[Jewelry making - Article 01002] - Re: [Orchid] Filling cracks in rings

[coralnut]

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Dale,

    There are several ways to repair cracks in rings.  First, if the
    cracks are low down in the shank....I would replace the whole shank
    as it is not worth trying to repair the cracks and they WILL fail
    again anyway. 

    If the cracks are further up on the shank....say up in the shoulders
    area where there is more metal, you will have to drill or file the
    cracks away first then insert a piece of clean sheet or wire and
    solder that in place. Sculpt the new metal to the shape of the ring
    and your done. 

    The reason you will have to do this is...no matter how clean you
    'think' the metal around the crack is....you can never clean inside
    the crack.  Also, the crack may be caused by simple metal fatigue
    meaning the grain boundries have failed due to wear hardening, or
    work harding, (i.e., perhaps the shank has previously been upsized by
    hammering), or possibly chemical contamination such as chlorine. Or,
    there may be other contaminates from the original casting or
    fabrication process that simply cannot be cleaned out other than
    complete removal of all metal in the area.  These voids cannot be
    filled. 

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


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