the oxidation from areas where I don't want it. Is there such a thing as leaving items in LOS for too long? Any tips on how to remove the stubborn oxidations?

Thanks for any tips.