[Jewelry making - Article 00032] - Re: [Orchid] Anybody Really Good with Overlay?

[Katherine Palochak]

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>         I am still relatively new to jewelry making.  I've discovered I
>     really enjoy saw work.  And I've discovered its going to take a ton
>     of practice to get good at soldering an overlay bracelet together
>     (just a top to a bottom piece). 

    The easiest way to sweat solder is the Native American way. Start by
    filing sheet solder and collecting the resulting powder. Run a strong
    magnet through the filings to trap any stray iron particles and
    remove them. Make a thinned out paste of Handi-Flux or cut liquid
    flux 50% with water. Dip the piece that is to be sweated to the base
    into the thinned flux, tap gently to remove excess liquid, then
    immediately dip in the solder filings (I find putting the solder
    filings on a paper plate keeps it contained and is easy to roll up in
    a funnel to transfer to a container when finished), and tap gently to
    remove excess solder. Place the two pieces together and heat from the
    bottom. Be even with the flame, going from side to side, up and
    down, center to outside. When you see the bright flash at the
    outside, you're done. Quench and pickle. The result is a seamless
    join, with all areas stuck down and not too much solder in the areas
    you don't need. Things don't slide around because there's too much
    solder, you don't have fill in with solder when sweating very thin
    pierced pieces, and it's impossible to tell where the seam is between
    the two pieces of metal. 

    Or if you have more money than time, you can buy powdered solder. 


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