soldering

SOLDER

Rene Moreau — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:56:25 -0600

I'm new to the metal scene, having spent multiple years woodworking. I am now moving into arts and craft era style metal pieces and also metal spinning.
One question regarding the type of solder to use: soft solder or hard solder. The soldering would be for kettles, bowls, and steins. I understand the silver solder, which is used for hard soldering would be very expensive; is it necessary?

WTB Mecco Midget Torch

copperjoe — Mon, 30 May 2011 10:30:33 -0500

I am looking to buy a Mecco Midget torch body or a Victor J-40 body torch. If anyone has one for sale then please let me know. I would like to have tips also if you have them.

Thanks,

Copperjoe

Is the strenght of a solder joint affected by hard/med/easy solder

Pierre de Lune — Tue, 17 May 2011 15:09:18 -0500

Bonjour

Does the choice of Hard/medium or easy solder affect the strenght of my joint? I am making a silver spinner ring (or meditation ring) which is a large ring band with secondary rings (of textured copper and silver)that can freely spin on the outside of the main ring band. I want to flare both ends of the main ring band to keep the secondary rings from falling. My joint must be very strong since the flaring process will create a lot of stress on the ring band. That is why I am curious if my choice of solder will affect the strenght of the joint.

Pits when silver soldering

Daverham — Sun, 09 May 2010 13:18:36 -0500

When silver soldering, sometimes I get a pit right where the solder chip was sitting. Many times I do not.. sometimes I do. It never happens when applying solder with a pick, so I suspect it has something to do with the solder sitting there on the hot silver for too long. I always prepare a clean surface, use flux, heat the piece not the solder, etc. Just wondering:

Soldering Gold

Daverham — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 11:35:59 -0500

Does anybody have some tips on soldering gold? I'm pretty handy at soldering silver, but I have never tried gold. I understand that one needs to heat the solder joint more directly as opposed to the whole piece. I think I can handle that. Anything else that a silver-soldering person might need to know before beginning to experiment?

My Jewelry Projects - Photos

Daverham — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:03:24 -0600

I've decided to just start a thread with my projects and learning as they happen instead of infiltrating every other thread on the forum.

Last night I cast a new ring that I had carved a couple nights ago. I skipped the vacuum chamber, and boy did I pay for it! What a fool. Thankfully, I was able to grind off all the bubbles, but what a waste of time. This was my second attempt at hot-dipping in pickle to achieve a pale/white look to the silver and I love it.

Copper Work i am doing at Auburn Correctional Facility in Auburn, New York

masterofmetal — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:14:19 -0600

New to Art Metal and wanting to learn, learn, learn and make new friends!

dawnebryant — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 02:12:25 -0500

I am new to artmetal and I hope to make new friends and learn more about working with metal.

I have worked as a bench jeweler in the past and just recently set up a custom jewelry design/repair shop in a caboose in the Sandhills of Nebraska.

Need some advice about regulator settings for oxy propane

Joyce3473 — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:56:18 -0500

Hi,

I'm a brand new member.

I've just setup my oxy propane tanks with regulators and have a Hoke torch for making jewelry.

I also do glasswork and beadmaking.
Beadmaking with a Minor torch. Both are set up together with a Y splitter so I can switch between torches.

Need help with process of soldering copper to stainless steel

mos68x — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 02:28:46 -0500

I need some help getting some silver solder to adhere to sandblasted stainless steel (aluminum oxide blasting media I think). I have 304/316 stainless plates of either thickness', 0.030 or 0.060 and I'm trying to get some solid copper wire to solder to the plates for electrical connections. I started with my digital soldering iron at 750F, but didn't get the electrical 60/40 solder to stick very well. Then I bought a 230W soldering gun and it worked better, but still not good enough. I bought some Harris High Temp Black Flux and it just dries out before anything will stick. I grabbed some miuratic acid as well and tried a drop on the stainless but all it did was make the metal black and the solder roll off worse. I bought some Solder-It Silver solder paste and it doesn't work either, everything just rolls off the stainless or if it does stick I can't get it to wet in the groove for the copper wire so that I know it joins good.