[Jewelry making - Article 00013] - [Orchid] Chill gel in sparex

[Barb Baur]

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    This is the first batch of gold soldering in a long time, I've been
    mostly working in sterling the last few years. 

    I used Rio chill gel for the first time on an antique 14K white gold
    ring with a diamond that needed a shank replaced. Packed the chill
    gel all in the back and some on the front. Worked great. I plunked it
    in the pickle afterwards (Sparex, yes it was getting pretty blue, I
    know it was getting near time for a new batch.) The next item I
    soldered was a 14K yellow gold ring. No stone so I didn't use any
    chill gel. Soldering went fine. I plunk it in the pickle (cold
    pickle, by the way) and leave it to start on something else. I look
    up about 15 minutes later and the ring, one of those antique basket
    types, is coated with what looks like ice crystals. I grabbed the
    ring with the copper tongs, shake it up and the stuff comes off in
    solids. The ring looks like it is plated lightly with silver or
    something. It came off handily with tripoli, but I'm wondering what
    happened. Should I quench in water after soldering and clean off the
    gel before pickle in the future? 

    Oh and I did mix up a new batch of sparex before going any further,
    I was overdue. 

    Anyone else seen this or can explain? 

-Barb Baur


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