[Jewelry making - Article 00977] - Re: [Orchid] Pitting in solder seams

[John Sholl]

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>         This is highly confusing to me.  Firstly, what is "19 or 20k
>     weld"? I have never heard of this grade of solder. Also, I thought
>     that only lower karat golds could be used as solders on a given
>     object. Please help me to clarify this for myself.  I don't want to
>     perpetuate any misinformation, if my previous understanding is
>     erroneous.  Thanks. 

    Danny, Sorry about the confusion. You are for the most part right.
    With yellow gold use 14k solder with 14k gold. Use 18k with 18k and
    so on. But, always use the hardest solder possible. For example I
    use hard for sizing seams or reshanks. Medium for bails, posts or
    soldering in heads. Easy for repairs done on delicate portions of
    rings that are too thin to take too much heat or areas that have
    been previously worked on by other jewelers. 

    White gold is an exception. The 19k or 20k white solders are
    available from all of the normal sources. ( Frie borel, Hoover
    Strong, Stuller ect.) This solder will melt just below the melting
    temperature of both 18k and 14k white gold. It creates a seam that
    is ,if properly done, invisible. This solder is what I was trained
    to use when sizing white gold rings and retipping white gold prongs.
    It is more durable than other gold solders and less likely to bubble
    when it flows on the tip. Also with white gold try using hard solder
    where you would use medium and use easy where you would use medium
    on yellow gold. 

    Easy solder can tarnish, fail for no apparent reason and it leaves
    pits on seams. Easy solder is also more likely to "jump" to which
    ever piece of metal gets to temperature first forcing you to apply
    more solder creating a mess which needs cleaned up. Use it
    sparingly. As for extra easy solder? I don't even have any, no need. 

    I hope you try these tips. They will save you many headaches. 

John Sholl
Littleton, Colorado

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