[Jewelry making - Article 01016] - Re: [Orchid] Soldering bezels to large flat backplate

[coralnut]

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    Michael and Beth Beth is so right about the differences in soldering
    gold and silver.  My original inclination in my post was to suggest
    the 'air' soldering technique Beth describes (I use it all the time)
    however, the large size of the pieces you are soldering mitigate
    against using tweezers to hold the item.  This is, I believe, double
    trouble because of the thin bezel material you are using.  ANY
    pressure against the top of the bezel coupled with heat, even if
    it's from below, will probably result in warped bezel. The weight of
    a 50x70mm piece is just too much to hold in common tweezers....you
    can make special ones by brazing a circle onto one tine for use as a
    support, but even then the weight will be hard to control. 

    For these reasons, I still suggest you try the block and screen
    bridge as a support for the work.  I should have probably mentioned
    something Beth picked up on as well. It is not necessary to bring the
    entire piece up to red when soldering gold.  But, because of the
    large size, I would still use a bushy flame to 'condition' the entire
    base plate so you can assure there is no warping between the plate
    and the bezel.  Then, you can concentrate the flame on one area under
    the bezel to get solder flow after which you simply move the torch
    along under the bezel.  Each snippet will melt and flow as you move
    along until the circuit is complete. 

    Cheers from Don at The Charles Belle Studio in SOFL where simple
    elegance IS fine jewelry! dcdietz AT attbi.com


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