In a pickle....

I've been doing quite a bit of soldering lately, and I think I'm starting to figure out what I'm doing. A few things I've learned:

1. You can make your own pickle (what you soak the quenched pieces in to remove any oxidization that occurs during the heating process) from vinegar and table salt. Keep the pickle hot - I know some folks who get small potpourri crockpots for their pickle - I'm using a Mr. Coffee mug warmer with an old coffee cup on it.

2. Don't leave anything in the pickle when it's not heated or it will discolor. :-( (Now I get to re-clean a pendant!)

3. Less is better with solder and flux - I was using too much, but just a tiny little pallion (square) of easy solder works perfectly well. You can always add more in subsequent spots. Flux - just paint on a little in the areas where you'll be joining, don't dip the whole piece in the flux.

4. Copper and silver heat at different temps, and it's definitely more challenging to solder them together! Heat up the copper first, then add the silver.

5. Overheating causes big blobs in the worst case scenario, and reticulation (bubbles and deformities) in the best.

6. I've been using the following process for small pieces (clasps, wire pendants): paint flux, place a tiny piece of solder, use the torch to warm the piece (just until the flux starts to bubble), then spot concentrate heat on the section to be soldered. When the solder flows, quench immediately in cold water, then drop in the pickle. It does seem to be working well...not perfect, but I'm getting the process down.

Soldering is definitely addictive - yesterday I made up about a dozen clasps (S hooks, variations on Swan clasps) and once they were soldered I couldn't wait to do another piece!

Labels: beginning jewelry making, clasps, pickle, solder, torch, wire working

posted by Beading Help Web Editorial Team at 7:33 AM |