Hot Spot Questions

There have been a couple of References to the Hot Spot � jump ring
soldering machine in recent posts. I have been interested in one for
a while, but I notice there is an interesting difference in the
descriptions in the 2003 and 2004 Rio catalogs.

In the earlier book it says "Use solder-filled jump rings for a
cleaner and easier application; you can also use standard jump rings
with a paste solder. In the most recent catalog it only mentions the
solder filled jump rings.

A lot of my interest in this machine had been predicated on the idea
that I could make jump rings of various sized, and perhaps even
different gauge metals.

Has anyone had much experience using these machines with their own
jump rings? Also, are quality paste solders available in other forms
than syringes? I know there were recent posts about making solder
flow out of syringes more easily, but it would be nice to have other
options as well.

Jim Benson

In the earlier book it says "Use solder-filled jump rings for a
cleaner and easier application; you can also use standard jump
rings with a paste solder. In the most recent catalog it only
mentions the solder filled jump rings. 

Dear Jim,

I have used the Hot Spot extensively and helped rewrite the
instructions in the 2004 Rio Grande catalog.

In short, yes you can use regular jumprings with paste solder.
However, there is one reason we recommended solder filled JR’s. Time!
The clean-up is minimum, very little oxidation/discoloration. Using
paste solder oxidizes and discolors the JR’s considerably. It also
takes much longer to apply the paste solder to the inside joint of
the JR accurately and in the right proportion, creating a higher
percentage of failure. And don’t forget about the clean-up time.

E-mail me off list or call me and I’ll be happy to go into more
detail.

I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Thackeray Taylor
Rio Grande Technical Support
1-800-545-6566 x13903

Jim, I have a Hot spot that I bought from Rio years ago. I think I
got it out of their sale items. They used to have a place on their
website that listed sale items, perhaps used for demonstrations and
such. I can make any size jump ring from silver or gold wire and
solder them using paste solder. I buy the paste solder for silver in
little one ounce jars from Rio. I use a toothpick to apply a drop of
flux and a dab of paste solder. If the ring is tiny I dip it(using
tarnish dip cleaner) to turn the little darkened area silver or on
larger jump rings I clean it up with a 3m bristle disc.I would
imagine that the new 2004 Hot Spot listed would also solder jump
rings with paste solder, but you could call Rio to find out.

Annette

Has anyone tried the Lightning Link Welder?
Jump Ring-Making Tools | Shor International This unit as well as the
tackit III, claim no solder required to fuse rings. The price is
certainly much higher than the HotSpot, but using solder core wire is
a major increase in production cost.

Fine Tools & Innovative Machines | Shor International is the Tack III link. This
unit is for hand fusing rings. There is even a video of this unit in
use.

Any info on the Tack III would be appreciated. The Lightning Welder
is similar but for use on a link machine as best I can see. Thanks,

Brian Barrett

These are both pulse arc welders which will work quite well for
joining jump rings the Tack III is more of a bench tool (it can also
act as a “tack” (capacitive discharge) welder) and the Lightening
Link Welder is meant to attach to a jump ring fabricating machine
and is a production machine. They actually weld the rings by
striking an short duration arc between a tungsten electrode and the
work. The arc melts the metal ends of the ring allowing them to fuse
so no solder is needed. The weld is shielded by argon gas so it
should come out bright and oxide free. The main drawback as you have
noted is the cost. They are basically TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) spot
welders.

Jim Binnion

James Binnion Metal Arts
Phone (360) 756-6550
Toll Free (877) 408 7287
Fax (360) 756-2160

@James_Binnion
Member of the Better Business Bureau