[Jewelry making - Article 00017] - Re: [Orchid] Ceramic tip soldering tweezers

[Peter W . Rowe]

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>>            talking of wonders: I use a Titanium Tip and actually the
>>    solder sticks to it too if you really heat it up and sort of burn
>>    it. Not good soldering I know but it has happened. 

>        Are you not just experiencing that the solder is adhered to
>     your titanium tip because of the involved flux? If you actually
>     managed to melt a piece of solder on to your Ti, i think it could
>     be breaking news for those working in Ti. 

    Because of the oxide layer on titanium, flowing solder on titanium
    and getting an actual solder joint, is difficult.  but some fluxes
    will manage to get through even that oxide layer, usually only
    partially, and usually when you don't want it to.  Soldering pokers
    and tweezers, for example.  If you doubt that precious metals are
    capable of bonding metallurgically to titanium, just consider the
    wonderful ease with which fusion welders like a Sparkie can put
    titanium ear posts on gold or silver.  They use a plasma arc/spark
    to remove the oxide layer, allowing the actual metals to bond.  On
    silver, the titanium posts are even easier to apply securely than are
    silver posts.   Laser welders with an argon gas shield, also make it
    quite easy to get titanium to weld to precious metals.  With solder,
    and flux, and a torch, it's a lot harder, and not terribly
    predictable.  But it DOES happen, depending on how hot you get,
    which flux you're using and how much of it, and how long you're
    heating. 

Peter Rowe

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