[Jewelry making - Article 00173] - Re: [Orchid] A different Argentium problem

[Jan McClellan]

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>         The availability of the Argentium solder is still pretty new -
>     does anybody have experience with using it yet? Or if you've used
>     sterling solders, what differences, advantages, or disadvantages
>     have you noted? 

    I just got some easy Argentium solder from Rio and am in the process
    of making 5 pendants with AS and the new solder. 

    I love it! It flowed beautifully. Previously I had problems trying
    to solder a very large bezel onto flat 20ga AS using regular solder,
    then I ordered some extra easy and it worked better, but the AS
    solder is far superior IMHO. 

    I am using slightly different methods this time, thanks to Trevor
    and all the other helpful people on the list. I'm laying the piece
    flat on a clean solder pad, one I will keep just for AS, and I am
    soldering from the top, not trying to get the flame underneath. When
    I did the flame underneath before I had BIG problems with the base
    sagging. I am using a very small flame, and staying longer in one
    place until that solder flows. 

    One more thing - I plan to heat harden in my kiln (as I did
    previously) when the pendants are all finished (except for setting
    the stones), then I will tumble them with steel shot in my rotary
    tumbler. Is that the proper order? Or should I heat harden before all
    the soldering? 

    Slowly learning to use this new material.....

Jan
www.designjewel.com

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