[Jewelry making - Article 01037] - Re: [Orchid] Soldering Enormous Bezels

[Beth Rosengard]

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    Hi Lee, 

>       An alternate strategy, suggested by a fellow silversmith, is to
>     heat the piece on a soldering pad (from the top) with the flame in
>     the middle of the sheet until the thing gets up to temperature,
>     then playing the flame around the outer edge of the bezel to flow
>     the solder. Her theory was that the soldering pad retains enough
>     heat to make this work. Viable? 

    Yes, but...  I advise soldering on a charcoal or magnesia block,
    either of which will heat up and help keep the sheet at the necessary
    temperature. Most other soldering surfaces will not do this; they are
    designed to stay relatively cool. 

    Secondly, you need a big, hot flame so use a large torch tip.  And
    rather than focusing the heat in the very middle of the sheet (if
    that's what she meant), play it around the inside of the bezel and
    then, when the flux starts to glaze, quickly move the flame to the
    outside of the bezel. Continue to move the flame briskly around and
    around the outside and, if necessary, back into the center and out
    again.  By the way, be sure to lift the flame up (briefly) as you
    move from interior to exterior so you don't risk melting the bezel
    when you pass the flame over it. 

    Finally, if the sheet insists on warping, you will have to use
    binding wire or other means of keeping the bezel in contact with the
    sheet.  But if you use a sufficiently large, hot flame and heat
    evenly and quickly, it shouldn't be necessary; the sheet tends to
    warp more when it is heated unevenly.  Good luck! 

Beth


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