[Jewelry making - Article 00318] - Re: [Orchid] Argentium Sterling and solder

[John Burgess]

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    G'day; Here I am sticking my neck out again. 

    I have been carefully reading about the problems discussed with
    Argentium solders. It occurs to me that another reason for AS
    solders not melting properly might have something to do with the flux
    used. The main interest in AS is that it does not tarnish as readily
    as the sterling copper/silver alloy, and the reason given for this is
    that heating in air causes germanium oxide to form on the metal
    surface, which then inhibits tarnishing. I believe the fluxes used
    are mainly those commonly used in soldering gold and silver metals;
    that is they are boron based (borax, boric acid, etc.) These work as
    fluxes or cleaning agents because they dissolve most metal oxides,
    leaving clean oxide-free metal to alloy and bond with the silver and
    gold solders. Could perhaps other fluxes be used? For instance there
    is a good black flux which works well when silver soldering or
    brazing iron. Another contains certain fluorides, (potassium
    bifluoride, 5.1%) which is available from all welding suppliers and
    is put out by British Industrial Gases Ltd (B.I.G.) I have always used
    this with great success on gold/copper; silver/copper- sterling
    silver and karat golds. 

    Another example of where a special flux is required is when
    soldering aluminium with the special alloy sold for the purpose, a
    special flux must be used which dissolves aluminium oxide. The other
    usual fluxes just don't work. But I have soldered aluminium many
    times, most satisfactorily, by using the special alloy and flux sold
    for the purpose. Just a different viewpoint 

Cheers for now,
John Burgess; johnb AT ts.co.nz of Mapua, Nelson NZ
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