[Jewelry making - Article 00642] - Re: [Orchid] Re-tipping prongs setting

[Franklin]

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    I have been casually following the posts on retipping. One very
    important thing the original poster needs to know is that only
    diamond and ruby and sapphire can be retipped with the stone in.
    There are some exceptions but for a beginner, stay with the red white
    and blue rule "ruby, diamond and sapphire". It is possible to burn
    all three of these stones. Flame control is the secret and practice
    is the answer. 

    However, I think that all but one response suggests that only solder
    be used to create the new tip. Many repair shops and stores will not
    accept solder only tips. Some will take a very dim view of it. These
    shops and stores will expect that hard solder has been used to hold
    on a new piece of metal that is the same kt as the original
    tip.....see below 

    File the worn tip flat. Protect with a coat of boric acid. Melt a
    small amount of hard solder on the flat tip...you will be surprised
    at how easy it will melt. The metal you are heating is small. A
    small hot flame is needed. However a do not use too much of an
    oxidizing flame. The new metal needs to be the same kt and colour of
    the original. For white golds, remember that some of the older white
    gold used had a high nickel content and they are a whiter colour than
    some of the alloys used today. The new metal can be applied as a
    small piece put on top of the solder covered tip and then heat is
    applied till it melts and drops into position. Some times it is
    easier to hold a strip of metal in a tweezers and  position the strip
    on the tip as it is heated and when cooled cut of the excess. Another
    method is to make a strip of metal ( I like to take round wire and
    roll it flat) and melt hard solder on one side of it. Put this back
    through the mill to make flat again (the melted solder will not be
    flat). Cut off small pieces of this material and put it on the
    flattened claw (flux will hold it in place). Heat till the solder
    melts and it will make a neat joint. Then file up the new claw tip,
    use a six inch three sided file with a fine cut, (#3 or 4), be
    gentle, you can chip a girdle. Clean up with a knife edged fine
    rubber wheel and polish. The above is a very abbreviated view of a
    common but delicate repair. Hope this helps. 

Franklin

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