[Jewelry making - Article 00394] - [Orchid] Argentium and Torch Selection

[Zen Sojourner]

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    Well a friend has offered to let me set up a soldering station in
    his garage, so I'm suddenly in the market for a torch right away
    after all. 

    So you argentium workers in particular, what torch(es) are you
    using, and would you change that for working with argentium if
    money/space were no object? 

    Previously I had decided to go with a propane-oxygen setup. 

    In the past I have actually used an acetylene-oxygen setup.  I NEVER
    had a problem with firescale using an acetylene-oxygen torch on
    sterling. 

    But now I'm wondering if I should consider something else since I
    plan to work as much as possible with Argentium rather than standard
    sterling, since the Argentium works at lower temps than standard
    sterling.  My thinking is that a less-hot torch will be easier to
    control.  I honestly think that's why some people seem to do so much
    better soldering with those Benzomatic things which operate at
    something like 1400 F. 

    A propane-oxygen torch runs at about 4700 F, an
    acetylene-atmospheric air torch runs at about 4200 F.  I can't
    remember the operating temp for a propane-compressed air torch, but I
    think its something like 3700 F. 

    Since I have previously worked successfully with acetylene-oxygen
    (eg no firescale, no major problems melting stuff by accident) I'm
    wondering if I could get by with an acetylene-atmospheric air torch
    (eg no air hose, just a single hose for the acetylene).  The
    Silversmith Acetylene torch in the RG catalog is about half the cost
    of a gas-oxygen Little Smith torch (about $150 instead of $300). 

    Saving money is a Good Thing.  However. 

    I have noticed that the smallest tip size for the Silversmith
    Acetylene torch is larger than even the largest Little Smith tip (LS
    #7, the largest tip, is .047" and the Silversmith Acetylene tip #00
    very fine is 0.7" and they go up from there).  How significant is
    this?  I used to do a lot of my soldering with the #2 tip on the
    Little Smith Acetylene-Oxygen torch, because a lot of my stuff
    required soldering smaller guage wire and I thought that was
    appropriate.  Don't know if it actually WAS appropriate, but it
    worked for me.  Would using the larger #00 tip of the Silversmith
    work ok? 

    Since this is a gas-only torch, wouldn't it tend to be LESS
    oxidizing than an acetylene-oxygen torch?  This shouldn't be a
    problem with the Argentium, but I am still doing some standard
    sterling work.  I've never had a problem with firescale even when I
    was using the acetylene-oxygen Little Torch (which operates at
    something like 6000 F), but I guess I ought to take this into
    consideration before spending on the torch.  I seem to remember that
    turning the O2 down was supposed to give you a reducing flame instead
    of an oxidizing flame, so in the total absence of the O2 feed,
    wouldn't it tend to be more of a reducing flame naturally? 

    And how about a propane-compressed air torch?  I can't remember for
    sure, but I THINK a propane-compressed air torch operates at around
    3700 F.  There's really no cost savings involved here since I'd have
    to buy an air compressor and regulators anyway.  (And I know not to
    ever ever switch it to Oxygen without replacing all regulators and
    hoses).  Still, is there any advantage to be gained with the lower
    temp (if that's the right temp, and I'm not sure of that) when
    working with Argentium? 

Thanks for any input.
Sojourner

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